MAY 2020

WHAT’S GOING ON IN MAY?

Daily Chronicles

� is month, we will be continuing with our New Mercer Commons Daily Chronicle in replacement of our monthly Activities calendar. � e Chronicle includes a schedule of the day’s activities, any updates regarding what’s happening in the building, some positive news from around the world, and of course, the joke of the day. We would also love to include resident inserts. If there is any material you would like to share with everyone or maybe even some suggestions for what’s been keeping you entertained during this time, mention it to an activities sta� member or give Sarah a call in her o� ce.

Resident DirectoryWe believe that it is just as important as ever, if not more so, to continue to keep in touch with our friends and neighbors. We have therefore decided to compile a resident directory that will contain each resident’s contact information so that you can continue to keep up with each other and lend support when needed. Information and consent from everyone who wants to be included should have been collected in last month’s activity survey. If you have any questions or concern, please speak to an activities sta� member.

Mobile LibraryOur New Mercer Commons library just got a makeover and its gone mobile! Complete with new titles like A Man called Ove by Frederik Bachman, timeless classics like Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and of course, some John Grisham and David Baldacci legal mysteries. If you need a new read, just let us know.

New Mercer Commons | May 2020 1

A huge thank you to Clare for reaching out for help to get our residents donated social masks.

900 Centre AvenueFort Collins, CO970-495-1000

ADMINISTRATORGina DiGiallonardo

Ext. 2201ACTIVITY DIRECTOR

Sarah ColerExt. 2230

ADMISSIONSMolly Spight

Ext. 2202DIETARY MANAGER

Cindy MiszczukExt. 2205

HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR

Michele Hanna Ext. 2226

MAINTENANCEGary Halsey

Ext. 2228MEDICATION MANAGER

Connie SmithExt. 2231

OFFICE MANAGERMelinda Ford

Ext. 2200PINES ADDITION

Front DeskExt. 2234

SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR

Jamie WindenExt. 2217

STAFFING COORDINATORJessica � ornes

Ext. 2204

HappeningsHappeningsHappeningsHappeningsHappeningsHappeningsNew Mercer CommonsHappenings

2 New Mercer Commons | May 2020

New Mercer Commons Spirit Days

Each week, staff and residents are welcomed to participate in our spirits days by dressing in the designated theme.

May 7th – Cartoon DayMay 11th – Crazy Hair DayMay 22nd – Beach DayMay 27th – Neon Day

ACTIVITIESHere are some more activities to look forward to… More details will be released in the Daily Chronicle.

May DayAft ernoon of Friday, May 1stTh e holiday May Day dates back millennia as a celebration of the changing of the seasons complete with joyous singing, dancing around maypoles, and fl owers adorning everything from doors to cows. We’re going to celebrate by making our own door hanging May Day baskets!

New Mercer DerbyAft ernoon of Saturday, May 2nd In light of the current circumstances, the Kentucky Derby may have been postponed until September, but not the New Mercer Derby! Join us in the halls to do some “horse racing.”

Cinco de Mayo Hallway PartyAft ernoon of Tuesday, May 5th Cinco de Mayo celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Today, it is a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage marked by colorful festivals, mariachi music, and delicious traditional food. Th at doesn’t sound like something you want to miss out on, right?

Mother’s DaySunday, May 10th To all of our mothers at New Mercer Commons, thank you. Your love and dedication as a mother has helped for the generation of amazing humans that follow in your footsteps. Have a special Mother’s Day.

Memorial DayMonday, May 25th Join us in commemorating the brave men

and women that have sacrifi ced their lives in the service to fi ght for our freedom. At 3:00pm, we will be participating in a national moment of remembrance. A moment of silence to honor those who lost their living in the U.S. military services.

POETRY CLUB“Hope” is the Th ing with Feathers By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -Th at perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -And sore must be the storm -Th at could abash the little BirdTh at kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -And on the strangest Sea -Yet - never - in Extremity,It asked a crumb - of me.

A poem recommended by our own, Bill W.

When Earth’s Last Picture is PaintedBy Rudyard Kipling

When Earth’s last picture is painted And the tubes are twisted and dried,When the oldest colours have faded,And the youngest critic has died,We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it,Lie down for an aeon or two,Till the Master of All Good Workmen Shall put us to work anew.

And those that were good shall be happyTh ey shall sit in a golden chair;Th ey shall splash at a ten-league canvasWith brushes of comet’s hair.Th ey shall fi nd real saints to draw fromMagdalene, Peter, and Paul;Th ey shall work for an age at a sitting And never be tired at all!

