Palmer Pioneers' Home celebrates 30 years

PALMER -- The Palmer Pioneers' Home celebrated 30 years of operation recently in a grand way.

Residents helped solicit and gather donations for the 30th-anniversary party from several local establishments, including hamburgers and hot dogs from Mt. McKinley Meats and a huge cake from Carrs. Palmer Mayor Henry Guinotte and many other community members were there to help family members, residents and staff celebrate, along with three cats, Lucky the black Lab, and George, a turtle dove.

The peaceful atmosphere that emanates from the Palmer Pioneers' Home is carefully nurtured, and the plants, children and animals that can be found in its hallways are an integral part of that. The home has been an "Eden habitat" since 1999, as the sign at the home's driveway reads. The Eden Alternative, founded by Dr. William Thomas, incorporates plants, animals and children into the daily lives of elders, to soothe loneliness, feelings of helplessness, and boredom.

Residents of the home range in age from 72 to 100, with the average age being 85.

Mary Jane Klebesadel, administrative clerk, has been a staff member at the Palmer Pioneers' Home for more than 25 years and has seen many changes during that time. She has grown with the transition from typewriters to computers, and has worked under four different home administrators. What has remained constant, she believes, is the great pride the staff takes in providing loving attention to the residents.

"We have a reputation for giving excellent care, and family members know their loved ones will get the best of care here," Klebesadel said. "The staff really take the residents' well-being to heart, and special bonds are formed."

Residents of the Pioneers' Home take part in many Valley events, such as the Alaska State Fair and weekly luncheon outings to local restaurants, keeping the seniors an integral part of the community. And the community enjoys supporting its seniors, as evidenced by the many flower baskets donated by master gardener Don Dinkel and several local greenhouses, as well as the cut flowers brought in every Sunday by a local church group.

"The Palmer Pioneer Home and the community are intertwined. The support we receive from family and the community is a wonderful validation for the residents that they are not forgotten," said Mary McConnell, social worker at the home for the past 12 years. "We try to nurture the community involvement and to show the folks that the community recognizes them."

Outside the back door is a patio, vegetable gardens, petting farm and a large screened-in pavilion with a stone fireplace, where the seniors gather for different occasions, such as marshmallow roasts.

Many of the residents are involved in the care and upkeep of the home, as well as a number of other activities.

"I am the resident council president, a senior companion to other residents, I work in the gardens, and I help take care of Pumpkin, one of the resident cats," said Dorothy Hill, a seven-year resident.

Hill seems proud of the home's various fund-raising accomplishments, especially the project that surrounded the fireplace with name plaques bought by local businesses and individuals, bringing in enough money to add the screening.

"The Pioneer Home bought the lumber, and the prison camp donated the labor to screen in the pavilion to enhance our functions and keep out the bugs," she said.

The Palmer Pioneers' Home was built in 1971 on the former site of the Alaska State Fairgrounds. In 1975, the building was expanded to accommodate 82 residents. There are only 55 residents living there currently due to renovations that are scheduled to be completed by mid-November.

"The renovations will bring the entire facility up to Life Safety Code standards. Once the renovations are complete, the numbers will go back up to 82 residents," said Bill O'Connor, home administrator for the last five years. "We didn't want to have to move residents around or make them uncomfortable during the remodeling, so the count was allowed to drop to create space to work in."

Residents pay rent to live at the Pioneers' Home, accounting for approximately one-third of the receipts that fund the home. The remaining funds come from the Alaska Legislature.

Folks on the waiting list can look forward to a warm, cheerful welcome as they settle in, and a choice of several committees they can join if they are so inclined.

If not, they can relax amid the flowers, chat with a child, pet the dog or cat, listen to the dove, or just enjoy the magnificent view of the Chugach mountains.

Randi Perlman is a Big Lake resident.