Thank you, Willson House...
Jo Lutz
Letter to the Willson House staff from the Jo Lutz family:
"I am really having a hard time putting into words the gratitude and the thank yous for everything you've done for our family. Never once said a negative word any ANY of the gals or maintenance. And we all know she would let you know if she did not like someone or something. As she became just a bit more difficult to deal with towards the end, it seemed to me that a couple of the gals really made it kind of personal. And by that I man they made sure Jo had everything she needed or wanted or asked for.
I, as you know, spent a lot of time with her. So I saw on a daily basis the effort the girls made, and in many cases the effort equaled extra work. For that and for everything we thank you. I did not want to single anyone out because if you omit or forget someone, feelings can get hurt, but that's not my intention.
I can't finish this without personally thanking Georgia and Andi. I could NEVER do your job. NEVER! Jessica, you were with us the whole way. You are a rock. Very small but VERY srong. Thank you so much. Andrea, you dealt with me on a daily basis, sorry about that. But thank you Doug for putting up with us all night long. Again thank you, Annette - your kindness and compassion was so awesome. Thank you. To the many I left out, I am sorry."
"I am really having a hard time putting into words the gratitude and the thank yous for everything you've done for our family. Never once said a negative word any ANY of the gals or maintenance. And we all know she would let you know if she did not like someone or something. As she became just a bit more difficult to deal with towards the end, it seemed to me that a couple of the gals really made it kind of personal. And by that I man they made sure Jo had everything she needed or wanted or asked for.
I, as you know, spent a lot of time with her. So I saw on a daily basis the effort the girls made, and in many cases the effort equaled extra work. For that and for everything we thank you. I did not want to single anyone out because if you omit or forget someone, feelings can get hurt, but that's not my intention.
I can't finish this without personally thanking Georgia and Andi. I could NEVER do your job. NEVER! Jessica, you were with us the whole way. You are a rock. Very small but VERY srong. Thank you so much. Andrea, you dealt with me on a daily basis, sorry about that. But thank you Doug for putting up with us all night long. Again thank you, Annette - your kindness and compassion was so awesome. Thank you. To the many I left out, I am sorry."
May Jane Drazdoff
Letter to the Willson House staff from the daughters of May Jane Drazdoff:
"Our Mother, May Jane Drazdoff is celebrating the most wonderful Mother's Day ever. She is with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she completes the end of her family line by being with all of them again.
We, the Drazdoff family, want to share with all of you a beautiful story about a special woman who spent the last 15 months and 10 days of her life in the most wonderful home that anyone could ask for, and that home is called Willson House.
It's true that the grounds are gorgeous, with the creek meandering through and of course the ducks, geese, and squirrels that we would feed peanuts to when we were in the dining room. But it's the love that overflows from you, the staff. Almost daily we would come and visit our mother, but it became a treat to see all of you, also. For you became important to us.
From the administration that is so efficient and helpful, to the kitchen staff that makes such delicious food and who often went the extra mile for mom so that she would eat something. And the maintenance crew who can fix anything with a smile and always went out of their way to say a cheerful hello to us. And we must mention how clean everything is kept, along with the pretty décor and all the fun activities that are always available.
And last but not least are the special caregivers. The caregiver who was with our mom when the Lord took her home, mom called "Dimples!" It made us feel so much better to know that there was someone with her. And a little smile for the caregiver who made mom grimace with the threat of Ensure if she didn't eat enough. Even mom's grimace was cute. There was the caregiver who called her "May-May," and the special thoughtfulness of the caregiver who brought my sister and I a box of chocolates and some beautiful flowers with her darling son, just to make us feel loved, just soon after the loss of our mother. And the nurse who was there when mom asked her to hold her hand and sing her a Jesus song. She did gladly and that song was "Amazing Grace!"
These are just a few stories of the type of wonderful, caring people all of you are and because of that you made the world a better place. Continue to be the champions you are and we cannot express the heartfelt thanks for loving our mother, May.
All our gratitude,
Carol Siegner and Sharon Spinas
P.S. Please accept this donation to the Tree of Life fund in memory of our beloved mother, May Jan Drazdoff."
Pauline is greatly missed.
"Thank you, Willson House staff, for the best possible care our mother could have received."
-Anita, Carol, Phyllis, and Jerry (children of Pauline)
"At the time that Pauline no longer recognized her own home and town as a memory anchor, she moved to Willson House. She could walk without a walker but was encouraged to adopt her walker for safety. She could sign her name. She could converse in complete sentences with the ability to convince people that she was discussing a reality that might be agreed upon by more than just her. She came to the same table each day for meals, had friends join her, could order and make choices and could feed herself. As the horrible disease progressed, she needed help cutting her food into usable bites and needed an aide to walk with her to meals. Eventually, she was followed to meals with a wheelchair directly behind her in case she decided to sit. The walker was used less; just to transfer from her chair or bed to her wheelchair. Sentences disappeared, were reduced to phrases or single words. Finally, the only words left were "yes," "no" and "maybe." She slumped in her chair, needed to be pulled up into a sitting position many times each day. She spent more time taking naps. Food was reduced to puree and thickened liquids to compensate for the the lessened reflex that would cover her trachea when swallowing.
