Posted by Anne Decker on Dec 13, 2019
Rhodes State College and Lima Convalescent Home shared two exciting new projects with the club.
Rhodes State College hopes to break ground for its new Center for Health Science Education and Innovation in January or February. President Dr. Cynthia Spiers told us the plans are at the state right now, and as soon as they receive approval, the college can break ground. "This is like Christmas to me. You wait and you wait for Christmas morning and then you see this package you've been looking at and thinking about what it's going to be. To me this downtown center has become my greatest Christmas gift I hope to see very soon." Spiers says it took over four years to purchase the parcels on Town Square, knock down the buildings and finalize the plans for the 50,000 square foot center. Spiers says the new building should be open in 2021.
 
The Greens at Lima Convalescent Home recently opened. The Greens is two 12-bedroom homes that provide full skilled care in an environment completely unlike the traditional nursing home. Director Joy Reichenbach told us that instead of being laid out like a hospital with long, sterile corridors, The Greens are actual homes with living areas, kitchens, fireplaces, dens, dining tables large enough to seat everyone, and private rooms with private baths. But Richenbach says it's more than just a pretty house. It's a change in mindset and philosophy. Each home has a dedicated, empowered staff that gets to know the residents and can pay close attention to their health and needs. "It's important for people to have a real home. Not just like a home, but a real home. And people need meaningful lives. They aren't just sitting there. They are to enjoy their meals, enjoy time together, get to choose what their menus are, choose what they're doing that day and, most important, have friends, interact, eat together with people." Lima Convalescent Home is also renovating its existing building so each wing will be modeled after The Greens with group living and dining areas.
 
Also at Monday's meeting, the Lima Rotary Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to 16 students. These students are attending Apollo Career Center, Bluffton University, Rhodes State College, and The Ohio State University – Lima. They are pursuing degrees in Graphic Design/Web Page Development, Biology/Pre Med, Middle Childhood Education, Respiratory Therapy, Registered Nursing, Accounting & Business Administration, Registered Dietician, Welding and Fabrication, Police Certification and Childhood Development Administration. The members of the Rotary Club wish them the best in their field of studies and in the careers they have selected. To-date the Club has award 1,038 scholarships for a total of $768,250.