American House Grand Rapids2619 Kalamazoo Avenue SE | Grand Rapids | Michigan | 49507

Office: (616) 248-3499 | grandrapids@americanhouse.com | americanhouse.com

August 2016Your Friendly American HouseGrand Rapids Staff

Executive Director Theresa BursleyAssistant Executive Director Belinda WernerLife Enrichment Director Stella BlissSupervising RN Heather WalkerHead Chef Teresa McCookHousekeeping Supervisor Karie BeaudinMaintenance Supervisor Bob HoornHairstylist Just ConnieOffice Support Katie RobertsonSocial Worker Jill Thymes

Important Phone NumbersMain Office (616) 248-3499The Medical Team (616) 916-7958Life Enrichment Office (616) 248-9889Dietary Services (616) 248-0283Ridelink (616) 774-1288GO! Bus (616) 456-6141Senior Meals (616) 459-3111Calder City Taxi (616) 454-8080Walgreens (616) 452-4870Meijer (616) 452-9651

August’s Beautiful BloomsThe birth flower for August is the gladiolus. Its

name is derived from the Latin word for “little sword,”so the long-stemmed flower with showy blossoms issometimes called the sword lily.

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Entertainment

Starting the monthAugust of 2016 ourFriday Happy Hourwill be starting at

2:00pm.The 3:00 - 4:00 hour

was too close todinner hour. This willgive the dietary staffmore time to set up

for dinner.All of our Grand

Rapids AmericanHouse Residents are

welcome andencouraged to come

down and enjoydrinks, snacks and

musicalentertainment

provided for yourenjoyment.

Friday, August 5th at2:00pm- Bob

DeyoungFriday, August 12that 2:00pm- Eddie

FranciscoFriday, August 19th

at 2:00pm-Harmonica TraditionsFriday, August 26th

at 2:00pm- BingHigbee

Olympic Dreams in RioFrom Aug. 5 through Aug. 21, more

than 10,000 athletes will gather in Riode Janeiro, Brazil, to compete in the2016 Summer Olympics, formallyknown as the Games of the XXXIOlympiad. These are the first OlympicGames to be held in South America.

Events will take place in four zonesacross Rio: Barra, Copacabana,Deodoro and Maracanã. Barra will bethe site of the largest number of events,including golf, which has been added asan Olympic sport after being absentfrom the games for 112 years.

Another new event this year is rugbysevens, a 15-minute version of rugbywith teams of seven. Rugby was lastplayed at the Olympics in 1924, andthe U.S. won the gold medal in the15-player variant of the game.

At the last Summer Olympics, theU.S. won the most medals. In Rio,they will compete against 205 othercountries in 306 medal events. With42 different sports, ranging fromarchery to gymnastics to volleyball, thisyear’s games are sure to provide plentyof opportunities for victory, as well asexciting entertainment for spectatorsand viewers around the world.

Your Body and WaterEverybody knows the human

body needs water to survive.But what does water do foryou, exactly?

The average adult’s body isabout 60 percent water,two-thirds of it contained in cells.Water plays a crucial role in theformation of cells, which areoften called the building blocksof life. Simply speaking, withoutwater, there is no human life.

Most of the human body’smajor systems depend on waterto function. Water deliversoxygen and nutrients throughoutthe body, lubricates joints,flushes out waste and toxins, andregulates the body’s internaltemperature. The brain, spinalcord and other organs areinsulated with water, which actsas a shock absorber and helpsprevent injury.

Water makes swallowing anddigestion possible and alsometabolizes proteins andcarbohydrates into energy. Infact, just a 5 percent decreasein body fluids can cause a30 percent drop in a person’senergy level. So, instead ofdrinking coffee or othercaffeinated beverages, whichcontribute to dehydration, thekey to feeling more energeticmay be to drink more water.

Adults need between2 and 3 liters of water everyday, but some of this watercan come from food. Freshfruits and vegetables areespecially hydrating.

