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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2015)
28 Wednesday, July 1, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon FIRE SEASON: Avoid human caused blazes in Sisters Country Continued from page 1 In both cases firefighters found residents of the fire district burning items in their yards. The people that were burning said that they did not know that burn season was closed. Fire Chief Thad Olsen reminds residents of Sisters Country that open burning of yard waste and other debris is prohibited in all Deschutes County fire districts. Burning season has been closed in the Black Butte, Cloverdale and Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Districts since May 1 due to the dry conditions of fuels in the area. A simple small debris fire can easily escape and get into nearby brush or vegetation and cause an uncontrolled fire. The U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Deschutes County have all instituted upgraded fire-use restric- tions due to the drought and extremely dry vegetation. Both of the fires on Tuesday were near public roadways. Officials urge that if you see someone that appears to be burning anything in their yard, call 911 immediately. Firefighters would much rather have the opportunity to educate our residents than fight an escaped burn with the possibility of injury or damage to someone’s house or business. Learning the fundamentals... photo by Jim corneliUS sisters youth learned soccer and had a good time during a uK soccer camp featuring instructors from great Britain. ANNA’S HOME: Caregivers, residents become family Continued from page 3 dissatisfied with management decisions about cost-cutting measures that, for example, left one caregiver handling 15 patients. “They were all about the bottom line and lost sight of the people they were serv- ing,” David said. “It was unfair all around.” Leah struggled with not being able to spend quality time with her patients. They realized what they both loved about their work was the hands-on part. Leah’s grandmother had Alzheimer’s Disease, which led her to research care and discovered a passion for help- ing people with dementia. “I’m a people-oriented person and like to have a bal- ance between caregiving and the administrative work,” she said. David had been a care- giver for his grandma and great-grandma since he was a kid, and felt comfortable in that role. “I always seemed to be helping people get their needs met,” he said. And so they quit their jobs and opened Absolute Serenity Adult Foster Care in 2009. They had fallen in love with Sisters and decided this was where they wanted to live, work, and raise their family. They started out living at the first home, but as their boys got older, they realized they needed more space and in 2013 bought another home for themselves. “Having a small home environment allows for one-on-one time and allows us to provide more compan- ionship,” Leah said. “We strive to enrich lives while providing quality care.” Residents may be seniors who are no longer able to live on their own due to age, illness or disability, but are still somewhat independent or they may be on hospice with a six-month prognosis. Memory care is provided to the point that a more secure environment becomes neces- sary due to violence, wander- ing, or other inappropriate behavior that interferes with other residents’ quality of life. To maintain licensing for this type of facility, DHS does yearly inspections for compliance with a follow-up after 6 months to make sure policies are being adhered to and any violations corrected. In their six years of opera- tion, the Tolles have never had a written violation. Each of the five bedrooms has a private bathroom with a sink and toilet. The entire home is wheelchair accessi- ble; all rooms have two-way monitors. There is a com- mon shower room with a call button for assistance. The Tolles will work to find a fit between the person and the level of care needed. Th e co m m o n ro o m s include a living room with a large flat-screen TV, a game setting, dining area and kitchen. They plan to keep residents active, engaged, moving and stimulated, but those who prefer quiet time alone can stay in their rooms. All residents wear a call button around their neck in case of fall or other emergency. Ashley Raymond will provide substitute care and work her way into being the resident manager at Anna’s Home. Her responsibili- ties include providing care, dispensing meds, cooking meals (although residents may help), and daily chores around the home. Until she is fully trained, the Tolles will take turns fulfilling those duties. They also have Tammy Haynes and Errin Tague to provide relief care as needed. The Tolles have been in contact with Sisters Park & Recreation District and Sisters Folk Festival, and hope to connect with other local organizations and encourage their residents to participate in local activities. She also hopes to acquire a van to be able to take resi- dents to local events. Applications are being accepted and new residents will start moving in July 5. For more information, call 541-848-3194. Kick Yer Heels Up! LIVE MUSIC DJ Chris, out of Bend D Friday, July 3 at 7 p.m. NO COVER! Open Wednesday thru Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 190 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters • 541-549-RIBS ( 7427 )
