Columbia Lutheran Home Programs
With decreased reimbursements and increased need for services, we find ourselves relying more on the generosity of donors to provide the extra touches that add up to increased quality of life for those in our care. We are blessed and hope to continue to be blessed with gifts that add services, improvement to our environmental spaces, and increase in the numbers that we can serve. We continue to strive to be a "Caring Home Where We Celebrate Life!"
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2008, thanks to generous donations, we added a fish tank to our Alzheimer’s unit and the benefit to our residents, staff and families has been proven to us on a daily basis. There is much being done around the world to research the therapeutic benefits of aquariums. For example, Purdue University researchers have found that displaying tanks of brightly colored fish may curtail disruptive behaviors and improve eating habits of the elderly. A study done in a group of three Indiana nursing homes found that residents who were exposed to fish tanks appeared to be more relaxed and alert, and ate up to 21 percent more food than they had before the introduction of the fish tanks. We are seeing the benefits to residents, staff, volunteers and family members.
We are now looking at enhancing our home with artwork. The purchase of therapeutic, nostalgic and classic artwork will complement the common spaces and meeting areas of our building. We anticipate that the artwork will stimulate conversation, encourage reminiscing, and add to our homelike atmosphere. It can be difficult for a non-profit to provide the basics for those who entrust us with their care, so the idea of adding extras to enhance their Home is quite an exciting prospect. It is important that the Residents feel an ownership and part of the decision making process, so they will be invited to be on the artwork committee to chose pieces for framing. They have even pledged monies from their See's candy fundraiser for this effort.