Paper eggs used in fund-raiser
Pastel colored paper eggs will decorate area businesses in the next few weeks. These eggs are part of an Easter display, representing dollars that businesses and patrons are helping raise for Life-steps, a local nonprofit agen-cy serving individuals and families in need.
Egg-citement, the first fund-raiser of the year benefiting Lifesteps' Family Caring Fund, began March 1 and concludes March 31. Businesses participate by selling paper $1 pastel eggs or $5 golden eggs to their cus-tomers. In addition to the benefit of knowing that they are helping a worthy cause, employees at participating establishments can earn prizes on how many eggs they sell.
The Kittanning Valley Dairy is a participant.
Lifesteps has been helping individuals and families with life's changing needs for more than 80 years. The agency offers a wide range of services to the western Pennsylvania community includ-ing child care, child development screenings, care for adults with special needs and programs for the elderly.
For information or to see how businesses can help the Child Check program, call Lifesteps' Community Relations Department at 724-349-1122.
Selecting a personal care home is topic
The demand for Assisted Living services continues to grow. Yet, how do you know which personal care facility offers the best care⢠Which facility has the best rates⢠What qualities should you look for when comparing area personal care facilities⢠Lots of questions and now, here is your answer.
Chicora Medical Center, which offers both personal care and skilled nursing care in Chicora, is offering a free pamphlet entitled, “How to Choose a Personal Care Home.”
The publication offers facility-hunting tips to prospective residents and family members. Before you visit another facility, contact us for your free copy.
Write to “How to Choose a Personal Care Home,” c/o Chicora Medical Center, 160 Medical Center Road, Chicora, Pa. 16025 or call 1-888-353-2126 and leave a voice message.
Event to help understand programs
To help the community better understand Rent Rebate and PACE applications, Chicora Medical Center, a skilled nursing and personal care facility in Chicora and Sugar Creek Rest, a multi-level health care facility near Worthington, will hold free, educational workshops.
Sugar Creek Rest's workshop will be at 1 p.m. March 17. Chicora Medical Center's Rent Rebate/PACE workshop is at 1 p.m. March 22.
The workshop, open to the facilities' residents, their families and members of the community, will be divided into two sessions: an information session explaining the benefits and process of filing a Rent Rebate and/ or PACE application; and hands-on assistance completing the applications.
John Bonyak of Quality Life Services, the facilities' corporate company, will be the keynote presenter.
For further information about the Rent Rebate/PACE workshop, call toll-free 1-888-353-2126 and leave a voice message or visit online at www.QualityLifeServices.com.
VNA Hospice seeks more volunteers
Of all the hospices in Butler County, VNA Hospice of Western Pennsylvania is the only one that has served the community for more than 20 years.
Volunteers provide companionship to patients and families in the communities where they live and training is provided free of charge.
For information, call 1-877-VNA-ONLY extension 502 to join our nationally-recognized VNA Hospice team.
Blood pressure readings scheduled
The monthly free blood pressure readings, scheduled by the Visiting Nurses Association are listed as follows:
March 22, No. 1 Hi-Rise Armstrong Court, 100 N. Grant Ave., Kittanning, 11 to 11:30 a.m. and Freedom Apartments, 1001 Fifth Ave., Ford City, 10 to 10:30 a.m.
March 23, The Salvation Army Building, 205 S. Jefferson, Kittanning, 10:30 to 11 a.m., Rural Valley fire hall, Rural Valley; 1 to 1:30 p.m.; Marion Center Bank, Dayton 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Red Cross sets classes
The American Red Cross classes offered for March at 433 Butler Road, Kittanning are: March 28 and 29, Workplace Training, 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, call 724- 543-1392.
Lifeguard Management Class —upon request; baby-sitting classes —upon request; adult child; and infant automated external defibrillation —upon request. To make arrangements call the Armstrong County Chapter of the American Red Cross at the above number.
Association for Blind opens office
There is a new office for the Armstrong County Satellite of the Butler County Association for the Blind located at 318 Market St., Kittanning. The office hours are 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or stop in.
The services are free to the visually qualified customers and they include transportation; home visits; talking books; social activities; and life skill classes.
To discuss any vision problems contact Megan Grenek toll free at 1-866-382-4232.
Grief support group to meet
“Weathering Grief” an on going monthly grief support group is held every third Tuesday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Armstrong County Health Center, 265 S. McKean St., Kittanning. The next meeting is April 19.
