Willson House Resident, Dr. Dean Brooks, Building a Profound Legacy

At age 96, Willson House resi-dent, Dr. Dean Brooks shows no signs of slowing down. As Chief Administrator of the Oregon State Hospital for 27 years, Dr. Brooks was instrumental in using creative ways to help patients. Most fa-mously, Dr. Brooks was highly influential in bringing the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” to the Oregon State Hospi-tal in 1975.

“Cuckoo’s Nest” which stars Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher, illustrates the consequences of conformity, without question. Set in a mental hospital, the story serves as an allegory of those in power enslaving or controlling segments of society without being held accountable.

Many at the Oregon State Hospital (OSH) were originally against having the film made on the campus, but Brooks worked with the film’s producers, Michael Douglas, Saul Zaentz and the film’s director, Milos Forman, to use actual patients in the film and behind the camera.

“They wanted to make a movie where real people had lived and died,” Brooks explains. “I was quite ready to say ‘yes, let’s do that, and do that here.’ And we did.” Brooks also got involved in the film by playing the role of a psychiatrist, Dr. Spivey. The movie went on to win all five major Oscar awards, including Best Picture. continued page 3

Inside...Note from

Cathy Parkinsonpage 2

Rose Carter Udpatepage 2

Dr. Dean Brooks Legacy cont’d

page 3

Diabetes Supportpage 4

Generous Donorspage 5

Meet Chef Cruzfrom Willson House

page 6

Anniversary Party Recap

page 6

Child Development Center Awarded

$5,000 Grantpage 7

Holiday Invitationspage 8

United MethodistRetirement

Center• Willson House

Residential Care Facility

• Willson HouseChild Development

Center

• Jason Lee ManorRetirement Apartments

Fall 2012

SEASONS isa quarterly

publication of United Methodist

Retirement Center

Dr. Dean Brooks (seated), actress Louise Fletcher, and Greg Roberts,Oregon State Hospital Administrator at OSH Museum for Mental Health ribbon-cutting.

Dr. Dean Brooks and actress Louise Fletcher.

When I was a child, I always looked forward to the winter holi-days, but not because of gifts or wonderful food. We were very poor so these things were rarely present in our home. My excite-ment came because it was a time when everyone appeared happy, as people walked past one another in the street they would wish each other Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Neighbors would do good deeds for each other and music played joyously everywhere. I now realize that this unique time in November and December symbolizes hope for different cultures and different people all over the world.

Christians celebrate Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. During advent, Christians wait and prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Advent wreath, a hori-zontal evergreen wreath with four candles, symbolizes Advent. Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, a candle is lit. Each Sunday thereafter, another candle is lit. Many Advent wreaths also include a fifth candle, called a “Christ candle,” to be lit on Christmas.

Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, sometimes called “The Festival of Lights,” an eight-day holiday that marks the rededication of the temple and the “miracle of the oil.” According to tradition, the Maccabees only had enough holy oil to light the eternal flame for one night when they entered the temple. Miracu-lously, that small bit of oil burned for eight days.

Based on ancient African festivals, Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration created as a time for African-Americans to think about their heritage. Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili, and the holiday focuses on seven principles: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The “mkeka”, holds seven candles: three red candles on the right (representing the struggles of the past and present), three green candles on the left (representing a hopeful future) and one black candle in the middle (representing the skin color of people of African descent).

These are just three different cultures and yet there is a common thread— they all use candles in cel-ebrating their beliefs. When a candle is burning it is often to provide light at a time of darkness so that a person can see their way. As we approach the holiday season, I encourage everyone to reflect on the power of this luminous symbol. When you appear to be going along in the dark, remember that there is always someone who can light a candle for you or you can light a candle for someone else. On behalf of UMRC, we wish you and yours a joyous holiday season filled with the gift of hope that illuminates this time of year.

