Walla Walla’s Odd Fellows retirement home feels like a college campus. Director of Admissions Joani Wicklund said, “People, when they come to visit here, are surprised at how cool the place is.”
The mission statement of Walla Walla’s Odd Fellow’s Home states, “The Washington Odd Fellows Home celebrates the dignity of life at each of its stages with joy, respect, kindness, and love. … We are sincerely committed to setting the standard in aging service. We value each member of our health care team.” In the first week of October the Odd Fellows Home started off with their annual celebration of Oktoberfest. On Monday, the celebration began with “Oddstock.”
The residents and staff had prepared for the event by tye-dying t-shirts accompanied by a live DJ. There was a fire pit and barbeque with an Oktoberfest theme of sausages, beer, hot spiced cider and giant German style pretzels. The Odd Fellows Home also hosted a troupe of German dancers and opened up the party to the public. The festivities continued all week, including events such as wine tasting and German themed presentations.
Wicklund said, “My role is to portray that we really do have life here…that those who come to live here are not giving up everything. They’re actually gaining. … Instead of relying on people: a common trend as we age: they can do things on their own, so they’re actually made independent.”
A few of these benefits include exercise classes (in their Wellness and Fitness Center), water aerobics in their pool, a café called Bistrol open daily for meals, a classy dining room open once a month for fine dining, a ceramics lab (“The Mud Hut”), a new bocce ball court and a golf putting green.
In terms of health care, in addition to the skilled nursing staff on campus for more dependent residents, the home boasts an on-site rehab center with an in-house therapy staff. The home also provides a chauffeur service for group outings and weekly shopping trips to amenities stores, the farmers’ market and other shopping facilities available in Walla Walla.
Visiting family members and guests are encouraged to go on these trips and to utilize the facilities right along with the residents. The home also has season tickets available to the residents and their families to the Little Theatre, Harper Joy Theatre, the Walla Walla Symphony and Walla Walla Community College Theater.
Whitman students have participated at the home in many ways. “The whole goal is to get the youth into the facility. … That’s when you can really feel the energy throughout the place,” said Kayla Kirk, director of resident life and activities chair. It doesn’t take much time, and the staff is open in terms of scheduling times and activities. “You don’t need to have a special talent, the most enduring relationships that people form happen when they are just sitting and talking,” said Kirk. For more information, call Kirk at (509) 526-6826.