These meetings are open to the community for anyone who has lost a loved one and are sponsored by the VNA Hospice, Western Pennsylvania and there is no fee.
Wheelchairs available to seniors, disabled
The Senior Wheels USA Program makes available Power Wheelchairs to Senior Citizens and the Permanently Disabled at no cost to the recipient, if they qualify.
The Power Wheelchairs are provided to those who can no longer walk nor self-propel a manual wheelchair and who meet the additional guidelines of the program. No deposit is required.
For infomation, call 1-800-246-6010.
Medical Center offers speakers' bureau
Chicora Medical Center, a skilled nursing and personal care facility in Chicora, is offering a Speaker's Bureau Program to civic organizations and community groups.
Available topics include How to Pay for Nursing Home Care, Eating Healthy to Stay Healthy and Living Wills. One of the most popular presentations is Staying Fit to Stay Healthy, which includes a 15-minute sit-down aerobic session.
The presentations are free and can be organized in one day at the time and location of the community group's choice.
All presentations include handouts, some offer audiovisual aids. For information, call Chicora Medical Center at 724-445-2000 or toll-free 1-888-353-2126 and leave a message.
Fire safety pamphlet offered
A fire can double in size within seconds and smoke from many burning fabrics and plastics can be fatal. Everyone needs to know how to prevent and escape housefires.
To increase fire awareness among the elderly, Sugar Creek Rest is offering a free publication to area senior citizens.
The free pamphlet entitled “Fire Safety for Seniors,” explains how to keep your home safe from fire. The publication also describes how to plan a fire escape and how to get out alive if fire should strike your home.
For a copy write to: “Fire Safety for Seniors,” c/o Sugar Creek Rest, 120 Lakeside Drive, Worthington, Pa. 16262 or call toll-free 1-888-353-2126 and leave a voice message.
CPR/First Aid certifications
The Health Care Career Awareness Program offers 15 to 18 year-olds a chance to get certified in CPR/First Aid, take field trips, participate in job shadowing activities and make a DVD.
To find out who qualifies for this program call Lori Harris at 724-548-8000, ext. 8109.
United Way to sell tickets
The United Way of Armstrong County will sell advance spectator tickets for this year's 84 Lumber Classic from March 3 to June 6.
The event will be held from Sept. 12 to 18 at Nemacolin in Farmington.
The cost of tickets is $10 and are good for one day each. All proceeds benefit the United Way.
To reserve tickets call 724-543-2610.
Meadow Lake Manor holds egg hunt
Meadow Lake Manor will hold its first Easter egg hunt at 1:30 p.m. March 26 for children 1 to 10. The manor is located on the same campus as Sugar Creek Rest, Worthington.
Prizes will be awarded and refreshments will be served. If the weather does not permit an outside Easter egg hunt, indoor games will be held.
Questions may be directed to Meadow Lake Manor at 724-445-2863 or toll-free 1-888-353-2126.
Helping to decide about nursing home
What should I expect when I move to a nursing home⢠This question has passed through the minds of many nursing home residents and their families.
Sugar Creek Rest, a skilled nursing facility in Worthington, is offering a free pamphlet by the American Health Care Association entitled, "A Family Guide: Making the Transition to Nursing Home Life." The publication eases the move to a nursing facility by explaining nursing home admission processes and answers to frequently asked questions.
For a complimentary copy, write to "A Family Guide to Nursing Homes," c/o Sugar Creek Rest, 120 Lakeside Drive, Worthington, Pa. 16262 or contact us toll-free at 1-888-353-2126 and leave a voice message.
Yurek named maintenance director
Jim Yurek of East Franklin Township has been named maintenance director at Sugar Creek Rest, Worthington.
He is a 1994 graduate of Penn Hills High School and a 1999 graduate of IUP Police Academy. His four years as a Homestead Police Officer as well as a part-time position with the Shannock Valley Police Force have given him a wealth of knowledge and experience that would be beneficial in most any career choice.
Yurek reports his family inlcuding wife Mary Susan were major factors in prompting him to elect a more family-friendly career. Sugar Creek Rest has been the cornerstone of Mary Susan's family's business for more than 30 years and becoming a member of the team is something Yurek says he is eager anticipating.
For questions about a career at Sugar Creek Rest or any of the Quality Life Services facilities contact Susan Tack Beardsley at 724-445-3076 ext. 209 or visit www.qualitylifeservices.com.