Cathy ParkinsonExecutive Director

Arlen HollinsheadChair

Bruce GilbertsonVice Chair

John D. HawkinsSecretary/Treasurer

Jim BostonBill Dorney

Fran EriksenBev Faulkner

Nadine GilmoreHelen Gough

Cindy HannumRick HiltsJim Hook

Dixie JackyPeg LofsvoldEric MuererSally Neff

Paul NegstadTed Stang

Lorene Vollmar

Cathy ParkinsonExecutive Director

Karen LewisDevelopment Director

United MethodistRetirement Center

Board ofDirectors & Staff

Please address questions or comments to:

United Methodist Retirement Center1625 Center St. NE

Salem, Oregon 97301503-585-6511

www.umrcsalem.org

Karen Lewis, EditorKarenL@umrcsalem.org

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An Update on Rose Carter

Thank you so much for your generosity to Rose Carter! In July, the UMRC Chair, Arlen Hollinshead made a heartfelt financial appeal to our donors, churches and women’s groups to help contribute funds to Rose’s care and medications. Rose Carter (a pseudonym) is a real resident at Willson House who had a family member misappropriate her funds and stopped paying Rose’s rent and expenses associated with her care. Willson House worked with authorities to clear up the mishandling of her finances and has asked the Social Security Administration to assign an interim financial guardian at Willson House to receive her social security payments in order to help defray the cost of Rose’s care. This case is still being worked on by Oregon Adult Protective Services and the Attorney General’s office.

With the help of your generosity, we have raised $8,535 dollars toward Rose’s care and prescriptions. The outpouring of concern and prayers from individuals, churches and women’s groups throughout our region has been incredibly touching. In the meantime, Rose’s health has deteriorated and she is now on hospice care. Many have followed this story because of the emotional connection we feel with Rose. It saddens us because we hope that if we or our loved one were ever in the same situation there would be someone to advocate for us, too. The commit.ment UMRC made over 102 years ago is still as strong as ever and we will continue to advocate for Rose as long as she lives.

A Culture of Caring A Century of Trust

A Note from Cathy Parkinson

Dr. Dean Brooks Legacy (cont’d from front cover)

Last month, Dr. Dean Brooks was honored for his part in the history of the Oregon State Hospital (OHS) during the opening of the OSH Museum for Mental Health.

Dean’s longtime friend, Louise Fletcher, who played Nurse Ratched in the film and went on to win the best actress Oscar for her role, came to Salem to help Dean cut the ribbon for the opening of this new museum. Louise also came to Willson House to per-sonally visit with Dr. Brooks and another resident, Dottie Masseli, who worked as the physical therapist at OSH during the making of the film. Dottie and Louise became good friends during that time.

While the “Cuckoo’s Nest” exhibit was be-ing curated, Museum committee members culled through artifacts in a room at Willson House right across the hall from Dr. Brook’s room. “We really appreciated the clean, dedicated work space to sort through hun-dreds of photos, newspaper and magazine articles while coming up with a plan for the exhibit, not to mention the convenient access to Dean,” says Dennie Brooks, Museum of Mental Health board member and Dr. Brooks’ daughter. “His input has been invaluable to the creation of the exhibit and the museum.”

Since the big opening, one might think Dr. Brooks is ready to take it easy, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Brooks is currently working on a project to de-criminalize metal illness in our

state prison systems. “The problem with mental illness in our country is the lack of access to mental health facilities for those who desperately need it. For instance, Oregon has only 1,152 acute psy-chiatric beds for a state population of four million people,” says Dr. Brooks.

He goes on to assert that Dorthea Dix, who was a prominent figure in America in the early 18th century, traveled through the country lobbying state legislators to develop mental health hospitals

to care for their mentally ill. “We need to come back to the original idea where Dorthea Dix was rallying for the mentally ill. Otherwise, our society is doomed to repeat the same mistakes,” says

Brooks.

His feeling about promoting this need to change the culture is so strong he has enlisted his friend and local author Jane Kirkpatrick to write a book about Dorthea Dix, One Glorious Ambition (to be released early 2013). In addition, Brooks commissioned sculptor, John Hous-

er to create a bust of Dorthea Dix which was donated to the OSH Museum of Mental Health and was unveiled at the opening of the museum in early October.

Dr. Dean Brooks has an unbelievable internal strength and self-determination and provides inspiration to all who come to know him. “It is joy to have him at Willson House so that we can all learn from his example,” says Cathy Parkinson, Executive Director for Willson House. “It is humbling to see such a profound legacy built right before our eyes.”

