PPH
SEPTEMBER 2022 6401 Martins Mill Road, Philadelphia PA • www.PPHFamily.org • 215.697.8000 Facebook.com/ThePhiladelphiaProtestantHome In This Issue... • Marge Felix's Accomplishment • Medical Mission Sisters • Staying PPHit
Daphne Floyd, PPH Vice President of Human Resources, states that Labor Day is an important holiday to “acknowledge all of the staff here and the many contributions that they make toward The Philadelphia Protestant Home.” She also stated that “while we should recognize the hard work of employees every day, Labor day is an important day as a reminder that everyone is appreciated, regardless of their job title. “What makes PPH special is the recog nition and honor for employees on a daily basis, both formally and informally. This became more prevalent over the past two years, during the COVID-19 pan demic. No matter what an employees role is, they're playing a critical role in enhancing the lives of resi dents.PPH employees are important for a variety of reasons. Many residents, and even resident family members, have made the decision to choose PPH as their permanent home. This is a reflection of the positive reputation of PPH and the many contribu tions its employees have brought to the campus.
To this day, a lot of people recognize Labor Day as the “unofficial end of summer” because it marks the time when fall activities, such as school and sports, officially begin.
Labor Day in the United States is not just a time to celebrate the three-day weekend, but also to honor and give proper recognition to the American labor movement and the contributions from other labor ers for their achievements. This change in recognition would become prevalent in the 19th century, when trade and labor movements started to hit their peak. Trade unionists made a proposal for a day to be set aside to celebrate labor, which was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor. The first state to introduce a bill to recognize Labor Day as an official holiday was New York, but Oregon was the first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day as a holiday on February 21, 1887. Congress would eventually pass an act making Labor Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1894.
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While Labor Day is an important holiday for all American laborers, it is especially important to PPH, as the employees and resident volunteers are what make PPH a vibrant and lively campus.
“I don't think it's any secret that part of the reason why is because [PPH's] reputation indicates what a great place [PPH is], and what great services and care are provided here on our campus”, said Daphne.
>>>continued on page 8, PPH Labor Day and Labor Day
Congratulations, Marge!
Marge Felix, Associate Director of Social Services
Marge Felix obtains her Nursing Home Administrator’s license
Family Focus
When asked about how it felt to graduate, Marge stated that it made her feel accomplished, while also giving credit to her co-workers, whose support made it possible. “I had a lot of support. I didn’t think I could do it. It’s a challenging course load, and challenging tests”, said Marge. She was uncertain at first, but once the process continued on, she felt more confident that she would be successful, and felt on top of the world when she graduated.
What inspired Marge to obtain her NHA license was a willingness to prove to herself that she could further her education while still working full-time. Additionally, what also inspired her was the over whelming support she received from her coworkers, especially Jennifer Honeyford. This support would be vital in her seeking the challenge to receive the license.
Marge
This past month, after passing her state and federal exams, Marge Felix, MSW, LSW, NHA, Associate Director of Social Services, obtained her Nurs ing Home Administrator’s License (NHA) from Penn State University. She worked diligently to complete the 120-hour course work virtually, while she was still working full-time at PPH. The entire PPH staff was proud of her, especially Vice President of Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, Jennifer Honeyford, NHA, CTRS, CADDCT, CDP. She was excited to celebrate with her co-workers, and thanked everyone for their support.
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When her NHA licensure was announced on social media, it was met with an outpouring of positive responses, congratulating her on receiving her license. We had the honor to interview Marge to gain insight as to how her new certification made her feel, and why it was a significant milestone in herMargecareer.has been working at PPH since 1993, where she started in Social Services. Interestingly, she was doing an internship prior to PPH, and made a lot of connections to return when a social services position opened up. One key connection she made was with her husband, Jim, who worked in the maintenance department at PPH at the time. She attended West Chester University, where her degree was in public health. In 2002, she returned to school to receive her masters at Temple University while she was still work ing at PPH full-time. The program was designed for people who worked full-time in the Social Service field, and attend classes at night. That gave her the necessary fortitude that she can juggle the work-life balance to receive her masters, so when she went to get her NHA license, she knew what to expect.
Marge Felix being recognized as a Guardian Angel, nominated by PPH Resident Emil Scharer working as hard as always!
Although Marge admitted that a lot of things, such as vacations, had to be put on hold in favor of school, her family understood that work and education come first, and she was grateful for their support.
The Medical Mission Sisters and Associates at PPH
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PPH is proud to have the Medical Mission Sisters and Associates on campus. They are a religious congrega tion of women in the Roman Catholic Church that was founded in 1925, with a strong dedication to providing the poor of the world with better access to health care. There are 550 Sisters and Associates, who are living and working in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and at PPH!
Barbara Stanert
Right now, there are 14, soon to be 17, Medical Mission Sisters and Associates living at PPH. Marge and Tom Sexton are Associates, which means that they have a spiritual connection to the organization and believe in their mission to pro mote healing and whole ness in all aspects of life. Residents who are members include Sisters Joan Foley and Jane Fell, and Associate Darrah Degnan. Some of the members live in independent living, which are associates, while others live in personal care (six), two in Pathways and one in Chapters. They are all remarkable women. They’ve all served as missionar ies all over the world, establishing hospitals, and most serving as physicians, nurse/midwives and medical technicians in locations such as India, Pakistan, Venezuela, Africa, and various parts of the United States. Their North American headquarters campus is located at 8400 Pine Road, Fox Chase, which is about two and a half miles away from PPH. Every August, they traditionally gather for a retreat. This is the first time in which they were able to get together in a hybrid setting so that those who live at PPH could participate. Additionally, they also meet on the first Friday of each month for lunch in the Learning Center. The retreat concluded with a Friday dinner in the private PPH dining room. We are glad to be the home of so many Medical Mission Sisters and Associates. Participating in a discussion in the Learning Center. Enjoying Friday night dinner to conclude the retreat.
