Nursing Care

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Nurses Barb Schwartz and Lisa Beaver and Hospice Nurse Supervisor Debbie Shilling of Hospice of the Good Shepherd recently received their Hospice and Palliative Care certification from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. The certification recognizes their expertise in the field of pain relief and symptom control. Other Hospice of the Good Shepherd employees who have received the certification are Dr. Carolyn Classen, medical director; Janet Dell, director; and Bob Soergel, Hospice nurse supervisor.

Answers to some confusing health care questions might lie at local houses of worship. Parish nurses are now widely available to perform routine screenings and to help people sort out how they should respond to health problems in their lives. For more than 10 years, Wendy Zimmerman has served as coordinator of parish nursing through the Washington County Health System. Most of those parish nurses, Zimmerman said, are volunteers, many in teams at larger houses of worship.

Virginia Poling's father was a pastor, several of her uncles were pastors, she married a pastor and two of her sons are pastors. "We go back a long way in the ministry. Her whole life was in the church. I'm her pastor now," said the Rev. Ed Poling, as he reflected on his mother's 100 years of life. Virginia Smith was born in Nevada, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1911. With her health hanging in the balance last year, Virginia's family wasn't sure she'd make it to the century mark. "We told her she'd live to be 100 because she was stubborn," said Ed Poling, who is the pastor at the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren.

Residents of Avalon Manor Nursing Care Center celebrated National Nursing Home Week May 14-20. The week ended May 19 with a Spring Fling with games, food and a helium balloon launch.

Joey Hemphill and Chris Mills, staff members at Ravenwood Lutheran Village, recently were honored as winners of the Washington County yearly awards hosted by the Director of Nursing Association. Hemphill was named Registered Nurse of the Year while Mills was named Geriatric Nursing Assistant of the Year. "Every nursing home in Washington County has the opportunity to participate in this program so this a pretty prestigious award for these women to win," said Amy Olack, director of the nursing care center at Ravenwood Lutheran Village.

Ginger, Ravenwood Lutheran Village's canine companion, is celebrating her 10th birthday this week. Ginger spends each weekday at Ravenwood Lutheran Village's Nursing Care Center providing vital furry friendship as well as smile therapy. Her duties include greeting visitors, making daily rounds, lending a floppy ear as needed and giving lots of love. She enjoys eating whatever food people will give her, taking naps and a really good belly scratch. Ginger is a vital part of the Ravenwood Lutheran Village family.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Lutheran Home Care & Hospice Inc. recently recognized significant service milestones for four of its dedicated employees. Together, the four represent 100 years of service. Mary Ann Shank, second from left, human resources specialist, has been with the agency since its inception 30 years ago. Liz Keller, left, manager of client accounts, and Sharon Monn, RN, right, admission care nurse, both of whom started on the same day, have served the agency for 25 years each.

Nelda Virginia Daugherty Foltz, 95, of Hagerstown, Md., died Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, at Ravenwood Nursing Care Center. Born July 18, 1917, in Williamsport, Md., she was the daughter of the late Howard James Daugherty and Ethel "Faye" Shull Daughterty. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker. Surviving family members include one daughter, Carolyn Sue Foltz Turner of North Dartmouth, Mass.; two sons, Carroll Phillip Foltz and Henry "Tim" Calvin Foltz III of Hagerstown; grandchildren, Caitlin McKenna and Allison Turner of Boston, Mass., Brian Foltz and Bethany Foltz of Hagerstown, Matthew Foltz of Mercersburg, Pa., and Emily Foltz of Hagerstown; and one great-grandchild, Landen Goetz of Hagerstown.

Avalon Manor Health Care Center will host a Professional Open House on Thursday, Nov. 11, from 3 to 6 p.m. Physicians and health care professionals are invited to see first hand the special programs and services available at Avalon Manor. The latest technology in health care, such as computer software that monitors resident care, state-of-the-art specialty beds and mattresses and osteoporosis screening equipment, will be on display. Tours of the facility, door prizes and refreshments will be provided.

Jay Shell, president and CEO of Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village, has been appointed to the Life-Span Products and Services board of directors. He also will serve on the policy committee, which focuses on the advocacy needs of seniors. LifeSpan, the largest senior-care provider association in the mid- Atlantic, represents more than 300 senior-care provider organizations in Maryland and Washington, D.C. LifeSpan's members include nonprofit and proprietary independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities, nursing facilities, subsidized senior housing, and community and hospital-based programs.