Blog

Columbia Cottage Team would like to Welcome our new  2 nd shift Wellness Director, Jessie Ohler. Please give her a warm welcome as she learns about Columbia Cottage. We are very excited that she decided to join our Cottage family I started as a CNA in October 2006 after taking the CNA certification course.  I graduated from the Hanover Practical Nursing Program in January 2012. I worked as a home health nurse for two years while still working per diem in skilled nursing.  After my private duty nursing position sadly ended when my client passed away, I decided to work full time at Homewood on both their skilled nursing floors and their rehab floor.  I have 15 years of experience with dementia/memory care, along with some time working as a Clinical Coordinator for a family medical practice.  I am currently in school to obtain my RN.  My husband’s name is Justin, and we have an 8-year-old son named Julian.  Our son does karate and he is halfway to a Black Belt.   We have seven chickens and one Pug named Moe.  I truly enjoy spending time with my chickens as well as cooking and keeping a clean and tidy home.  I also LOVE to eat food and talk about food.  Cooking while listening to music is also one of my favorite hobbies.  Sometimes just sleeping is also nice!

Our crafty residents enjoyed making yarn trees for the Holidays.

We want to thank all vendors, families, and residents for making our Christmas Bazaar a wonderful event.  There was so much laughter and Holiday Cheer.

Everyone knows that the start of a new year is the perfect time to make resolutions and start anew.  Some of the new things happening at the cottage in 2023 are:  we will soon have a new admin/activities assistant, new performers will be entertaining the residents, new daily exercise routines, new menu items, and new residents moving in.  All of us are very excited for 2023 and we wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!!

Many of you are familiar with our Resident Wellness Director, Chris Hoos.  Chris has been a true asset to the Cottage since she started with us in April of last year.  So much so that Chris has been promoted to Resident Service Director and we are all very excited to have her in this new role.

We had a festive month in December filled with laughter and cheer.  Our residents celebrated the month with Christmas carols, holiday movies, decorating gingerbread cookies with Holy Cross students, delicious treats and of course several parties and happy hours to celebrate the season!

As we begin a fresh year, I encourage us all to rejoice in the fact that God is continuously working newness into our lives.  Don’t let recent disappointments and failures define you or dampen your expectations.  This is the time to make a fresh start.  Today is a precious gift that was carefully prepared for each of us with tender attention to every unique and special detail.  As it is written, “…search for signs of My loving Presence as you journey along the path of Life.  Look for the little pleasures I have strewn alongside your pathway – sometimes in surprising places – and thank Me for each one…” Jim

As we sat here and thought of what to write there were so many things that came to mind. We found this in our thinking process: This Christmas, mend a quarrel, seek out a forgotten friend, write a love letter, share some treasure. Give a soft answer, encourage youth. Keep a promise, find the time, forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong, think first of someone else, be kind and gentle. Laugh a little, laugh a little more. Express your gratitude, gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, speak it again, and speak it still once again. (Anonymous) These words spoke so loudly as we think of things that have transpired this year, we can safely say that we have had a year of recovery, and hopefully more of a “normal” world. We are simply thankful for the support of our families, friends, outside providers and most of all our residents and our amazing team. Each one of you is such an amazing part of this journey. We must take a moment to thank several folks for their unconditional support, Ed Hudan and his team over at the Medicine Shoppe for taking such wonderful care of us and our residents. From COVID clinics to flu shots! Caring Hospice, Holistic Hospice, and Tower Health Hospice, Rehab 1, Accent Care, Tower Health Lab, Dr. Kirk, Dr. Pearlstein, Eucabeth Oma, CRNP and Alessia Stanizzi, SW. Your care and love for our residents is a true testament to each of your organizations.  To our Regional Team, for always being there for the added support and dedication. There is no way that we could do this without the families of our residents, their unwavering support and dedication to our mission and to their loved ones is second to none. Last but certainly not least. Robin and I are beyond blessed to have an incredible team, they have proven over and over again that it takes a special type of person to do what we do. You are the most amazing humans we know, thank you for always being here, being willing to take overtime and for the countless hours of laughs. In our parting words, as this holiday season begins, take a moment to spread some extra love and cheer along with a deep cleansing breath and recognize you, your accomplishments, and the kindness of your heart. Robin and I wish you the all the best throughout this blessed season.

Veteran’s Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our Veterans. Columbia Cottage celebrates our Residents & Staff Veterans and all military personnel who served the United States. We Thank You! David Hassler – Army Russell Reinhart – Army Robert Rymshaw – Air Force Noreen Krymski – Navy William Mierzejewski – Marine Corp John Gehris – Marine Corp

Remembering Courage, Honoring Sacrifice: Irving Berlin introduced “God Bless America” sung by Kate Smith on November 11, 1938, at the New York World’s Fair. Together on November 11, 2022, the Residents and Staff joined in song singing “God Bless America” as we recognized and honored our Veterans: Robert Swartz, Arthur Hall, Philip Comito, Donald Tinsman, John Scrimgeour, and George Hirschmann. Thank you to Veteran and HCP Account Executive, Michelle Gutshall, and Cassy from Susquehanna Township High School for partnering with us in this special event.

Columbia Cottage would like to give thanks for our wonderful residents and family members. We had a delightful evening decorating our Thanksgiving tree and giving thanks for our bountiful blessings. Thanks to all who participated in the food drive for the PA food bank.

We had a fun time painting pumpkins for our not-so-scary Halloween decorations.