Seasons 3

Dr. Dean Brooks and his daughter, Dennie Brooks, collaborate on artifacts for the Cuckoo’s Nest exhibit currently showing at the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health.

Dorthea Dix

The husband and wife team of Sondra and Al Underberg started Diabetes Support Services (DSS) in the summer of 2007. It first originated as “My Pal Sticky” which was going to be a support group for parents of children with diabetes.

“We realized at our first meeting, when we had 100 people, that supporting the kids was not the only thing we needed to do. We had people of all ages coming to our meeting to get education and support because they were just scared as to how to handle this disease,” says Sondra Underberg, Executive Director of Diabetes Support Services, Inc.

The organization is run by less than 10 volunteers and just celebrated its fifth anniversary. Every meeting has a local health professional speak. Guests are videotaped and the presentations are stored as part of a collection of educa-tion materials to be used later during discussions on anything from kidney health to nutrition.

“We are so fortunate to get speakers from all over the Willamette Valley,” says Sondra. “Most doctors will come and give a 30 minute presentation and then offer an opportunity for the group to ask questions. The participants love it because they can find out more information without feeling judged by their own primary care doctor.”

Most diabetes education classes cost anywhere between $400-$600 in the Salem area. Diabetes Support Services is the only organization that offers its education and support for free to the community. The “Diabetes in Balance” group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at UMRC in the Activity Room in Jason Lee Manor at 2:00 pm. Holding the support group at UMRC has helped to reach out to the community by offering an opportunity for people who don’t want drive at night, in addition to filling the needs of the diabetic population at Willson House and Jason Lee Manor.

“It’s a great partnership,” explains Sondra. “So many people in this community need help, many are scared and just don’t know what to do. Al and I believe this is our calling to reach out to those who have this disease and provide hope.”

For those who want more information just call 503-585-1335 or go to the website at www.diabetessupportservices.com/index.html or check out the DSS Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/My-Pal-Sticky-DIABETES-SUPPORT-and-DIABETES-SUPPORT-SERVICES/109933139034082?fref=ts

Diabetes Support Services Meets Monthly at Jason Lee Manor

What is Benevolent Care?

Webster’s defines benevolent care as kind and generous; organized to do good things for other people. At UMRC, benevolent care permeates everything we do— from the health aides that care for our residents at Willson House to the teachers that teach our next generation in our Child Development Center. Mostly benevolent care means the opportunity to provide assistance to our residents who have spent down their funds to the point where they can no longer afford the level of care they require. When this happens, benevolent care bridges the financial gap. This allows our residents to stay in the home they have chosen and love.

Without benevolent care, residents might be forced to move to another community. That is not UMRC’s mission. Our mission, as envisioned by the founding six Methodist-Episcopal women, was to provide the Salem community with a home that was open to seniors of all faiths who have limited funds or family support. We have carried out this mission for 102 years but can only continue to do so with your help. Will you partner with us to continue this amazing legacy and give a donation today? A self- addressed donor envelope is enclosed for your convenience.

Sondra Underberg, Diabetes Support Services

Gifts Received in Support of UMRC July 1 — September 30, 2012

United Methodist Retirement Center greatly appreciates every dollar we receive in support. If we have inadvertently missed someone or misspelled a name, please contact us at 503-585-6511 so we can acknowledge your generosity in our next newsletter.

David KerrBenevolent Care Fund Rudolph & Margaret ArndtRaymond BalcombJoseph BenninghoffBeulah BlakeDr. Dean BrooksLewis & Yvonne BroxsonKen Bulletset Patricia ClarkWilliam CookFrances CooperSteven CravinhoR.L. FaulknerSue ForknerNaomi FosterCharles and Janet FosterLynne FoxPhyllis GillisBob GoughLois HagestedtJames HandLeroy HannaBill HansenBob & Ruth HawkesRick Hilts Arlen HollinsheadThomas HornigLillis LarsonRalph LawrenceBecky LeakeMary LippiHarriette MandelTed & Jean Martin

I want to help support United Methodist Retirement Center!

