What do we do at CCNH?

We take care of our community's elders. There are many people who have multiple, chronic medical conditions that require 24-hour nursing care. We have people who live here who have cardiac problems, pulmonary problems, kidney disease, Parkinson's, MS, and more. Those include having had a stroke or memory loss (dementia). About 80% of our residents are in wheelchairs and most of the rest of them use a walker to get around. With a median age of 87, we are providing the best quality of like for the old-old people.

What can you do? How can you help? Let me know what you think you can do here. Send an email. Tell me that you can do something. One hour a month is great. More hours? That is good, but not a requirement.

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

HELPING OTHERS:

This might appear to be a conflict, but there is a local organization that needs volunteers. Empty Tomb, in Champaign, needs volunteers who will be able to commit to a four-hour shift once a week, every week. This opportunity would be helping to sort donated clothes.

Empty Tomb reaches out through their ministry to those folks who have a signifcant need to help them acquire things that they might not be able to afford to purchase. On a regular basis, we take clothes that have been donated to us. I am aware that the current group of volunteers work hard and that they can really use some more people to help.

Reach out to Empty Tomb; speak with their volunteer coordinator at 217-356-2262. You will feel good for doing this.

Jim

Volunteering for the summer.

We usually have many university students come to CCNH to help with organized activities. When they are gone, we miss their assistance. We need to have some replacement people.

This is what our needs are:

Wednesday evening Bingo at 6:30 (except the first Wednesday which is Ice Cream Social)
Saturday afternoon Bingo at 2:00 (except the last Saturday when we have a movie)
Root Beer Floats at 6:30 the last Thursday of the month
Friday afternoon's large social gathering at 2:00 (games, parties and fun)
Nail painting, most Tuesday afternoons at 2:00

Each of these opportunities will last about one hour, or a bit longer for Bingo depending on how fast the cards get filled.

If you want to help, let me know. Our activity assistants will welcome you!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

The only true disability in life is a bad attitude.
Scott Hamilton

Veterans at CCNH:

There are about 16 vets who live at Champaign County Nursing Home. If you are a vet from WWII or Korea or the Vietnam era, let me know and we can set up a time for you to visit with one or more of our them. We have men and women who spend time in the U.S. Military.

Jim
693-5016

Now is the time for all good volunteers to come to the aid of CCNH!

Here is some background. When we moved into our new facility in 2007, the Champaign County Board decided that they did not want any landscaping on the property! They did not seem to care whether the residents had a decent view from the building other than the Juvenile Detention Center and the County Satellite Jail complex. Nothing at all. They didn't even plant quality grass. Their concern appears to have been the sheltering of our community's elders and not much more! Shameful.

I was ashamed to tell people that I worked here. So, I solicited money from local people, County Board Members, City Council Members, Doctors, Lawyers, Architects (you get the idea). I received zero donations to help beautify the property. Then, I asked the family members of our residents and I received thousands of dollars. 

I purchased many trees, bushes, flowers, etc. and got them planted around the building. Country Arbors planted most of the big trees and I did the rest. I spent more than $5,000 to help make the facility look better. I was criticized by Mike Scavatto, the person from St. Louis who was hired by the county board to operate the nursing home. He claimed that our priority should be the front door and the impression that visitors would get when they first approached. WRONG! 

I planted outside the windows, in the courtyards. I helped to create habitat for wildlife and I brought some beauty to the place. It is starting to look good.

This is the time of year that everything is growing on the grounds of CCNH. I need some help with the maintaining of what I have planted. I need assistance with the dividing, weeding, watering and all the things that come with keeping the place looking good. I have developed a troublesome shoulder and I cannot do it all on my own anymore.

PLEASE, help me. During the growing season, I need only an hour or two each week to keep up with things. The weather will play a big part in when this will occur. You come in as your schedule permits and the weather dictates. During the heat of summer, it might take only 30 minutes each week to check on things. Or, if it rains a lot, then the weeds will try to take over and more time will need to be done.

Send me an email. Call me. You will feel good about doing something to help the Champaign County Nursing Home residents feel that their facility looks like a home.

Jim

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

217-693-5016

What’s in it for you?  It is the satisfaction that you had fun and brightened the day of one of our residents! If you have an idea that is different from what we usually do, let us know. We are always open to new ideas and suggestions. Group activities are encouraged.

Let me know, send an email: jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Jim

We are each of us angels with only one wing, and can only fly embracing each other.

Titus Lucretius Carus