Messiah Village Adult Day Services utilizes an individualized approach of health, social and support services for older adults who are age 55 and better. We provide a comforting, and nurturing environment for you or your loved one. This is essential for many families as our support provides much needed respite for family caregivers during daytime hours.  It is our goal to promote the maximum level of independence possible for each person through the implementation of supportive services that help to maintain an individual’s present level of functioning as long as possible while also striving to restore or rehabilitate the individual to his/her highest possible level of functioning.

At Messiah Village Adult Day, Lloyd has found a new passion for painting.

Our clients participate in various bus trips and lunch outings as well as intergenerational programs and social programs related to cooking, gardening, pet therapy and music therapy. We serve a well balanced, nutritious lunch daily.  Additionally, clients receive a variety of support and health services such as water exercise, rehabilitation services, podiatry services, bathing assistance and beauty salon and barber services.

Our staff are trained to provide support to our clients as well as family caregivers who can become overwhelmed at times with the responsibility of care giving.

Learn more about Messiah Village’s approach to adult day that is enriching and uplifting!

Adult Day Services Tour & Info Session
Choose the date and location that is best for you!
Fridays, October 14, 21, 28, & November 4 at 9:30 am
Locations: Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg & Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church

RSVP by calling the Welcome Center at 717-790-8201 or email life@messiahvillage.org.

Once a year, in mid-July, I am removed from my usual role in Construction Services here at Messiah Village and join the Maintenance crew for a week.  We head down to Mount Joy Country Homes to perform preventative maintenance on the cottages, reuniting with old friends and meeting some new ones as well.  We perform maintenance on the HVAC units, clean dryer lines and gutters and follow an extensive checklist to help the cottages run efficiently and smoothly.  As I reflect on the week gone by I am reminded of the maintenance that is so often required in my own life.

Home ownership can be a grueling task; the honey-do list never seems to end while the projects can become costly and time-consuming.  Between yardwork, urgent repairs and the “that would look cool” list I can see that, well, my work here on earth is not nearly complete.  It almost makes me wish I could retire at Messiah or Mount Joy Country Homes and have that all taken care of by someone else.  But enough of the propoganda…….

Then I reflect on myself as a person; the spiritual, relational and physical aspects of life.  If I did nothing to build (or maintain) my relationships with my friends and family I would soon find myself quite lonely and in need of repair; “no man is an island.”  And now that the beloved 20’s have come and gone I notice that my body requires healthier fuel and exercise to achieve the desired outcome.

I guess the point of my ranting is to remind myself, and perhaps even you, to take the time to evaluate your current “maintenance needs.”  A checklist, even some goals, might help your life run more efficiently and, Lord-willing, a little more enjoyable.

Here is this weeks installment.

You can view this on our Facebook page too, just click on Messiah Village.

The world completed the month of April with the extravagant and impressive royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton-with all its crowning glory! What a grand gala after months of preparation and an estimated 32 million dollars in expenditures! A few hours of celebration at a tremendous cost! Many will ask if it was worth it, but my question is this: With all of the time, effort, cost and planning for the wedding day, how much was spent on preparation for the marriage to follow? How have William and Kate prepared to deal with the trials and complexities of every day married life?

Doris and Nick Hassler

Harold and Ruth Smeltzer

Well, on the same day, far “across the pond,” another celebration was taking place in Messiah Village’s Special Care neighborhood. An event which, in my estimation, far surpassed the pomp and circumstance of William and Kate’s wedding festivities. We celebrated four very special couples with a renewal of their wedding vows. Between them these couples have been married for a combined total of well over 250 years! Now that is something worth celebrating!

Joe and Helen Lappano

Don and Anna Zook

The idea for the ceremony came from the creative imagination of Krystal Robinson-Bert, activities specialist in Special Care. When all was said and done, the festivities included a beautifully decorated “chapel,” along with hats, flowers and programs for all the guests. A reception followed the Renewal of Vows Ceremony, complete with a beautiful wedding cake and punch, soft lights and music.