Glen & Helen McCallCharles & Kathy McGeeVerle MitchellRobert NewbergOrville NilsenGary OnstotEd PhelpsDavid PoindexterElizabeth PostmaWesley ProutyJ. Gordon RingleDonna RonerStuart & Bonnie ShawMary Lu SnodgrassJohn SohrtJames ThompsonJack ThorntonEric WoldForest Grove United Methodist WomenFruitland United Methodist WomenLee Wood United Methodist WomenMedford United Methodist WomenMetzger United Methodist WomenMiddleton United Methodist WomenMorningside United Methodist WomenSalem First Church United Methodist WomenYamhill United Methodist WomenAsbury United Methodist ChurchHermiston United Methodist ChurchMorningside United Methodist ChurchRupert United Methodist ChurchStayton United Methodist Church

In Memory OfGloria Bailey David Bailey Carol Chaffee Jeanette Chaffee Edward L. Clark Jr. Pat Clark Lucille Graham Jack Graham Meredith A. & Esther G. Grove Meredith GrovesDixie Haverson Wayne HaversonMarion Ellis Frank IveyBlazie Bauman Calvin McConnellBarbara Morrison John & Barbara Morrison Kitty Riddle Earl Riddle Geraldine Yoder Bruce & Lynn Rogers Dwight Townsen Joan Townsen Estelle Natter Bob & Lynn Wright

In Honor OfLois Thornton Pat ClarkKay Holmes, Dolly Littletonand Shannon Maddox Helen Shepard Audra Warder Lorene Vollmar

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Consider a Legacy Gift to UMRC

Would you like to make a significant investment in the lives of seniors in our community? Please consider naming United Methodist Retirement Center in your estate plan or as a beneficiary to a donor advised fund. The legacy you cre-ate today could truly make a difference in the life of a senior.

For more informa-tion, contact Karen Lewis, Develop-ment Director, at 503-585-6511 or KarenL@umrcsalem.org

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UMRC is already in my Willo

Employee Spotlight: Meet Chef Cruz, Willson House Chef

Our wonderful chef, Cruz Ortiz, takes great pride in preparing the freshest, most delicious and nutritious meals for our residents. From selecting the freshest produce for her hand-made fruit tarts to the seasoning in her world famous meat loaf (recipe attached), Chef Cruz incorporates the flavors of home cooking to create specialty dishes that tantalize the tastebuds. “I have a passion for pleasing people with food that is comforting, delicious, and memorable. There’s no greater feeling than watch-ing someone smile as they taste one of my dishes.” says Chef Cruz.

Chef Cruz is a regular fixture at the Willson House Restaurant. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, she came to Salem, Oregon 11 years ago with her husband. She often hosts “Sample Day” at the Willson House Restaurant where she invites residents and their families to come and taste new dishes and desserts that she has created. It’s a day everyone looks forward to.

Q: Why did you become a chef? A: I was raised by a single mom in Oaxaca, Mexico. My mom started to teach me how to cook when I was 9 years old and then, when I was 12, she became sick and I started cooking for the entire family.

Q: What do you enjoy about working at the Willson House Restaurant? A: I love the chance to create the menus based on what our residents want. The residents feel so comfortable communicating to me about what they love to eat and give me the freedom to let me make their favorite dish the best I can. I love the creatively and the freedom that working for Willson House gives me.

Q: Who would you love to cook with?A: I would love to cook with my grandmother and my aunt. My grandmother always cooked for me when I was little. My aunt was so gifted in the kitchen that she won a national award for the best Mole’ in all of Oaxaca, Mexico. Both have passed away and it saddens me that I was never able to cook for them while they were alive. I always cook their most favorite dishes for November 1st, Day of the Dead, as a way to keep them close to me.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do when you are not working at Willson House?A: I love to watch the cooking shows of famous chefs— Giada de la Laurent is my favorite. I also like Cake Boss and of course, Hell’s Kitchen (I love to play the video game).

6 Seasons

Cruz Ortiz, Willson House ChefFind her beloved meatloaf recipe on page 7

The 2012 United Methodist Retirement Center Anniversary Party couldn’t have been better. The weather was perfect, the crowd was in a great mood, and over 200 residents, family members and the community came out on Sunday, August 12 to help celebrate 102 years of serving Salem Oregon residents and their families.

