Friends of the animals.

Saint Simeon's Episcopal Home is known for the quality of care we provide to the 175 residents who call the facility "home"--and the animals that call it home, too. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Saint Simeon's environment is enhanced by a variety of tame and untamed animals that live inside and outside the Independent Living cottages, Assisted Living apartments, Health Care Center, and Memory Center.

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"Most of us had pets as children and later as adults, and we thoroughly enjoyed them," notes Saint Simeon's resident Arthur "Gus" Gustafson. "Now, we turn to Saint Simeon's pets to fill that part of our lives. I appreciate that there are still animals for us to look at and enjoy, even at a distance."

Physical and mental health benefits provided by interactions between animals and people are well known. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, animals can assist in decreasing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, and reducing feelings of loneliness, while increasing opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities, and socialization.

Saint Simeon's is a senior living community located on 50 wooded acres northwest of downtown Tulsa. The Home, which opened in 1960, offers Cottage Living, Assisted Living, the Health Care Center, the Memory Center for persons with Alzheimer's and related dementia, and Adult Day Services. Saint Simeon's mission is to be the preferred living community for men and women of all faiths who wish to live their later years in an environment with dignity, individuality, and as much independence as possible.

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Saint Simeon's provides sanctuary for God's creatures, large and small. While enjoying the forested scenery surrounding the Home, residents commonly see small herds of deer, foxes, hawks, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and many other wildlife species native to Northeastern Oklahoma.

Attracting a variety of birds to the area is a labor of love handled by residents, volunteers, and staff. Residents Eugene and Ruth Anderson and Saint Simeon's Auxiliary volunteer Lou Anne Harris take a special interest in ensuring that bird feeders, specialized foods, and shelters are available for birds passing through. They fill more than 75 feeders placed within easy view of all the dining areas, living areas, and individual resident apartments. Seed containers are placed throughout the Home for easy access by residents who enjoy filling the feeders. A large wood owl has made his perch nearby, and on occasion he can be heard "hooting" in the evenings.

In keeping with the enjoyment provided by wild birds, Saint Simeon's has opened an indoor aviary for residents to enjoy. Created by Living Design, the aviary is self-enclosed in Plexiglas and thin wire mesh, providing a large setting for the birds to remain active. The aviary houses multicolored finches, two Australian pigeons, and a canary. Each bird was chosen for specific attributes. The finches offer soft singing voices, have brilliant colors, and can lay eggs and produce young within the aviary. The canary has a wonderful singing voice, and the Australian pigeons, the smallest breed of pigeon in the world, act as "groundskeepers," as they prefer to stay near the bottom of the aviary.

Throughout Saint Simeon's buildings and in residents' apartments, large, picturesque windows provide a view of the surrounding woods in which the wild animals create their habitats. It is always a surprise to see what animals will show up and perform their routines or investigate the campus. The comical nature of squirrels' behavior offers hours of entertainment. They zig and zag about the grounds, doing everything from stealing bird food to making their homes in a favorite tree. Turtles have made their home on Saint Simeon's grounds, and each spring we find two or three baby turtles exploring the Home's courtyards. Butterfly habitats have been created through the purposeful planting of butterfly-friendly plant life.

Animals from the local zoo and wildlife sanctuaries also visit the residents. Highly trained show dogs, miniature horses, monkeys, lizards, snakes, llamas, and other exotic animals stop by to visit regularly. In most cases, the various animals come inside the Home so the maximum number of residents can enjoy them up close and personal--although some residents prefer not to get too close to some of the more exotic visitors!

Above all, the most famous and beloved animal at the Home is the loving Simone, a golden retriever. Simone was donated to Saint Simeon's as a puppy and is now nine years old. Her gentle nature encourages interaction with residents, staff, and visitors. Simone and Carla Stokesberry, the director of nursing, make rounds together, and Simone can always be counted on to lift the spirits of everyone who crosses her path.

Aquatic life is not overlooked at Saint Simeon's either. Two saltwater reef tanks are home to a soothing array of tropical fish, anemones, crabs, starfish, and aquatic plant life. A third living reef aquarium is being installed to offer yet another opportunity for residents and staff to stop and relax and watch the fish. Saint Simeon's resident Sister Maria Felicitus has taken a special interest in the aquariums. "Saint Simeon's has given me my first fish tank," she says. Sister Maria has provided colorful names for all the fish that go along with their appearances, behaviors, and personalities, such as Mr. Snort, Aggie, and Dottie.

The Home's Reflections Courtyard has a water feature that serves as the home of two koi, Boomer and Sooner, and several goldfish. The water feature was carefully designed and constructed so that the koi could survive the cold Oklahoma winters; this was done by ensuring the depth of the pond's water was sufficient to insulate the fish from the cold winter air. A walking path and benches allow residents and families to enjoy the beautiful sounds of the waterfall and the graceful movement of the koi and goldfish.

Two peahens and a peacock also reside in the Reflections and Gazebo Courtyards. The male, named Big Bird, is now showing off his colors to his two lady friends. This has brought about hopes that baby peafowl will soon join the Saint Simeon's family.

The animal life at Saint Simeon's simply serves to further enrich the lives of the residents. From catching a glimpse of a fawn to petting Simone, each resident of Saint Simeon's has a means to enjoy the gifts of nature at his or her leisure. Mental, emotional, and physical effects from interactions with animals are not easily calculated or measured. However, it remains clear that a smile from a resident enjoying the animals justifies the lengths Saint Simeon's goes to provide a home for all God's creatures, great and small.

Jason VanOrsdol is Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Saint Simeon's Episcopal Home. For more information, phone [phone], ext. 245, or visit www.saintsimeons.org. To send your comments to the author and editors, e-mail [e-mail].

A collaboration of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and Nursing Homes/Long Term Care Management Not-for-Profit Report, appearing in every issue of Nursing Homes magazine, addresses issues of particular interest to long-term care's not-for-profit sector. It provides nonprofit aging service providers with an additional information resource. Topics have been identified in collaboration with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Nursing Homes welcomes comments and suggestions for future coverage.