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August Birthdays1st ...Marie Johnson............. Apt 1163rd... Pamela Weaver............ Apt 2167th ...Rosemary Stepanek ....Apt 32010th. Violetta Barth .............Apt 31611th..Jantiena Wybenga.......Apt 22814th Janet Hill......................Apt 32315th..John Grooters..............Apt 25619th..Joan Shelly..................Apt 12322nd Phyllis Kozminski..........Apt 25124th Nancy Ramirez............Apt 12625th Joyce Frankowski..........Apt 111

Protecting OurNational Treasures

From purple mountain majestiesto lush, fertile swamplands,America is home to more than400 parks and sites that offervisitors an up-close-and-personallook at stunning wildlife, dazzlingflora, unique natural wonders andhistoric treasures. On Aug. 25,the country will celebrate the100th birthday of the National ParkService, the organization thatmakes the enjoyment of theseplaces possible.

A bureau of the U.S. Departmentof the Interior, the Park Servicecomprises more than20,000 employees and220,000 volunteers who work tofulfill the mission to preserve“the natural and cultural resourcesand values of the National ParkSystem for the enjoyment,education and inspiration of thisand future generations.”

From a practical standpoint, thiswork entails rangers who lead toursand help visitors stay safe; crewmembers who maintain, clean andrepair the sites; and archaeologists,historians and ecologists whocontinue to discover more aboutAmerica’s land and history in orderto share it with the world.

Nearly 300 million people visitU.S. national parks every year. ThePark Service is using the centennialcelebration as an opportunity toinspire people to connect with parksthat match their interests through itsFind Your Park campaign.

Wit & Wisdom

“The sky is the dailybread of the eyes.”

—Ralph WaldoEmerson

“Together we canface any challenges

as deep as the oceanand as highas the sky.”

—Sonia Gandhi

“More varied thanany landscape wasthe landscape in thesky, with islands of

gold and silver,peninsulas of apricotand rose against a

background of manyshades of turquoise

and azure.”—Cecil Beaton

“The sky broke likean egg into full

sunset and the watercaught fire.”

—Pamela HansfordJohnson

“The artist is areceptacle for

emotions that comefrom all over the

place: from the sky,from the Earth, from

a scrap of paper,from a passingshape, from aspider’s web.”

—Pablo Picasso

Copyright © 2015 Uhlig LLC

August 2016Grand Rapids

EntertainmentOutings

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

110:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour1:00 Cribbage2:00 Meijer3:00 Book Club3:00 Scrabble

29:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Arts & Crafts10:30 Walmart / Indian Trails

2:00 Dollar Tree3:30 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

310:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Bob Evans1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

49:30 Balance Class9:30 YMCA Veggie Van

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Cascade Meijer10:30 Walmart/ Indian Trails

2:00 Bingo7:00 Bridge

510:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion

1:00 Euchre2:00 Happy Hour with Bob

Deyoung

610:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: And So

It Goes

710:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

810:00 Coffee Hour1:00 Cribbage2:00 Meijer3:00 Scrabble

99:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Walmart / Indian Trails10:30 Arts & Crafts

1:15 D&W & Banks2:30 Health Matters with Drew3:30 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

1010:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Arnies

1:00 65 Game2:00 Aroma Therapy3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

119:00 Sonus Hearing9:30 YMCA Veggie Van9:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Walmart/ Indian Trails10:30 Meijer

2:00 Bingo7:00 Bridge

1210:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class10:30 Catholic Communion1:00 Euchre2:00 Happy Hour with Eddie

Francisco

1310:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: The Magic of

Belle Isle

1410:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

1510:00 Coffee Hour1:00 Cribbage3:00 Book Club3:00 Scrabble

169:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Walmart / Indian Trails10:30 Arts & Crafts1:30 Martha’s Vineyard3:30 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

1710:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Grand Lady Riverboat10:30 BP & Weight Checks1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