Through all the changes, there was never a time that she wasn't treated like a queen. She was included in the activities, even it if was just being in the same room or space. She was dressed in nice clothes each day, including jewelry and make-up. She was never ignored, many people stopping to smile and laugh with her and inquire about her ever-present stuffed cat. She was always addressed by name. There was no one, no matter their title, that did not see themselves responsible for her care. As her world became narrower, there was never a time when her humanity was not recognized
We, her children want to thank Willson House staff for the best possible care our mother could have received. We miss her and miss all of you as well. The Starbucks card enclosed with this letter is a small token. You could get a coffee, of course, but if you had listened to the sharing at the funeral by her grandchildren, you might instead get a cookie to honor Pauline. She would have."
-Anita, Carol, Phyllis, and Jerry (children of Pauline)
"At the time that Pauline no longer recognized her own home and town as a memory anchor, she moved to Willson House. She could walk without a walker but was encouraged to adopt her walker for safety. She could sign her name. She could converse in complete sentences with the ability to convince people that she was discussing a reality that might be agreed upon by more than just her. She came to the same table each day for meals, had friends join her, could order and make choices and could feed herself. As the horrible disease progressed, she needed help cutting her food into usable bites and needed an aide to walk with her to meals. Eventually, she was followed to meals with a wheelchair directly behind her in case she decided to sit. The walker was used less; just to transfer from her chair or bed to her wheelchair. Sentences disappeared, were reduced to phrases or single words. Finally, the only words left were "yes," "no" and "maybe." She slumped in her chair, needed to be pulled up into a sitting position many times each day. She spent more time taking naps. Food was reduced to puree and thickened liquids to compensate for the the lessened reflex that would cover her trachea when swallowing.
Through all the changes, there was never a time that she wasn't treated like a queen. She was included in the activities, even it if was just being in the same room or space. She was dressed in nice clothes each day, including jewelry and make-up. She was never ignored, many people stopping to smile and laugh with her and inquire about her ever-present stuffed cat. She was always addressed by name. There was no one, no matter their title, that did not see themselves responsible for her care. As her world became narrower, there was never a time when her humanity was not recognized
We, her children want to thank Willson House staff for the best possible care our mother could have received. We miss her and miss all of you as well. The Starbucks card enclosed with this letter is a small token. You could get a coffee, of course, but if you had listened to the sharing at the funeral by her grandchildren, you might instead get a cookie to honor Pauline. She would have."
My Experience with Willson House
-Cindy Hannum
"Last year my mother passed away at Willson House after an extended illness with Lewy Body Dementia. This highly debilitating disease left her virtually bedfast with severe cognitive and physical impairment. For four years the staff of Willson House lovingly cared for her and offered me support and friendship as her daughter. I remain very appreciative and grateful to the staff.
I am retired now, but formally was an administrator with the State of Oregon, overseeing statewide regulation of nursing and community based care facilities serving elderly and people with disabilities. I understand care standards and what makes a good care facility from a regulatory standpoint. I chose Willson House for my mother when I could no longer physically do the care myself in part because they had a good regulatory history.
More importantly, I chose Willson House because I knew the strong culture of personalized service and caring for residents that has long existed at Willson House.
From the nurses and care aides, to the kitchen and housekeeping staff – everyone was attentive and kind to my mother, and tried to honor her preferences as much as she could indicate them with her illness. And they listened to and shared information with me so that we were really a team focusing on the best for my mother."
-Cindy Hannum
"Last year my mother passed away at Willson House after an extended illness with Lewy Body Dementia. This highly debilitating disease left her virtually bedfast with severe cognitive and physical impairment. For four years the staff of Willson House lovingly cared for her and offered me support and friendship as her daughter. I remain very appreciative and grateful to the staff.
I am retired now, but formally was an administrator with the State of Oregon, overseeing statewide regulation of nursing and community based care facilities serving elderly and people with disabilities. I understand care standards and what makes a good care facility from a regulatory standpoint. I chose Willson House for my mother when I could no longer physically do the care myself in part because they had a good regulatory history.
More importantly, I chose Willson House because I knew the strong culture of personalized service and caring for residents that has long existed at Willson House.
From the nurses and care aides, to the kitchen and housekeeping staff – everyone was attentive and kind to my mother, and tried to honor her preferences as much as she could indicate them with her illness. And they listened to and shared information with me so that we were really a team focusing on the best for my mother."