4.290 blood, meetings, fopal

Monday 09/18/2023

Out at 8 to walk to PAMF. Dr. Marx has ordered a cortisol level test which involves having a blood draw, then 12 hours later taking a single dose of dexamethasone, and another blood draw. So I walk to PAMF for the first blood draw, then have a nice coffee and pastry for breakfast at Peets, and walk back.

At 10:30 it was time for the event coordinator’s meeting, where we finalize the calendar for the next month. Back to my room to enter all the events into our A/V calendar spreadsheet and schedule an A/V team meeting. Then to FOPAL for a couple of hours of book pricing.

Back in time for a quick nap and then Rhonda’s monthly open meeting. This is one thing that distinguishes CH from most senior facilities. Staff respects residents sufficiently to have monthly direct contacts, including things like, today, going over the Strategic Plan and how it is progressing.

Then Rhonda finished up by sharing a presentation she had given to the Lee Center residents last week. Called “road to Channing House” it was basically her autobiography. The initial motivation was a dementia program called the Golden Leaf, which among other things tries to build trust by having residents and staff share their “road” to where they are now. Rhonda led by example, but other staffers are expected to provide similar talks in coming months.

Anyway, her bio is quite impressive, with multiple degrees, first in financial management, which she practiced for a number of years as a consultant and as a manager; and then a masters in geriatric care. She met her husband the first day of college, and is still married to him. He’s a physicist and chemical engineer. They have one natural daughter and one adopted son.

Before supper I put together another event video, from zoom recordings of a memorial a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, I ordered new strings for Karen’s guitar. Lightweight ones, so hopefully it will not be too painful getting my calluses back. Do I want to practice enough to get my calluses back?