Of course, nothing would be possible without our amazing volunteers who helped us in so many ways. To Bev Faulkner and her Resident Ser-vices Committee, to everyone who came early to set up on Sunday, and to all the help provided throughout the day and at clean up— we are truly grateful. We’d like to say a special thank you to Norma Wilkerson and the UKE-DE-DOs from the Woodburn Senior Estates with whom we had a great time and led us through Hawaiian songs during our Luau celebration. Also, to our Board Member, Fran Eriksen, who along with her grandchildren, taught us how to do a proper Hula dance. Thank you all for such a wonderful day!

102nd Anniversary Party a Huge Success

Willson House Child Development Center Receives $5,000 from Oregon Community Foundation

In September, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) granted Willson House Child Development Center (WHCDC) $5,000 to enhance their volunteer program. As one of 15 non-profit organizations getting this grant, Willson House will learn about the potential of boomer volunteers and best practice strategies for integrating them into their early childhood programs.

In 1985, Willson House was the first residential care community in Oregon to have a child development cen-ter. The idea was that an intergenerational curriculum was mutually beneficial to both children and seniors. Seniors provide familial like ties to children in the classroom and offer a sense of calm which in turn help children relax and become more focused in learning, resulting in higher test scores in achievement tests. The benefit for seniors was to produce opportunities for integrated play and socialization to enhance neurological pathways and increase cognitive ability.

Throughout its history, Willson House and Jason Lee Manor residents have been encouraged to volunteer. This most recent grant will help to provide funds for a more structured framework of the volunteer program.

Karen Kilgore, Child Development Director, has com-pleted an assessment of readiness. She, along with Kathy Derby Ray, former Childcare Director and now Jason Lee Social Services Coordinator, will be attending two OCF conferences in the Fall and Spring to gain technical assistance and training that will focus on infrastructure, parent /teacher involvement, volunteer orientation, effective recruitment strategies and providing a supportive environment for the volunteers.

Seasons 7

Karen Kilgore, Willson House Child Development Center Director (top right) and resident volunteer Marjorie Nyman out on the playground with students Alana Vaughters and Addie Gibson.

Chef Cruz’s Meatloaf Recipe

¾ LB. ground beef 3 TBS. of tomato paste 2 TBS. onion soup mix1/3 cup of oatmeal 1 TBS. of Worcestershire Sauce ½ TSP. black pepper1 egg (well beaten) 1 TSP. chopped Garlic 1 cup of ketchup

Place the ground beef in a mixer bowl. Break it up using a dough hook. Add the oatmeal and mix until incorporated. Add the rest of the ingredients except the ketchup, and mix until well blended. Be careful to not over mix as the meat will begin to separate and toughen. Place the meat mixture into a sprayed pan and pack in tightly. Spread ketchup over the top of the raw loaf. Cover with foil, and bake at 325 degrees until internal temp is 160 degrees. Take out and unfold one corner of the foil. With pot holders, take the pan and drain grease from the unfolded corner into a container. Set meatloaf down in container and allow loaf to rest in pan 5 minutes and then cut and serve with a vegetable and side dish like garlic mashed potatoes.

1625 Center St. NESalem, Oregon 97301

503-585-6511www.willsonhouse.org

PRST STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDSALEM, OR

PERMIT NO. 667

Mission StatementOpen to all, the United Methodist Retirement Center is committed to providing a life-affirming community through end of life, by providing high-quality and affordable housing and support services in an atmosphere where residents, children and staff become an extension of family and each person’s dignity, worth and choice are respected.

Mark Your Calendars ...

It’s No Secret...You’re Invited!United

MethodistRetirement

CenterChristmas

Party with Santa

December 92-4:00 pm

Willson House

Restaurant

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION

Willson House Restaurant

1625 Center St. NE Salem

Please Join Us November 17 • 1-2:00 pm

“Diabetes & Balance” GroupDec. 4 • 2:00 pmJason Lee ManorActivities Room – 2nd floor1551 Center St. NE, Salem

Alzheimers Support GroupNov. 14 & Dec. 12 • 6:00 pmWillson House Board Room1625 Center St. NE, Salem

Celebrate Birthdays Dec. 6 • 2-4:00 pmSponsored by the Woodburn United Methodist WomenJason Lee Manor – Activities Room – 2nd floor1551 Center St. NE, Salem