Activity Update
The best part of September is found in trying to squeeze out summer’s last hurrah! That is exactly what our activity calendar is showing!
Late summer features tasting pickles and making apple butter. Doing this makes us feel like the farm people we are! Make Your Own Fruit Pizza Day celebrates our September birthdays! So once again, we will do some creative cooking!
Tri-State Rodeo week features cow day, horseshoe day, boots day, horse day, rodeo lunch day, and saddle day. We hope to have a visit from Miss Rodeo Iowa during her days here.
81 years ago, Japan signed the surrender, ending WW2. A VJ Celebration will feature 1945 slogans and Karaoke songs, followed by vintage milk shakes. Always remember the sacrifices and hard-won victory of 1945.
A fishing trip to Montrose Harbor gives our residents a chance to be near our beautiful Mississippi River and to test their angling skills there. There is no better way to enjoy the weather and the beauty of nature.
Special speakers: Mrs. Joy Lapp will speak to us about the Underground Railroad in SE Iowa. Sammy Rooney will present a Trapping Exhibition. Leroy Wolfmeyer returns to show his travelogue photos.
A morning Donuts & Coffee time will honor our former bus driver, Don Skinner. Everyone looks forward to seeing how he likes his retirement.
Sunday, September 13, is Grandparents’ Day, celebrating the presence and influence of Grandparents. We have Musician Michael Davis performing at 1:30 pm to help us celebrate.
We are making this a September to remember!
Laura Zechin, Activity Director
Dietary Update
Nourishing Bodies, Caring for the Whole Person
In long-term care, food is so much more than something placed on a plate. Every meal is an opportunity to nourish the body, provide comfort, create connection, and improve a resident’s quality of life.
For our Dietary Department, nourishing bodies begins with understanding that every resident is different. Each person comes to us with their own nutritional needs, favorite foods, traditions, memories, abilities, and preferences. Our responsibility is to bring all of those pieces together to provide meals that are nutritious, safe, appealing, and enjoyable.
More Than Just a Meal
Mealtimes are often one of the most anticipated parts of a resident’s day. A favorite meal can bring back wonderful memories. The smell of homemade soup, fresh-baked cookies, or Sunday-style comfort food can remind someone of home and family.
That is why we believe a successful meal isn’t measured only by what is on the menu. It’s also measured by how our residents feel when they leave the table.
Did they enjoy their meal? Did they feel comfortable and respected? Were their preferences honored? Did they receive the assistance they needed? Did we encourage them to eat and drink enough?
Those little things make a BIG difference.
Nutrition With a Purpose
Good nutrition is especially important as we age. Proper nutrition and hydration can help residents maintain strength, support healing, promote healthy skin, maintain weight, support the immune system, and improve overall well-being.
Our Dietary Department works closely with residents, nursing, providers, and other members of the care team to identify changing nutritional needs. Sometimes nourishing a resident means providing a therapeutic or texture-modified diet. Other times, it may mean offering a favorite snack, providing extra encouragement, trying a different food, or simply sitting down and discovering what sounds good to them.
Resident-centered care means meeting people where they are—not expecting every resident to fit the same menu or routine.
Food Feeds the Soul, Too
Nutrition matters, but so does happiness.
Birthdays, holidays, cookouts, themed meals, favorite recipes, homemade treats, and special events give residents something to look forward to. Food has an incredible ability to bring people together, start conversations, and create memories.
Sometimes the best nutrition intervention begins with something very simple: making food enjoyable again.
It Takes a Team
Nourishing our residents isn’t something Dietary can accomplish alone. It takes communication and teamwork between Dietary, Nursing, Activities, Therapy, residents, and families.
When we share observations, listen to resident feedback, notice changes in eating habits, and work together to solve problems, we can make a tremendous difference.
And behind every meal is a hardworking Dietary team—planning, prepping, cooking, baking, serving, washing dishes, accommodating preferences, preparing special diets, and doing countless little things that often go unseen.
To my Dietary team: THANK YOU!
