Like all of you, I am sure, we are keeping a close eye on the weather today.  We all hope that we won't have to put our tornado procedures into effect but you should know that if we have to . . . we are prepared.  We practice tornado drills, just as we have regular fire drills, to ensure that the procedures we need to follow are truly ingrained.  We prepare on a watch and take action on a warning, which includes moving all of our residents, patients and tenants to locations without windows.  And if you know Cedar Village at all, you know that we have lots of areas with windows and not too many without-so there is a lot of moving and a lot of gathering in hallways that takes place.  Because the timing of the weather predications today coincides with meal times, we also have plans for where we direct and move everyone out of dining rooms.  None of us want to experience severe weather but if it does come our way, we are ready to take action and keep everyone here safe!

We had another wonderful wellness program on Wednesday of this week.  We are sorry to see these February wellness month programs come to an end!  We had some wonderful sessions and it culminated this week with not only a great chair yoga program but also a culinary demonstration and nutrition session.  If you are familiar with the books entitled "Eat This, Not That," which pair foods in photos based on calories. For example, you might see that one thin slice of cake has the same calories as three bowls of cut fruit (that's not a real example, just trying to give you a sense of the concept!).  Our dietitian and dining services manager did a super job with that presentation and the residents just loved it. 

We have a new banner hanging outside the front door of Cedar Village and new posters displayed around our halls. Why? To help us promote the Growth for Tomorrow campaign that is funding the expansion of our rehabilitation services.  We have a $6 million goal and we are making great progress.  These funds are for the major expansion of our therapy services, including the new rehab center on the first floor, the new outpatient suite, renovated patient care units and rooms, new activity space and new ambulance entrance.  Phase II will be the development and construction of an aquatic therapy center, which will tremendously enhance the services available to our patients and the community.  If you have not seen the new rehab center, come and take a tour.  If you'd like to hear more about our plans, we'd love to share that as well.  Please call Sally Korkin at 754-3100 or email skorkin@cedarvillage.org and she'll set up a time for your tour and information session! 

Save the date-Teepa Snow, nationally known speaker and educator on dementia care, will be back at Cedar Village for her quarterly visit at the end of March.  On Wednesday evening, March 28, Teepa will be presenting a special, free community education program entitled "Something's Changing with My Love One-What's Happening and What Can I do?"  We'll begin with a dessert reception at 6:45 p.m. and the program will begin promptly at 7:15 p.m.  There will be ample time for questions following the presentation.  Please plan to join us!

 All the best,

The fourth annual Eight Over Eighty will honor distinguished older adults, 80 years or older, who have dedicated their time, talents and lives to our Jewish community and the Greater Cincinnati area.   This years event, chaired by Carol Leshner, will be held on Thursday evening, May 17, 2012 at Adath Israel Congregation.  The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the program. Funds raised will be use for the expansion and renovation of Cedar Village's rehabilitation services.  

Please join us in congratulating our honorees Bob Betagole, Rosemary and Frank Bloom, Werner Coppel, Bernie Dave, Debbie Fox, Pat and Morry Passer, Ruth Schwartz, and Phyllis Sewell.     

According to Carol Silver Elliott, CEO/President of Cedar Village, "Each of these people has made a difference in the lives of others and it will be a privilege to salute them and their lifetimes of achievement and community service. We invite the community to join us on May 17 to celebrate their accomplishments." For more information on this wonderful event, please go to www.cedarvillage.org.