Heart BEAT

Honoring Our Booker Staff

DAYTON - A generous gift from the family of the late Dale Hutchens means the staff members of the Booker Rest Home will have new equipment to make their work easier and more efficient.

Hutchens, a former member of the board of directors for the Columbia County Health System from 1974 to 1987, passed away after spending more than 4 years at the Booker Rest Home.

On his behalf, his family provided Booker with nearly $8,000.

"It was to express gratitude to help purchase some equipment that would help us do our job better," said Stephanie Carpenter, the director of nursing services at Booker.

With the gift, the staff has ordered a new vital signs machine, housekeeping cart and a steam table that keeps food warm for residents.

"(The staff's) dedication is unbelievable," explained Bob Hutchens, Dale's son, as the reason for the gift. "It's so hard to stay as positive and upbeat as they are."

Carpenter said this is not a typical gift. Usually, a family of a loved one who stayed at Booker will make a small cash donation, give money to the Blue Mountain Community

Foundation or provide equipment, clothing, furniture and TVs.

Each month, five volunteers also donate their time at Booker who lead activities, play Bingo, present church services, play music and do shopping for the rest home's 39 residents.

Gary Schroeder, the CFO of the health system, said this larger-than-average gift doesn't happen every month. Most gifts are $10 to $25 that families give to Booker rather than sending flowers.

"We're very appreciative of any estates, wills or donations," he added.

Other large donations in the hospital district's history are the trust given by Leon Booker of several hundred thousand dollars in the 1960s that built the rest home.

Also, the Day Estate provides ongoing financial support to the hospital district and the local school district. Both entities split down the middle money generated from the Day farmland and estate, Schroeder said. This provides both entities with $50,000 a year.

"This is very special because of (Dale Hutchens') services as a board member," Schroeder said.

Bob Hutchens said he really wanted the news of the donation to be about the employees who took such great care of his father for more than four years.

There are 40 staff members at Booker who take great care of the residents. It takes a special person to be able to provide that kind of care every day, Carpenter said. They have big hearts and dedicate their lives to the profession.

" You really have to work hands-on with the residents, be caring and compassionate," she said. "It's a calling."

Many rest home employees start as nursing assistants and work their way up and Booker is always looking for people interested in providing this special kind of care.

"The nursing, housekeeping and dietary staff would like to put out a huge thank you to the Hutchens Family," Carpenter said.