Debby Bentch

A special thanks and congratulations goes to the four couples who are an amazing example of dedicated commitment to a life-long marriage: Joe and Helen Lapano, Harold and Ruth Smeltzer, Nick and Doris Hassler and Donald and Anna Zook. As I watch these couples interact with one another I am blessed and encouraged. As well, two of these extraordinary spouses are in Special Care every day to assist in the care, feeding and nurture of the one they committed themselves to all those years ago,

“to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.”

Thanks for to all of those who helped make this an extraordinary celebration: Ann Good, Dotty Taylor, Melody Dietz, Helen Bitner and Krystal Robinson-Bert and to all of those who celebrated these couples with your presence and your blessings.

This has been an eye-opening experience for me to sit in hospital waiting rooms, communicate with multiple family members, interface with Messiah Village Home Care and help with everyday living after the surgeries. As a mother of two elementary students, I now understand the phrase “sandwich generation”! Thankfully, my loved one is recovering well and is back to doing most activities independently. But, for many people the role of caregiver can go on for years.

Matt Gallardo (pictued above) is the Director of Admissions at Messiah Village. He recently shared an article that he wrote with me. Matt has seen a lot throughout his career as he has worked with hundreds of families who are tired and need practical help. He was a big help to me as I worked through the options available for my parent. I share his thoughts with you and tip a HUGE hats off to all the caregivers. You are a blessing from God to those you serve. I now have an even greater admiration for what you do. Thank you.

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Devoting oneself to care for a chronically ill or disabled spouse, family member or a friend is a noble and compassionate deed.  But for those of you who have done it, you know it can often be overwhelming and ultimately you can get burned out.   The change in family dynamics, the physical, mental and emotional strain and often financial concerns can really take its toll on your relationship and the well being of your loved one as well as your own.   Feeling hopeless, exhausted, angry, resentful, guilty and isolated are just a few of the very common symptoms of caregiver burnout.   It is vital to learn to how to cope with these symptoms and the stressors of being a caregiver.   Otherwise you may end up with a risky situation for yourself and your loved one.  Below are a just few tips to reduce the stress of caregiving.

• Stay healthy!  Eat right, get plenty of sleep and exercise.  This will also improve your mood.  You have to take care of yourself first; otherwise you won’t be around to be a caregiver.
• Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, mediation, yoga or even Tai Chi.  These techniques can provide a great release and can recharge your battery.
• Stay socially active and surround yourself with positive people.  Attending church, civic groups, family gatherings and getting out on a regular basis and interacting with those that have an interest in your feelings and well being can be a great distraction.
• Accept or seek additional help.  You cannot do it alone.  If others are willing to help in anyway, take that help to make your caregiving schedule more manageable.  There are also plenty of resources and services available to caregivers to alleviate stress out in the community and particularly here at Messiah Village.  We have social workers and other designated staff that can help connect you to these resources such as:

Messiah Village Adult Day Services 717-790-8224

Messiah Village Home Care, LLC 717-790-8209

Messiah Village Enhanced Living Respite (short-term stay) 717-790-8201

Messiah Village Massage Therapy 717-790-8209

Messiah Village Rehabilitation Services 717-790-8225

Alzheimer’s Support Group 717-697-4666

For more information go to messiahvillage.org

or call the Welcome Center at 717-790-8201.

Getting ready to ride in the parade

It was a blast to get out and wave to all the kids and parents. We wanted to share a picture with you from the event.

Last week, my husband and I had a birthday party for our son who just turned 5. The theme was “Star Wars”.  To make the event extra festive, my husband decided to make a cake for my son’s birthday. “Make a cake” seems a bit understated for what he ended up creating. It was a 24-hour labor of love that resulted in gasps, unbelief and a lot of excitement.

At the end of the night, my husband and I both agreed that it was the best party we’ve had. Why? Not much was different from other family birthday parties. That cake not only tasted great, but looked amazing. It set the tone for the party and brought a new energy to the celebration.

Over the last several months, I have also sensed a new sense of energy at the Fireside Grille as new changes are implemented. It is amazing to even see the ambience change as the hearthstone oven was added and as our chefs serve us in their bright white chef attire.

The daily menu specials of salmon, sliders, taco salads, specialty pizzas, paninis and more have also added to the energy. I understand the changes to the Fireside Grille have just begun! I hear we will soon be enjoying made-to-order salads, artisan breads, and new international flavors.