And only the Master shall praise us,And only the Master shall blame;And no one will work for the money, And no one will work for the fame,But each for the joy of the working,And each, in his separate star,Shall draw the Th ing as he sees It For the God of Th ings as Th ey are!

New Mercer Commons | May 2020 3

While our ability to gather in groups is restricted, poetry is as powerful as it’s ever been as a means of expressing our innermost feelings and relating to those around us. I’d like to encourage those of you who may be missing poetry group to continue to seek out and read poetry as well as to write your own.

SOCIAL MASKSHealth professionals have recommended that, when in a public space, we wear some sort of face covering also referred to as a social mask. Last month, everyone who was interested in following this guideline should have received two cloth face masks.

Here are some tips to ensure that you are using your mask properly.

1. You should wear your mask when you are outside of your room and when you have company, sta� or residents, with you inside of your room.

2. Your mask should be washed daily. Make sure that your mask has been labelled with your name before sending it out to be laundered.

3. You should always wear your mask with the same side facing your mouth. �ey are not reversible.

4. Always wash your hands before and a�er touching your mask.

5. You should not touch your mask while you are wearing it. �is will prevent the transfer of germs from your hands to your face.

6. When wearing you mask, it should cover both your mouth and your nose.

CONNECTIONDespite the temporary changes in our visitation policies, we encourage you to continue to reach out to your loved one via alternate forms of communication such as phones calls and window visits (still practicing six foot social distancing, of course). We also have new facility IPads that can be used for video calls with your family and friends. If you are interested in using this service, please reach out to Melinda at the front desk, or someone on the administrative or activities sta�.

Here’s wishing a happy Mother’s Day to New Mercer’s mama goose.

4 New Mercer Commons | May 2020

KEEPING HEALTHY!A critical step in keeping ourselves healthy is understanding how the virus spreads. �e virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).It is spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. �e best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

�e measures that we have taken as a community; wearing masks, avoiding gathering in large groups, contacting our families via phone conversation and video calls; have been critical AND e�ective in keeping everyone safe. We want to thank everyone; residents, family, and sta�; for their critical role in this.

Alright. So, moving forward, what actions can we take to continue to stay healthy?

1. Wash your Hands Some key times throughout the day that you should be washing your hands are when you’re leaving your room as you return to your room, before eating, a�er using the restroom AND a�er coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. And! Before you touch your face!

�e proper process for hand washing should take 20 seconds. Wet your hands with warm water and then apply soap. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap making sure to get the front and back of your hands, between your �ngers, your �ngernails, and wrists.

2. Social Distancing Social distancing means keeping at least six feet of space between yourself and other people outside of your home/room. For reference, that’s an entire tall person’s worth of distance! Do not gather in groups

�is also includes not gathering in groups of more than 6 people. When participating in hallway activities, there should not be more than 10 people.

3. Cover your Coughs and Sneezes If you do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze OR use the inside of your elbow. �row used tissues in the trash and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

4. Stay In when Ill If you are feeling sick with symptoms such as a cough, fever, or shortness of breath, or otherwise feeling ill, do not leave your room. Instead, push your call button for assistance.

KUDOS CORNERA massive kudos to our facility’s nurses: Courtney, Lynsey, Margarette, Jane, Tamara, Dave, and Cheri. Your compassionate, tireless, and heroic e�orts to keep us all healthy do not go unnoticed. �ank you.

“When I was restricted to my room for ten days, the activity sta� arranged for exercise class to be held in the hall outside my room so I could participate. �is made me feel that I was still part of the community.” –Bill North

“To the sta� here at New Mercer Commons: I want to let you all know how much I appreciate what you all do for us and for the smiles you can still give us at the end of the day. My three daughters also thanks you. Just remember that you are all so much more wonderful than I can put on paper.” –Betty Figurski

“We want to thank all of the nice people who work here. �ey are all pleasant and so good to help us and the food in very good! We have big THANK YOU for all of you.” –Ralph and Carolyn

Kudos to Claire, Marshelle, Keyana, Sydney, Juan, Dujana, Saida, Chrystal, Joseph, Donna, and Betsy “For going above and beyond this shi� (day shi� of April 8th). �ank you all for stepping up and helping everywere we needed you. You guys are AWESOME.” –Chenille

Nothing can keep Evelyn away from a good day of coloring.