Born in Murray County, she had seven siblings. Her earliest memories are milking cows with her daddy and knocking the milk over. She also remembers walking to church.
“She was a hard worker,” said Betty Johnson, her daughter. “She always liked to be a nice dresser and drive new cars. She also loved to cook for family and friends, and she loves traveling.”
Callahan said she would have loved to go to Hawaii but never got around to it.
She gave some advice for young people. “Save the nickels, dimes and pennies,” she said.
Wood Dale, Regency Park and Ridgewood Manor (Health and Rehabilitation facilities for Hamilton Long Term Care) recently hosted parades for residents and family members. Visitation has been restricted since early March to protect residents from COVID-19. Quinton Memorial was the first one to hold a parade in early May. Members of the care plan team had been working on creative strategies to allow family members and residents to see each other, and the social distancing parade idea was developed. Wood Dale residents Sara Lusk, Yvonne Hawkins, Elizabeth Hughes, and Peggy Stinson all said they enjoyed the parade and appreciated it. Stinson said she even danced.
parades at Wood Dale, Regency and Ridgewood
“It was just wonderful,” said Lusk. “Everything was so organized. I even heard the birds singing as I was getting ready for the celebration to begin, and then I saw my son and his wife and the banner they made. I started to cry. I was so happy.”
Ken Lusk, son of Sara Lusk attended. “I really appreciate the effort that was put into the parade, including how the residents were kept safe and separated,” he said. “That 25 seconds of joy, passing in front of my mom really meant a lot – job well done.”
Staff members helped residents make posters to hold up as their family members drove by at a safe distance. Residents lined up outside the facility while following social distancing guidelines. Regency Park resident Bettie Lane said the parade was her favorite activity since she’s been there. Kenneth Montieth, husband of resident Virginia Montieth said the parade was wonderful for him and his wife. “I could see the smiles even with masks on,” said Fostene Wimpy, daughter of Regency resident Geneva Walker. “Their faces were lit up.” Ridgewood Manor resident Nola Bramlett said she was happy to see her girls. “The parade was so much fun,” she said. Her daughters said they felt blessed to be able to see their mother. Many residents and family members said they were ready to have another parade soon.
Cyndi Washington, RN, Hospice clinical manager and administrator; Frances Lawrence, CAN; Jason Gonzales, CAN; Heather White, CAN; Mary Greene, RN, nurse supervisor; and Michelle Bruton, RN, nurse supervisor.
As part of the celebration of November as National Home Care and Hospice month, the National Association for Home Care (NAHC) recognized the second full week of November as Home Care Aide Week. These individuals are recognized for bringing personal warmth to the daily work of giving personal care.
Nurses and therapists can assist with medication administration, teaching and disease management. But many times, patients and caregivers do not know how to manipulate equipment, safely transfer a patient into a shower, give a bed bath, change a bed with a person in it, or turn and position a patient.
“These tasks can be overwhelming,” said Cyndi Washington, RN, Hamilton Hospice administrator a clinical manager. “A home health aide can be an invaluable ally to support families as they provide care to their loved ones.”
A home health aide is so much more than the person who gives a bath or straightens a room, according to Frances Lawrence, home health aide. “We are the eyes and ears for the nurses and therapists as well,” she said. “We can pick up on changes going on with a patient and report those changes to the patient’s nurse.”
Personal care is therapeutic, especially when it is provided with love and compassion. “A bath is not only a task listed on my assignment sheet, it is something I can do that can help a patient relax and feel so much better,” said Dee Underwood, hospice aide. “Washing someone’s hair, providing foot care or a back rub sometimes opens the door for that person to talk or express things they want or need to say. I enjoy getting to know each one of my patients.”
Hamilton Home Health and Hamilton Hospice employs a total of five home health and hospice aides.
“We have been blessed at this agency to have such caring people working as home health and hospice aides,” said Mary Greene, Home Health supervisor. “They not only care for the patient. They work with families and caregivers to teach them techniques to help patients be safer and feel more comfortable as they provide personal care.”
Hamilton Health Care System will hold a hiring event for Food Services, Environmental Services and Hamilton Long Term Care positions on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dalton Career Center, 1406 Chattanooga Ave., in Dalton.
Immediate openings are available for the following positions: chef, cook, certified nursing assistant, personal care assistant and registered nurse. Interviews will be conducted onsite. Additional positions are available as well.
Hamilton Health Care System’s C. Brian Delashmitt, DO, was recently named in the Becker’s Hospital Review Hospital and Health System CMOs to Know for 2023. CMOs are tasked with overseeing […]
Timothy Ashburn, MD, FCCP, believes talking with his patients, being inquisitive and taking a good medical history are vital to any treatment plan. “I have been taught that helping people […]
Ali Al-Azem, MD, MSHA, FCCP, FACP, believes the field of medicine is “a mission rather than a job.” Al-Azem recently joined Hamilton Physician Group – Specialty Care where he treats […]
Sponsored by Dalton Box Shaonia, a 9-year-old American Kennel Club registered American Staffordshire terrier, recently celebrated her 2,000th pet visit with Hamilton Medical Center (HMC). Shaonia has 2,840 volunteer hours […]
Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) will offer its next Take it to Heart Program on Monday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 25 at scheduled times. The program includes […]
Anna Shaw Children’s Institute (ASCI) will hold its next CHAMP (Classes to Help, Advise & Motivate Parents) webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at noon. Evan Anderson, PhD, pediatric psychologist, will […]
The Anna Shaw Children’s Institute ASCI), part of Hamilton Health Care System, will host a Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) workshop on Friday, Feb. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to […]
Theresa Gordon, who was manager of Labor and Delivery and now works in Clinical Informatics at Hamilton Medical Center, recently received the DAISY Leader Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leaders. The […]
Anna Shaw Children’s Institute (ASCI) recently received a surprise Christmas donation. Larry McDaniel, owner of Broken Arrow Tattoos, completed a toy drive with his clients. He donated a full truck […]
Staying away from the doctor is easy for individuals who feel well. But it isn’t the best strategy for long-term health, local providers say. Selecting a primary care provider – […]
Hamilton Health Care System (HHCS) is celebrating National Nursing Assistants Week, June 13-19. The theme for this year is “Nursing Assistants: Creating a Community of Caring.” The recognition week has been observed since 1977. Hamilton Health Care System employs nursing assistants within Hamilton Medical Center as well as at all four Hamilton Long Term Care facilities. Thank you for all that you do for our patients and organization.
Regency Park Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Assistants
Wood Dale Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Assistants
Ridgewood Manor Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Assistants
Quinton Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Assistants
Hamilton Health Care System’s Long Term Care facilities, including Regency Park Health and Rehabilitation, Wood Dale Health and Rehabilitation, Ridgewood Manor Health and Rehabilitation and Quinton Memorial Health and Rehabilitation, celebrated National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), which runs from May 12 to 18. The theme for this year’s national observance, “Live Soulfully,” celebrates skilled nursing centers, their residents and staff, by showcasing how they achieve happy minds and healthy souls. Established by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in 1967, NSNCW, formerly known as National Nursing Home Week, provides an opportunity for residents and their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and surrounding communities to acknowledge the role of skilled nursing care centers in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.
