You are probably wondering what it is like to live in a nursing home—and may have some preconceived notions of what you will see, hear (and smell) when you step inside. It is probably different (and a whole lot better) than you imagined.

When you visit, notice what is going on—residents are busy working on their favorite project, having a snack, or playing a game. Walking down the hallways on any given day, you can:

	Hear staff, family members, and residents sharing stories and maybe a hug
	See residents filling the bird feeders and watching baby birds poke their heads out of one of the birdhouses on each fence post
	Smell some wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen at dinnertime
	See the squirrels, chipmunks, and deer make tracks through a fresh snowfall
	Enjoy the residents’ garden, and maybe pick a bouquet of snapdragons (if you’re lucky)
	See some fans catching a ball game on the big-screen TV in the Heritage Parlor

You will see people enjoying themselves, learning new things, and helping each other. In short, you will see people living their lives.

If you fear that life inside a nursing home is boring with nothing to do, you might be surprised at how much you see going on around here. We’re busy and so are our residents. Here a few of our residents’ favorite things to do:

Our staff—especially those in the kitchen—have been with us a long time. They love to spice things up for the residents by creating all sorts of delicious meals—from Southern Fried Chicken to interesting salads, and homemade desserts. Every week during the summer, we grill out, feasting on hamburgers, hot dogs, and other picnic goodies. Pizza is another favorite, especially when Margaret is in the kitchen. Sometimes we invite the children from the local elementary school to share some ice cream, too. Our residents and staff love hosting visitors, from large parties to small get-togethers, so when you stop by, be sure to leave time to take in a meal.

Sometimes the simple routines of life like folding towels, baking muffins, getting the mail, or growing a garden can make a person feel like themselves again. Here, we encourage residents to participate in the routines of daily life that help make our facility feel more like a home.

Everyone needs a little change of scenery once in a while. Our residents love to go fishing, pick strawberries at Brandt’s Farm, check out the holiday lights, and ride on a horse-drawn wagon during Hillman’s Mill River Days. Our facility’s van really gets a workout with all of the places we go! We make it a practice to do something at least once a week, weather permitting.

Want to see a complete list of what we do? Ask the Activity Director for a copy of the monthly calendar. Family members and friends are always welcome to come and participate in any of our activities—your family member would love to see you and we would, too.