Your work matters. Every tray you prepare, every preference you remember, every extra snack you find, and every smile you give contributes to the care of our residents.
Because in long-term care, we don’t just serve food.
We nourish bodies.
We create comfort.
We encourage independence.
We make memories.
And most importantly, we care—one meal at a time. ❤️
Nursing Update
Dear Montrose Health Center Families,
August has been such a fun and memorable month here at Montrose Health Center! As summer begins to wind down, we have been doing our best to soak up every bit of sunshine, laughter, and community that this season has to offer.
One of the highlights of the month was getting out to enjoy the Watermelon Festival! Our residents had a wonderful time playing bingo, enjoying some delicious watermelon, and, of course, indulging in a few corn dogs. There was plenty of laughter, conversation, and fun as our residents enjoyed an afternoon filled with some of our community’s favorite summer traditions.
We also hosted our very own parking lot party so our residents could enjoy the parade right here at home. Everyone gathered together to watch the floats and festivities go by, wave to the participants, and enjoy the excitement of the day. It was wonderful seeing our residents cheering, smiling, and enjoying the experience together.
If you walk down our main hallway, you will also notice our “All About Me” sheets displayed for our residents. These were a special summer addition designed to help everyone get to know our residents a little better—their interests, favorite things, backgrounds, memories, and the things that make them uniquely who they are. We believe knowing the person behind the care is an important part of providing meaningful, person-centered care.
And, of course, we are trying to spend as much time as possible on our front porch before the temperatures begin to change and the leaves start to turn. There is something special about sitting outside with friends, enjoying the sunshine, listening to the conversations around you, and simply taking in the beautiful summer days.
As we prepare to welcome fall, we are thankful for all the wonderful memories August has given us. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your loved one’s lives and for trusting us to care for them. We hope when you visit, you see what we see every day—a place filled with friendship, laughter, connection, and plenty of reasons to smile.
Here’s to enjoying these last beautiful days of summer together! 🍉☀️🌻
Jensen Riley
Director of Nursing
Activity Update
The best part of September is found in trying to squeeze out summer’s last hurrah! That is exactly what our activity calendar is showing!
Late summer features tasting pickles and making apple butter. Doing this makes us feel like the farm people we are! Make Your Own Fruit Pizza Day celebrates our September birthdays! So once again, we will do some creative cooking!
Tri-State Rodeo week features cow day, horseshoe day, boots day, horse day, rodeo lunch day, and saddle day. We hope to have a visit from Miss Rodeo Iowa during her days here.
81 years ago, Japan signed the surrender, ending WW2. A VJ Celebration will feature 1945 slogans and Karaoke songs, followed by vintage milk shakes. Always remember the sacrifices and hard-won victory of 1945.
A fishing trip to Montrose Harbor gives our residents a chance to be near our beautiful Mississippi River and to test their angling skills there. There is no better way to enjoy the weather and the beauty of nature.
Special speakers: Mrs. Joy Lapp will speak to us about the Underground Railroad in SE Iowa. Sammy Rooney will present a Trapping Exhibition. Leroy Wolfmeyer returns to show his travelogue photos.
A morning Donuts & Coffee time will honor our former bus driver, Don Skinner. Everyone looks forward to seeing how he likes his retirement.
Sunday, September 13, is Grandparents’ Day, celebrating the presence and influence of Grandparents. We have Musician Michael Davis performing at 1:30 pm to help us celebrate.
We are making this a September to remember!
Laura Zechin, Activity Director
Dietary Update
Nourishing Bodies, Caring for the Whole Person
In long-term care, food is so much more than something placed on a plate. Every meal is an opportunity to nourish the body, provide comfort, create connection, and improve a resident’s quality of life.
For our Dietary Department, nourishing bodies begins with understanding that every resident is different. Each person comes to us with their own nutritional needs, favorite foods, traditions, memories, abilities, and preferences. Our responsibility is to bring all of those pieces together to provide meals that are nutritious, safe, appealing, and enjoyable.