189:30 YMCA Veggie Van9:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Cascade Meijer10:30 Walmart/ Indian Trails

2:00 Bingo7:00 Bridge

1910:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class10:30 Catholic Communion1:00 Euchre2:00 Happy Hour with

Harmonica Traditions

2010:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Black or White

2110:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

2210:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour11:00 Root Beer Floats on the porch

1:00 Cribbage2:00 Meijer3:00 Scrabble

239:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour with Donuts10:30 Walmart / Indian Trails10:30 Arts & Crafts2:00 Horrocks3:30 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

2410:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 BP & Weight Checks11:00 Ice Cream Bars on the Porch1:00 65 Game2:00 Woodland Mall3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

259:30 YMCA Veggie Van9:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour with cookies10:30 Meijer10:30 Walmart/ Indian Trails

2:00 Bingo7:00 Bridge

2610:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Catholic Communion11:00 Refreshments & Door Prizes1:00 Euchre2:00 Happy Hour with Bing

Higbee

2710:00 Coffee Hour

1:00 65 Game1:30 Saturday Movie: Where

Children Play

2810:00 Coffee Hour

3:00 Worship Service4:00 Fellowship Hour

2910:00 Coffee Hour10:00 Exercise Class1:00 Cribbage2:00 Meijer3:00 Scrabble

309:30 Balance Class

10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 Arts & Crafts10:30 Walmart / Indian Trails

2:00 Dollar Tree3:30 Line Dance Class7:00 Bingo

3110:00 Exercise Class10:00 Coffee Hour10:30 BP & Weight Checks10:45 Gun Lake Casino

1:00 65 Game3:00 Bible Study4:00 Fellowship Hour

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Talk About It

Exercise ClassEveryone is invited

to join us for ourexercise class heldon Monday,Wednesday andFriday at 10:00am inthe fitness roomlocated on the firstfloor across from thedining room. Theclass goes for 30minutes and is strictlysit down exercises.We rotate upperbody to lower bodyand have equipmentwe use for some ofthe exercises.

Grand LadyRiverboat

CruiseWe are going on

the Grand LadyRiverboat Cruise onWednesday, August17th.

The tickets are$15.00 and must bepurchased no laterthan Wednesday,August 10th. Pleasecontact your LifeEnrichment Directorto reserve your seatfor this special event.

Arts and crafts are on Tuesdaymornings at 10:30am in the craftroom. Anyone is welcome to join us.

BINGOPlease note: Starting in August

our Thursday bingo hour willchange to 2:00pm in the Bistro.

AromatherapyCome down to meet Morgan as

she teaches us something newabout aromatherapy. Morgan willbe in the bistro on Wednesday,August 10th, at 2:00pm.

Time ChangesPlease notice the time changes

on the calendar with theThursday Bingo, Friday Happy

Hour, Meijers and other scheduledbus trips.

Grand Rapids American House StoreWe are happy to announce that your GR AH Store is in the works and we are

working toward having it up and running by mid October.If you are interested in a volunteer position, please call the Life Enrichment

Department at 616-248-9889.

Sonus HearingSonus Hearing Care Professionals will be here on Thursday, August 11th, at

9:00am. Sonus offers a wide variety of hearing services to patients in WestMichigan. These services range from basic hearing testing to hearing aidcleaning and re-programming. Sonus also provides education on how to get themost out of your hearing aids. With about 95% of hearing loss being treatablewith hearing aids, Sonus is able to help with almost any hearing matter.

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Peachy KeenWhether they are eaten fresh

from the farmers’ market, bakedin a cobbler or served withcream, peaches are a versatilesummertime staple.

With soft, fuzzy skin and yellow orwhite flesh, peaches are stone fruits,meaning they contain a “stone” or pitthat encloses a seed. Peach varietiesare classified as either freestone, inwhich the flesh easily separates fromthe stone, or clingstone, with pits thatcling to the flesh.

