Willow Brook News

A Word from the CEO…Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Hallelujah, Christ arose!

     Jesus arose from the grave in the spring of the year. How do we know this? His resurrection was at the time of the Jewish Feast of the Passover. Jesus and his disciples reclined at the Passover table the night before he was crucified. They ate the bread and sipped the wine not knowing it would be their last meal with their Lord. alt
     Passover was instituted some 1,300 years before Jesus as a commemoration of the Israelites’ release from Egyptian bondage. It always has been celebrated, even to this day, as winter turns to spring.
     I think it is so appropriate that Jesus arose to a new life at this season. The bursting blossoms of redbuds and dogwoods, the emergence of tender green leaves all around us – precious life coming forth from the cold dead of winter – all serve as a beautiful metaphor for Christ’s return to life.
     As Jesus lay lifeless in the tomb, it appeared to his followers that all was lost. Just look at him. The forces of evil had crushed the embodiment of good. Hope died with the execution of their lord and teacher. Nothing remained for his disciples but to gather their nets and return to fishing.
     Or so they thought.
     As the sun cracked the horizon on that first Easter, Jesus broke the chains of death that bound him as if they were nothing more that strands wet spaghetti. The great stone at the entrance to his tomb was rolled away, and Jesus Easter Morning stepped forth with radiant new life. Hope had returned to a dying world, and this time it would stay.
     The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation upon which our faith is built. God’s forgiveness comes through His risen son. Without a living Savior, we would have no hope of eternal life, and there would be nothing for us to do but to go fishing.
     So let the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the greening of our precious earth remind you of our risen Lord.   Join me as we sing this Easter morning, “Hallelujah, Christ arose!”

Larry Harris

Last Updated on Sunday, 08 April 2012 23:57

The Stars Are Out!

The 2012 Leading Age Ohio STARS, that is!

Willow Brook Christian Home

Michelle Washington, nurse aide
Steven Ennis, nurse
Philomina Sunny, culinary server
Katherine Miller, housekeeper

Willow Brook Delaware Run

Grace Lackey,activities
Joy Lackey, WE server
Sandy Maxfield, nurse aide
Ginger keim, WE server

Willow Brook Christian Village

Rodney Roof, floor care tech
Valerie Sullivan, culinary server, Centrum
Amie Mckenzie, nurse aide, Passages
Steffanie Jaccaud, nurse aide, Cherith

As selected STARS, recipients attended a special luncheon in their honor on March 14, in Columbus.

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 March 2012 21:15

A Word from the CEO…

     Willow Brook is turning 40 this month. The Ides of March, 1972. That’s when it all began.
Larry Harris, CEO      Our nursing home near Worthington, Willow Brook Christian Home, started operations on March 15, four decades back. Back then, it was hardly a shadow of itself now. Twenty-five beds. Sixty-five hundred square feet.
     That community today is 56,000 square feet, with a capacity of 84.
     And we have built two full-service retirement communities in Delaware. In all, we have 642,611 square feet under roof. That’s an average of 16,000 feet added each year! Mercy! We’ve been busy!
     So in the past four decades, we have built,built, built. And on any given day, we are serving 560 old friends.
     But far more important than all that construction, Willow Brook has maintained its timeless mission of service. Everything we do is ultimately for the good of the people who live within our walls.
     No one earns a nickel from our endeavors. Every penny of “profit” is plowed back into the organization to benefit our people—to enhance services, to establish new ministries, or strengthen our financial foundation.
     And so I sing in my heart, “Happy Birthday to you,” dear Willow Brook. It is, for sure, a happy birthday—and I am so glad you are a part of it all.

With love to all,

Larry Harris, CEO

Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 March 2012 04:00

Valentine Bake and Craft Sale

Residents of Willow Brook at Delaware Run’s assisted living center held a Bake Sale Valentine bake and craft sale to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. Ardie Berwanger, Marilyn Laubacher, Vera McMullen, and Jane Tillet staffed the tables in the front lobby and were among the many creators of the Valentine “flower” arrangements and baked goods that were sold to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 04:58

Puppy Love

A few lines from Linda Raber, Activites Director of Passages at Willow Brook Christian Village .
How much puppy love can our residents handle? Well, there’s Slippers, the dachshund, who has been entertaining us for several years. Then there’s Sam, the golden retriever, a certified therapy dog who’s been visiting weekly, eager to share his warmth and love with our residents. Now there’s Holly, the new pup on the block. Holly is a 13 week-old, maltese puppy who regularly comes to work with me. Her adorable little face, playfulness and enjoyment of naps on laps have won the affection of both residents and staff.
Dogs are used to help people all over the world. Guarding flocks, search and rescue, leading the blind and assisting the physically challenged Puppy Love are just a few of the ways our canine friends have been helping us throughout the years. Though the bond between dog and man dates back to early history, it wasn’t until more recent years that a correlation was acknowledged between this bond and the emotional health of humans.
Every time a furry friend comes to visit, our residents’ faces light up. They can’t wait to pet them and love on them. The dogs seem to feel the same way. So, how much puppy love can our residents handle? Just ask them. My guess is, they’ll say the more the merrier!