Next Wednesday, June 23 from 11 am to 2 pm there will be a Grand Opening of the NEW Fireside Grille. Many of the local merchants who supply food to the Fireside Grille will be on hand to provide free samples.

If you are around that day, stop by for some free samples of salads, pizzas, cookies, parfaits and more! Everyone is welcome.

What is your favorite new dish at the Fireside Grille? I’m a big fan of the salmon with the orange glaze and the sweet potato fries!

I then decided to call the reception desk here at Messiah Village to explain my situation to the receptionist and ask for help. Very shortly I received a call from Geli Losch, Director of Community Based Services, telling me she would like to visit and talk to us. Geli arrived shortly despite it being a Saturday and the second big snowstorm. She brought along the nurse on duty to help evaluate my husband. Fortunately, Geli knows my husband very well and could tell right away he was not himself. I proceeded to show them his medications and was told by the nurse to cease giving him the pills. They suggested we go to a different hospital by ambulance and get another opinion.

We agreed and after some discussion Geli called the maintenance people to clear our driveway. They were here before she hung up! She and the nurse then spoke with the hospital to inform them of our situation and the types of medications my husband had been taking. At this point I was concerned how we’d get home if we arrived via ambulance. Geli assured me that someone from the Village would be able to drive us home. I took along a list of my husband’s medications the nurse had written for us to give to the hospital staff.

The hospital discovered that my husband had a compression fracture of his lower spine and proceeded to give him correct treatment and got him off the other medications. He stayed overnight and the next day he was brought home by someone from the Village. Geli then worked to get him into Wagner, our rehabilitation neighborhood. He was there a few short days later and stayed about five days, receiving the care and physical therapy he needed.

I definitely feel that the preparation and efficiency on behalf of the Messiah Village employees helped us to get the care and attention we needed. He received out-patient physical therapy for the next week or so. Today he is nearly better and improving every day! Without Messiah Village and all the wonderful help and support we were fortunate to have, I don’t know what I would’ve done. So thanks to everyone involved and thanks to Messiah Village for being the wonderful place it is!

It may come as a surprise to some that  Messiah Village manages a small active adult community in Mount Joy called Mount Joy Country Homes. This is home to 50 residents living in 38 cottages.

Over the last year, we have been promoting the news that we are planning to transform the 8-acre retirement community to a 34-acre community with 114 cottages, a community center, assisted living, and commercial space. We are now ready to break ground on the first 10 cottages.

To see the site plan in detail go to: http://www.mjch.org/the-community/master-plan.php

What is so “funny” about this ground breaking is that it rained. I can’t tell you the number of events we have tried to hold a Country Homes this past year that were rained out! It has been a running joke. So, we really should not have been surprised when it rained 4 hours early and just in time for the ceremony.

Thankfully, it didn’t stop more than 50 people from coming out to witness the historic event.

Carl Ginder who is overseeing the expansion spoke a few words and then he was joined by a team representing many different groups who are excited to see this project get started.

Participating in the ground breaking ceremony:(Left to Right) Christine Stoltzfus, Senator Brubaker’s Office; Carl Ginder, Board Chair of Mount Joy Country Homes; Todd Newpher, Mount Joy Chamber President; Ken Barto, Mount Joy Borough; Dr. Emerson Lesher, President of Messiah Village; Alex Piehl, RGS Associates; Joe Wagman, President of Wagman Construction; James Lesher, Resident and Community Manager of Mount Joy Country Homes

It was an exciting day to finally see the project begin. Everyone enjoyed celebrating afterwards.

To learn more about the new cottages that will be ready this fall, visit www.MJCH.org.

• Last year we completed 93 renovations, varying in size and detail
• We renovated 13 cottages in the average time of 61 days
• 13 apartments were renovated in the average time of 50 days
• 61 assisted living rooms were revamped in the average time of 4 days

I love the variety of tasks that we perform on a daily basis; plumbing, electrical, framing and the always popular painting.  But what I love most is the look in a new resident’s eye when they see the finished product……..        we’re not just transforming spaces, we’re enhancing lives!