Cultivated in China more than3,000 years ago, peaches oftenappear in Chinese art as a symbolof immortality, friendship and luck.Spanish and French explorers broughtthe fruit to the Americas in the 1500s.

Although Georgia is nicknamed thePeach State and features the fruit onits license plates, it is actually thenation’s third-largest producer ofpeaches. California comes in first,growing about 60 percent of thecountry’s crop, and South Carolinais second in production.

Low in calories and high in fiber,antioxidants and vitamins A and C,peaches are a nutrition all-star. Frozenpeaches and those canned in naturaljuices are also healthy options.

Senior Citizens DayDid you know that President RonaldRegan in 1988 declared August 21st

of each year to be Senior CitizensDay?

Here at American House GrandRapids we appreciate each and everyone of you and want to make this a

special and fun week for you. We willbe celebrating our residents

throughout the week of the 21st.At the end of the week we will raffle

off 10 door prizes.Those of you that come out for the

activities mentioned below will receivean extra door prize ticket for eachactivity you join. This will increase

your chances of winning one of thenice prizes we will have for our

10 winners.Monday the 22nd-Root beer floats on

the porchTuesday the 23rd- Coffee hour

with donutsWednesday the 24th- Ice Cream bars

on the porchThursday the 25th-Coffee and

CookiesFriday the 26th- Refreshments and

door prizes.On Friday the 26th the drawings willbe held on the patio outside of thedining room if weather permits. If it

should rain, we will meet in the Bistro.

Remember Me?

Much like itsscenic beaches andhula dancers, DonHo was an iconicsymbol of Hawaii.Here are a few highnotes in the life of theisland singer.

He was bornAug. 13, 1930,in Honolulu.

In 1960, he tookover his family’slounge, namedHoney’s, where heformed a band andbegan performing.

Tourists enjoyedhis baritone voice,easygoing style andrepertoire of songs,jokes and stories ofHawaiian culture.

After recordingseveral albums,Ho’s biggest hitcame in 1966 withthe breezy ballad“Tiny Bubbles,”which became histrademark song.

His other popularstandards included“Pearly Shells” and“I’ll Remember You.”

The entertainerearned the nickname“the ambassador ofaloha” and was aregular guest onTV variety shows.

August 2016

Say Cheese!

Snapping a photo today is as simple as clicking a button, and we

don’t often think about the many advancements that are behind the

cameras we use. Look back at some picture-taking milestones that

have developed over the decades.

Year Milestone

1888 George Eastman introduces the first film camera, named Kodak.

1900 Kodak’s Brownie camera is released and sells for $1.

1930 General Electric Co. begins producing camera flashbulbs.

1948 Polaroid, the original instant camera, hits the market.

1963 Kodak introduces the Instamatic, the first camera to use film cartridges.

1975 A digital camera prototype is created.

1986 Fuji unveils the first disposable camera.

2002 Camera phones become available in the U.S.

2010 Instagram, an online photo-sharing service, launches.

1790: The first U.S. Census is completed and records a population of 4 million people in America.

1909: A penny for your thoughts! The Lincoln 1-cent coin is issued and goes into circulation.

1914: The Panama Canal officially opens. The 50-mile-long waterway is a vital shipping shortcut, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

1924: “Little Orphan Annie,” a daily comic strip by Harold Gray, debuts.

1930: Clarence Birdseye is granted a patent for his quick-freeze method of packaging frozen foods.

1942: Walt Disney’s animated film “Bambi” premieres in New York City.

1954: The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published.

1963: On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his stirring “I Have a Dream” speech to thousands of civil rights supporters in Washington, D.C.

1974: French aerialist Philippe Petit gains fame for his high-wire walk between the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center.

1992: The largest shopping mall in the country, the Mall of America, opens in Bloomington, Minn.

2000: Contestant Richard Hatch wins the $1 million prize on the first season finale of the reality TV competition “Survivor.”

2008: American swimmer Michael Phelps splashes into the history books, winning a record eight gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

AUGUST