Wild Wind Estates of LeRoy has a new RN manager, Laurie Schwarck of Riceville, Iowa.

She has been on the premises for the past month. Her main goal in her position has been to involve the residents in more activity.

Wild Wind Estates opened in July of 2001; it is a residence for people living independently, for those in assisted living and those in Memory Care. This facility is there to accommodate people when they are no longer able to handle a large house or they may have health problems and cannot live alone anymore.

It also will accommodate a person who cannot be alone and needs extra care to recuperate after surgery or an illness. The residents have their apartments filled with their personal belongings and each one has the flavor of that individual. The rooms are bright and spacious.

The ratio of men residents to women is equal at Wild Wind. The main entrance of Wild Wind reflects the roots of the people who reside here. Farm tools, cream pitchers, and milk cans are placed tastefully in hallways and on shelves. They give Wild Wind a homey and comforting feeling.

Schwarck has hung a calendar in the main entrance of Wild Wind that is packed full of the activities that are going on each day. Shopping, going to classes, learning to use the Internet, quilting, playing bingo and poker are a few of the planned activities that fill up the days of the month.

"I belong to a quilting club and I am taking some of the residents to my club. A group will be going to an evening quilting class through community education in Cresco, Iowa. We are also going to visit a Mennonite quilt and furniture shop in Osage," Schwarck said.

The staff of Wild Wind has been supportive in helping the new RN manager with planning activities for the residents, Schwarck said. They all sat down together to plan the calendar of doings. There was not much activity before Schwarck came and now the place is a buzz with activity.

"A man wanted to play poker and now we have started a poker and 500 Club. Some of the residents are going to the grade school to read aloud. We are starting a breakfast club where people can gather and visit in the morning. Last Friday some school kids visited and played games. I have two boys that volunteer from the high school three days a week. We are bringing the community together through these activities," Schwarck said.

A favorite activity of the residents is stew night. The independent living people provide the vegetables and everyone gets together to chop and dice the food. Wild Wind provides the meat.

"One of our memory care gentleman was great at dicing and chopping the vegetables. This activity brings people together and they share a meal," Schwarck said.

Having worked in long-term care for 25 years, Schwarck brings a wealth of experience to her job.

She attends seminars on how to understand Alzheimer patients and knows that keeping their hands busy is good stimulation. She placed blocks of wood and sandpaper in the Memory Care Unit and the men sand the wood.

A container with nuts and bolts was sorted by shape, by one resident.

Schwarck said he arranged them four days in a row and on the fourth day said, "I wish someone would quit messing up these bolts." Touching and feeling different shapes keeps peoples' minds active. Schwarck is constantly reading up on how to improve the quality of the residents' lives.

"Different staff members take a holiday and plan activities for it. One worker has planned the Twelve Days of Halloween. We are taking residents to a used clothing store in Cresco to get costumes. It should be fun," Schwarck said.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at newsroom@austindailyherald.com