Flowers, fresh ideas are in bloom

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Here is an idea for your facility or home

By VICTORIA DUGGER, Sentinel-Tribune Editor

For residents and staff of Wood Haven, everything's coming up roses. And petunias. And zinnias. And geraniums.

That's because a concerted effort to beautify the grounds and involve residents came into bloom this spring. The KaBloom program, thought up through a group effort by programming staff and administrators, saw well over 300 flowers and vegetable plants planted at the care facility, 1965 E. Gypsy Lane Road, Bowling Green.

"It's been known that gardening has been able to lower blood pressure and increase brain activities and give a good general feel to whoever is doing it. We are doing all kinds of different activities. The KaBloom program pretty much came out of getting the residents outside on nice days in May and to get the employees involved and the families involved," said Jeff Orlowski, Wood Haven's administrator. "We're completely different than we were three years ago at Wood Haven. We wanted to get more colors outside and show this is an inviting place and wanted everybody to take pride in living here, working here and visiting here."

The residents continue to take care of the plants that have been installed, and some tend to elevated beds that eliminate the need to stoop and kneel when they garden. Orlowski said some of the raised beds contain herbs and vegetables that the residents can take care of and eat. KaBloom is also spurring more activities beyond planting and tending, and some residents are making garden stones to be placed throughout the grounds.

"The whole focus of these activities, and this is our overall goal at Wood Haven, is providing an outstanding experience, and activities are so much a part of that," Orlowski said. "We brainstormed with a bunch of ideas and kind of used the inspiration of a cruise ship. On a cruise ship, there are nonstop activities for all ages to enjoy, and we kind of wanted to use that as a guideline. We asked, 'what can we do to get more people involved, to have more activities' and so forth."

Many staff members and numerous residents and their families were involved in the initial effort this spring. The plants that can be seen around Wood Haven include mock roses, petunias, geraniums, zinnias, daisies, impatiens, basil, lavender, thyme, chives, parsley, tomatoes, green peppers and sunflowers, "for Bob," Orlowski said.

Community Relations Director Chris Stearns notes resident Bob Boyer is very involved in the KaBloom program and he also requested hollyhocks to add an additional punch of color.

"He's very into the courtyard, the flowers and the vegetables out there," Stearns said, "He told them he wanted hollyhocks out there. I haven't seen any flowers yet, but they did plant some hollyhocks out there for him."

Stearns said the plants, which are a mix of perennials and annuals, were obtained from Joseph's Greenhouse for a discount. Orlowski said the KaBloom program will be repeated annually.

"We'll invite families, staff and community to come out and get their thumbs dirty," he said.

The flowers and vegetables are just part of what's currently blooming at Wood Haven, which has been in existence in its current location since 1971.

Orlowski said that a host of renovations to update the facility are underway, and they are in phase three of five phases.

"We are scheduled to be completed in September. They are currently working on phase three. Phase three and four involves redoing the hallways and phase five will be the main lobby. We are doing the main lobby, the hallways, the dining room and we have already painted the residents' rooms," he said. He has a long history with Wood Haven, as he used to volunteer at the center while attending Bowling Green State University in the mid-90s, and noted the building needed updates.

"We've updated the residents' rooms," Stearns said. "It's more modernized."

One feature that Orlowski is particularly excited about is the upcoming transformation of the facility's dining room. In an effort to give residents more choices, the dining room will become two restaurants.

"We're actually going to be turning our dining room into two restaurants. One will be called the Wood Haven Grille where you can get traditional meals and the other one is going to be called Le Cafe Au Bois, which is going to be a French cafe concept. That will be open for breakfast and lunch, and on nice days, residents can eat on the cafe's patio outside, which I think is a first in this area," Orlowski said. Families and visitors will be able to eat meals with their loved ones at the restaurants with residents.

Orlowski notes the support of the Wood County commissioners as being a key help in bringing the updated vision of Wood Haven to fruition.

"It's great that the commissioners are 100 percent pushing this and supportive of this. We are very fortunate that they really care about the residents here at Wood Haven and making it a success," Orlowski said.

Wood Haven is a skilled and intermediate nursing facility that offers both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation. The 95-bed facility is both Medicare and Medicaid certified and accepts most private insurance. Wood Haven Health Care is owned and operated under the Board of Wood County Commissioners.

It's history in the community is long. In 1868, the Wood County Board of Infirmary Directors purchased a 200-acre farm on which to build a three-story building to house the county infirmary. Additions in 1892 included a barn, staff quarters and a new resident wing. In 1913, the governing powers were transferred to the county commissioners, and the Infirmary became the Wood County Home in 1919.

In 1971, the county home was relocated and replaced with a modern 125-bed, single-story brick building and dedicated as the Wood County Nursing Home. The original building and acreage was turned over to the Wood County Historical Society in 1973 and currently houses the Wood County Historical Society and Museum.