More Than Just a Meal
Mealtimes are often one of the most anticipated parts of a resident’s day. A favorite meal can bring back wonderful memories. The smell of homemade soup, fresh-baked cookies, or Sunday-style comfort food can remind someone of home and family.
That is why we believe a successful meal isn’t measured only by what is on the menu. It’s also measured by how our residents feel when they leave the table.
Did they enjoy their meal? Did they feel comfortable and respected? Were their preferences honored? Did they receive the assistance they needed? Did we encourage them to eat and drink enough?
Those little things make a BIG difference.
Nutrition With a Purpose
Good nutrition is especially important as we age. Proper nutrition and hydration can help residents maintain strength, support healing, promote healthy skin, maintain weight, support the immune system, and improve overall well-being.
Our Dietary Department works closely with residents, nursing, providers, and other members of the care team to identify changing nutritional needs. Sometimes nourishing a resident means providing a therapeutic or texture-modified diet. Other times, it may mean offering a favorite snack, providing extra encouragement, trying a different food, or simply sitting down and discovering what sounds good to them.
Resident-centered care means meeting people where they are—not expecting every resident to fit the same menu or routine.
Food Feeds the Soul, Too
Nutrition matters, but so does happiness.
Birthdays, holidays, cookouts, themed meals, favorite recipes, homemade treats, and special events give residents something to look forward to. Food has an incredible ability to bring people together, start conversations, and create memories.
Sometimes the best nutrition intervention begins with something very simple: making food enjoyable again.
It Takes a Team
Nourishing our residents isn’t something Dietary can accomplish alone. It takes communication and teamwork between Dietary, Nursing, Activities, Therapy, residents, and families.
When we share observations, listen to resident feedback, notice changes in eating habits, and work together to solve problems, we can make a tremendous difference.
And behind every meal is a hardworking Dietary team—planning, prepping, cooking, baking, serving, washing dishes, accommodating preferences, preparing special diets, and doing countless little things that often go unseen.
To my Dietary team: THANK YOU!
Your work matters. Every tray you prepare, every preference you remember, every extra snack you find, and every smile you give contributes to the care of our residents.
Because in long-term care, we don’t just serve food.
We nourish bodies.
We create comfort.
We encourage independence.
We make memories.
And most importantly, we care—one meal at a time. ❤️
Nursing Update
Dear Montrose Health Center Families,
August has been such a fun and memorable month here at Montrose Health Center! As summer begins to wind down, we have been doing our best to soak up every bit of sunshine, laughter, and community that this season has to offer.
One of the highlights of the month was getting out to enjoy the Watermelon Festival! Our residents had a wonderful time playing bingo, enjoying some delicious watermelon, and, of course, indulging in a few corn dogs. There was plenty of laughter, conversation, and fun as our residents enjoyed an afternoon filled with some of our community’s favorite summer traditions.
We also hosted our very own parking lot party so our residents could enjoy the parade right here at home. Everyone gathered together to watch the floats and festivities go by, wave to the participants, and enjoy the excitement of the day. It was wonderful seeing our residents cheering, smiling, and enjoying the experience together.
If you walk down our main hallway, you will also notice our “All About Me” sheets displayed for our residents. These were a special summer addition designed to help everyone get to know our residents a little better—their interests, favorite things, backgrounds, memories, and the things that make them uniquely who they are. We believe knowing the person behind the care is an important part of providing meaningful, person-centered care.
And, of course, we are trying to spend as much time as possible on our front porch before the temperatures begin to change and the leaves start to turn. There is something special about sitting outside with friends, enjoying the sunshine, listening to the conversations around you, and simply taking in the beautiful summer days.
As we prepare to welcome fall, we are thankful for all the wonderful memories August has given us. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your loved one’s lives and for trusting us to care for them. We hope when you visit, you see what we see every day—a place filled with friendship, laughter, connection, and plenty of reasons to smile.
Here’s to enjoying these last beautiful days of summer together! 🍉☀️🌻
Jensen Riley
Director of Nursing