Resident Recipe: Cold Mexican Corn Salad

Ingredients

3 cans Mexican corn

4-6 chopped green onions

1 (4-oz) can chopped green chilies

3/4 C Miracle Whip

1 C sour cream

10-oz shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Drain corn

Mix all ingredients

Chill 4-6 hours

A Legacy of Care: Three Generations at Western Home

For Janet Sandell, living at Western Home is a true family tradition. Her connections span three generations, beginning with her grandfather, John Ford, who was a resident in the late 1980s. A mechanical-minded electrician, John left such a lasting impression during his stay at Stanard Assisted Living that Janet says, “To this day, when something weird is going on mechanically, somebody will always say, ‘Well, it’s the spirit of John Ford.’

The tradition continued with Janet’s mother, Harriet, who lived at Windhaven for over five years. Janet was deeply moved by the community’s commitment to her mother’s security. When Harriet’s funds became a concern, the staff reassured Janet, saying, “She’s not going anywhere. This is her home.”

This experience inspired Janet and her husband, Gene, to become contributors to the Western Home Foundation's Assurance Fund, which supports charitable care for residents. “We’re fortunate enough that we’re probably going to be fine,” Janet explains, “but there’s a lot of people who aren’t.”

Having seen this care firsthand, Janet and Gene knew Western Home was where they belonged. “When we turned 70, we always knew this is what we’re going to do,” she says.

That sense of history extends to their kitchen. Janet’s favorite summer corn salad is a recipe passed down from her mother, featuring corn, chopped chilies, miracle whip and sour cream. Janet notes it’s easy to customize: “The original recipe said that if you wanted to, you could add jalapeños to it."