John H Graham II <jhg@...> wrote: --- In
JohnGrahamOne@yahoogroups.com, john.graham@... wrote:

.....IT IS NEVER FUN TO BE CORRECTED...IN FACT IT IS PAINFUL AT THE
TIME...BUT
IF WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES WE WILL GAIN A PEACE THAT WE HAVE NEVER
KNOWN...~ WELCOME To the Monday "Field of Dreams Today"....The Email that
salutes "America's Greatest Generation" and all of our Senior
Citizens......Having run a retirement home that had been in our family for
almost 50 years I get asked what to look for if you need such a facility,,,,,Our
home was a residential asst living home....residents that coukld come and go
.....No secure lock down units and such....But over the years Hospital patients
have become Nursing Home patients and nursing home patients have become
retirement home residents....We were one of the only facilities in the state
that took both Private pay residents and medicaid residents...And no one knew
which was which.....Our outstanding staff treated everyone like a member of
their own family.....We were known for our name and excellant good
reputation.....Many times we were asked to take people that no other facilty had
been able to keep.....We did and almost always were able to intergrate the
resident in
our community...We even had some residents as young as 25...OK when checking
out a home think of some of the following - Brefore you even go call the BBB
....See if they are in the Chamber of Commerce...Do they advertise in the local
paper.....Than stop at any businesses around the home and ask them what they
think ...Are they GOOD citizens?- Go to your state's social services website and
see what violations they had in their recent state audit - Pop in at breakfast
or lunch and see what the residemts are eating - Pop in in the afternoon to see
if they are giving the rewidents probert activities - Talk to the residents and
see if they are happy...You can do most of this before you even let the facility
know you may be a clirnt....When you do meet with the facility administrator ask
them about the most recent state review...If it is so different than what you
found tell them what you have heard...If they still avoid the issue pull out a
copy and excuse your self...That
state audit is suppose to be posted in a public space anyway...And of course
see if the building seems clean..or smells,,,,and if the staff you observe seems
friendly and caring....If uoi hear anyone yelling at a resident or just another
employee - RUN.,,Ask to see several rooms - Not just a model...See if the room
seems clean...Flush the toilet to see if it works...Do have have a full time
maintanience person....Ask where the doctors offices are located ...If your
relative does move in be sure to call often to the staff to see how your loved
one is doing...Visit often....We had an 80 year old building...but it was kept
clean...painted....and a very nice environment for our residents..Our state
inspector even used us as an example to new retirement home operators to
follow...During our last 10 years we actually had years that we lost alot of
money,,,But my parents did not want to sell a family owned and operated
retirement home....We lived in the building...Our family were
our residents and staff...After my Dad's death in 2006 my Mom wanted to
retire..The business reminded us everyday about my Dad.so close from his death..
...As many of you know I am rareky a loss for words...But when we annouced we
were selling I openly weeped when I called Rick Gunter and Billy Colebuen..The 2
guys that owned our 2 local papers..I told them this was one press release that
I couldn;t do....They both did a great job on the announcement......So be very
carefull in your search..Remember it's really not about the builing so much..If
it;s safe aand clean - it's all about the people inside that operate it..... ~


TODAY IN HISTORY - ROME is Founded.....
you might be a Redneck...Someone ask to see your id and you show them
your
belt buckle/....

FROM "BIG LEAGUE DREAMS"...Losing a bet to a rival team meant having my
head
shaved at home plate in front of a full crowd in Geneva,NY in
1990...also
shaved head and all and my staff had to sleep overnight on the
pitchers mound.
We were awoken by stadium security the next morning--no one told them
about
our bet--but the Cubs front office came to our rescue...The
interesting thing
was that my fans--AUBURN, NY--enjoyed it the most...MY..BOOSTER CLUB - Our bet
was who won the season series between the Astros and the
Cubs..No
Pete Rose kind of bet....We did have.Pete Rose,jr was in our league that
year.. ~ A VERY WARM AND HAPPY PASSOVER For our Jewsish brothers and
Sisters!!!........
I hope everyone has a great week...Painting the Internet..Red White and Blue
That's my Field of dreams....."Sic Semper Tyrannis"..Let's Roll!!

~ "God Bless the USA" ~ PO Box 105 Nottoway,VA 23955 - 434-247-6143 -
Email Fax 253-484-6438 -http://JohnGraham.net - Notary Public - Inductee -
Chairman Peninsula Pro Baseball Hall of Fame - Member Marquis Who's Who in
America 1993-2007 ~Proud Lifetime Member- Major League Baseball Alumni - Minor
League Baseball Alumni Assoc - Assoc of Pro Ballplayers of America - Sons of
Confederate Veterans - S.A.B.R. Society for American Baseball Research ~ Kiwanis
- Moose -American Legion Auxillary -"Sic Semper Tyrannis" -Sports Editor Crewe
Burkevill Journal -Assoc Sports info Director WMBG Radio- "Ne Oublie" ~ Let's
Roll!! ~







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]