July
1964
Grace Nursing Home Grows and Improves
By
Chris Richert
From
a need for proper care of elderly people, Grace Nursing
Home was established six years ago; a new addition has
just been completed to meet the growing need.
The
Mennonite Home on W. Peach Avenue, can now care for 25
patients. "The largest portion of people who come
here are now in their final days, and we try to be as
kind and loving to them as possible," explained Alfred
Koehn, the home's overall advisory board member and treasurer.
A
new wing has just been completed making nine more beds
available for patients. Each bedroom has two beds, a private
bath and a closet. A new ward contains three beds. There
are 13 patient rooms in the home.
The
Day Room, where patients visit, read and eat their meals
if able to be up, has been completely painted and redecorated.
A larger utility room was added in the latest building
program.
New
appliances have been installed in the modern kitchen including
stove and dishwasher. "The washer is really something,"
Koehn said. "It is a commercial type made of stainless
steel and can wash a set of dishes in four minutes."
Koehn pointed out an air conditioner and furnace room,
supplied with natural gas, that have been recently installed.
The home is also enlarging it sewage disposal system.
The
home is very similar to a hospital in its operation, except
that no surgery is performed. The staff doctor is J.J.
Wolohand, MD., but patients are free to choose their own
doctor, Koehn said. Making possible efficient operation,
the home also has offices, laundry room and a large supply
room where the supplies are stored.
There
are 21 part and full time workers at the home who work
on a low salary scale, Koehn said. "We stress the
work not in terms of money, but as a volunteer Christian
service." He said that many workers give as much
as three months volunteer service free when employed.
John
Koehn, Alfred's brother, is superintendent of the establishment.
The head nurse is Marlene Giesbrecht and Elda Koehn is
an assistant LPN. All workers at the home are of the Mennonite
faith.
May
1958
Dedicate Grace Nursing Home in Livingston
Credit
Merced Sun-Star
Livingston
- Between 800 and 900 visitors were on hand Sunday, May
11, to attend dedication ceremonies of the Grace Nursing
Home.
Gerald
Mininger of Winton, member of the board of directors,
served as master of ceremonies with Harvey Dyck, also
on the board, welcoming the visitors.
Alfred
Koehn of Livingston, a third board member, gave a brief
history of the building which, with its furnishings cost
members of the churches of God in Christ Mennonite of
Winton, Livingston, and Glenn the total of $44,850.00.
Eight thousand of the total 10,000 working hours gone
into the construction were donated by members of the churches.
The
home has eight rooms in which 15 patients will placed
according to John B. Koehn, chairman of the board of directors
and chairman of the building committee. He said members
of the churches of God in Christ Mennonite as well as
other residents of Merced County will be admitted there
for care.
Members
of the home staff who were introduced included Jesse Jantz,
Winton, Superintendent; Mrs. Darrell Mininger, Winton,
supervisor of nurses; Mrs. Jesse Jantz and Darrel Mininger,
nurse aides; Mrs. Lydia Schmidt, Winton, cook and Mrs.
Fred Jantz, Livingston, laundry operator.
The
Rev. John A. Koehn of Livingston delivered the dedication
sermon and offered prayer. Henry Albers of Oakland, from
whom the furnishings were purchased, spoke briefly as
did Dr. Frank A. Brewer, Merced County Health Officer.
Brewer expressed surprise that the group had built the
building for such a small outlay of money when such a
construction would have cost from $100,000 to $120,000.
Neill Gallaway, chairman of the board of supervisors,
complimented church members upon the erection of the home.
The
home will be open for patients about May 20. Kenneth Jantz
of Livingston is also a member of the board of directors
and Jack Eck and Jack Friesen of Glen and Curtis Dirks
of Bonners Ferry, Idaho associated members.
Members
of the building committee are John Esau and Frank Giesbrecht
of Winton and Herman Nightengale and C. Koehn of Livingston.
Imedia
West