Although this past August marked the 50th anniversary of the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home, Sweet Home Administrator, Jenni Pula said they delayed this "golden celebration" so that it could take place during the Sugarbeet Festival.

"This year's festival theme is especially relevant to us, since we're always celebrating the rural family at Sweet Home," Pula said.

Pula invites everyone to come out to the Sweet Home on September 14 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. to enjoy cake, punch, and coffee, as well as to take in other festivities.

"We'll be making ice cream, offering an old-time photo shoot, hosting hay rides with Larry Surber and his horse-drawn wagon, and having drawings for t-shirts and other prizes," Pula stated. "We also plan to gather and put on display items that showcase our history."

Any story of Sweet Memorial Nursing Home will certainly begin with the man who made it possible: Mr. Lloyd Sweet. Sweet was a successful California investor and former Blaine County and Chinook resident who wanted to leave behind a legacy while also thanking the community that nurtured his growth.

In a conversation with his friend Dr. R.H. Leeds, Sweet discussed building a hospital, but Leeds told him that the real need in the Chinook community was for a nursing home. After listening to Leeds' reasons, Sweet agreed and began seeking a suitable location. Because he wanted the residents to have a view of the Bear Paw Mountains, he selected the Home's present location. The property belonged to Herb and Isabel Bonifas who generously donated nearly three acres for the Sweet Home.

Fifty years ago, construction began, and Sweet Home-which is a 42 bed facility consisting of eight semi-private rooms and 26 private rooms-opened in August of 1969. Since that time, various improvements have contributed to the quality of care at Sweet Home and enabled the facility to survive the trends affecting the industry. For example, the first remodeling was completed in 1975, a chapel was added in 1994, more remodeling was completed in 1999, and the kitchen underwent a remodel in 2007.

Sweet's goal was to provide a home where residents would enjoy a cheerful atmosphere while receiving quality care and activities to keep them engaged. As a continuation in meeting that goal, Sweet Home received an Adult Day Care Facility license in November of 1999. Therefore, later this year, the Home will celebrate yet another birthday. The purpose of this program-which offers bathing, dressing changes, tube feedings, and transportation to appointments-is to extend relief to care-giving families and to provide social interactions for these individuals.

Also, perhaps as early as this fall, the Sweet Home's newest construction project will commence. Once complete, the south end of the building will house a new activity room, which will ultimately allow the facility to expand the physical therapy room to about double its current size.

"Expanding the physical therapy space will not only benefit our residents but our out-patients that come in for physical therapy (PT). Currently, we have the residents in a different room for their nursing rehab as the PT room is so crowded," Pula explained.

The expanded physical therapy space will enable the Sweet Home to provide an array of PT services without the discomfort of over-crowding

At this point, according to Pula, Sweet Home officials are unsure who the general contractor will be for this construction project or exactly when the construction will begin. "A walk-through in early August enabled potential general and sub-contractors to come and see the building and to ask questions. Gary Levine, our architect, was onsite to answer questions and to guide the walk-through," Pula said. "The plans for this project will be on display in 3-D during the 50th anniversary celebration," she added.

Sweet Home's Board of Directors, Administrator, managers, and team members are not only committed to treating their residents with dignity and respect but to setting a high standard for quality care by developing creative ways to meet residents' needs. As they reflected on the planned anniversary celebration, they expressed gratitude to Sweet, whom they call "Chinook's Fairy Godfather," as well as to Herb and Isabel Bonifas and to Neva Blackwood, whom they also identified as influential in bringing Sweet Home to Chinook.

Pula wished to thank all those who embrace the Sweet Home as part of the community, especially those who volunteer their time-people like Larry Surber and Cross Creek Trading-as well as the countless others who will be contributing to this golden celebration.

Of course, the Belgian draft horses-Jake and Emma-that pull the wagon deserve some appreciation, too.