Helen Anderson

Helen L. Anderson was born on January 9, 1931 to Carla (Paulson) Anderson and Henry Anderson. She was one of four children born into this family. Helen passed away Sunday, September 7, 2014 at the Corning Nursing Rehab Center. Helen stayed at home until January 9, 1952 when she went to live at the Glenwood State Hospital School. She later lived in Murphy’s Boarding Home in Council Bluffs. When the boarding home closed, she came to live at Country Haven on April 30, 1992. The motto of Country Haven is “We Are Family” and she soon became a much loved member of the family.
Helen came out of her “shell” after a few weeks of being in her new “home”. At first she would spend most of her time in her room. Helen had trouble verbalizing what she was thinking, but before long she started coming to the main lounge and from then on she was very involved!
Helen would sit and look at her books and as staff talked with her she started to say a few words. She was often told, “Love you” and before long she started repeating that. She also started going anywhere the van was going! She enjoyed going out to eat, bowling, picnics, Shrine Circus trips, van rides, a trip to Henry DoorlyZoothe list could go on and on.
We will always remember Helen’s favorite thing to do…she was an elbow checker! She would say “elbow” and when you showed her your elbow she would look at your elbows and would rub them gently. We were always careful to keep our elbows clean so we could pass her test!
As Helen’s mobility confined her to a wheelchair she became in need of 24 hour nursing care. She was lovingly accepted at Corning Nursing and Rehab May 5, 2011, where she continued checking elbows and joining in activities there. A few other individuals who had lived at Country Haven were also living at Corning Nursing and Rehabilitation so she still was able to be with “family” and were still visited by members of the Country Haven staff.