New residents at PPH Mary Anne Crowley
Mary Anne Crowley moved to PPH after recently living in Fox Chase for the past 14 years. Mary Anne worked as an Administrative Assistant for the Wistar Institute, as well as for the Quakers (Friends Center). Mary Anne is an Associ ate Member of the Medical Mission Sisters and a member of the Philadelphia Threshold Choir, a group that sings for Hospice patients. An avid crafter, Mary Anne enjoys making hand-made cards and Origami peace cranes. We are de lighted to welcome Mary Anne to the PPH Family!
Barbara Stanert moved to PPH after living in Bucks County, PA; however, Barbara originally grew up right down the street near Lawndale, a neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia. She has four children. Previously, Barbara worked in the office where her husband worked, as he was a mechanical contrac tor. Not only does she have three grandchildren, she also has three great-grandchildren! Welcome to PPH, Barbara, we are lucky to have you on campus!
*Correction from August 2022 Issue
We are excited to announce that the PPH Garden Party is just two weeks away! On Thursday, September 15, sponsors and patrons will join us at PPH in the ACE Courtyard & Café for an evening of food and fun to support PPH Benevolent Care. The Garden Party, formerly called the PPH Gala, is a more relaxed version of our larg est fundraiser of the year for the 130 year plus mission of ensuring residents remain at PPH with quality care and peace of mind even if they’ve depleted their financial resources.Youcansupport this time-honored cause by purchas ing a chance to win a gift basket with sratch-off lottery tickets as part of the pre-event raffle. Raffle tickets are sold every Thursday in the Fountain Room from 11 am – 1 pm or can be purchased in the Business Office on Mon day, Wednesday and Friday, from 8:30 am – 12 pm, and Thursday, from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. The drawing will be held on September 9 and the winner announced on Channel 2.
To learn more about the event and ways you can give, visit our event webpage at www.PPHFamilyorg/GardenParty or call Bill Conaway at 215-697-8194.
Purchase your sponsorship tickets by visiting our Handbid webpage at https://events.handbid.com/auc tions/pph-garden-party-2022.
The wellness team hopes that residents will take advantage of the various classes being taught at PPH, espe cially the Silver Sneaker classes. Additionally, they also hope that the massage therapist will return soon, which was popular among the residents.
Benevolent Care
An outright donation of any amount or participation in the online silent auction are other ways of support. Instructions on how to register for the silent auction or bid on items will be shared the week of the event. The silent auction opens the week of September 12 and closes at 6:30 p.m. on September 15. Winners will be notified by text message or email.
How do our residents stay in shape on campus?
They participate in a variety of activities, especially those that are lead by the PPH Wellness Director Maureen Solomon and Wellness Coordinator Kayla Jurimas. These classes include Silver Sneakers Courtyard Classes, land and aqua classes, and yoga classes. Their goal with each class is to promote independence as well as to help residents live life to the fullest.
One class in which residents can be seen participating in are the Silver Sneaker classes, which are held either inside the gym, or in the ACE Center Courtyard, depending on the weather conditions. Whenever the weather allows, the wellness team takes advantage of the outdoor spaces by holding the Silver Sneaker Courtyard Classes in the ACE Center Courtyard. These classes, which are taught by Maureen and Kayla, include a variety of body exercises designed to improve function, range of motion, balance and conditioning. These exercises are performed with the use of of weights, balls, bands, and a sturdy, armless chair.
2022 PPH Benevolent Care Party, Part II
Maureen Solomon and Kayla Jurimas
Staying PPHit on campus!
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Residents participating in the various fitness classes on campus, led by Health and Wellness staff members
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Carol has been volunteering with PPH since 2021. She is a member of our Auxiliary and is also a cashier in Tabor Market. Whenever you find Carol, you can be sure that she will do an excellent job. She is very outgoing and is so nice to everyone she meets.
Employee of the Month: Christopher Laquintano
The Guardian Angels of PPH
he PPH Guardian Angel program is a special program in which residents recognize a member of the PPH staff who made a difference in their lives. Naming a Guardian Angel is a meaningful and symbolic way of ex pressing your gratitude for their hard work and dedication to make life easier. Each Angel will be given public recognition in our communica tions, including in our Annual report. Addition ally, their name will be displayed on bulletin boards around PPH, as well as on our website and Facebook page. This year, we had three staff members named Guardian Angels, nomiated by Alpha Resident Emil Scharer. These employees that were named Guardian Angels include Kyle Ozimkiewicz, Director of Nursing, Dawn Gordon, Nurse, and Ginny Maciocha, Director of Recreation Therapy, whom have been instrumental in not only caring for their patients, but for also his wife, Patricia, who is a resident of Pathways. Visit the PPH Guardian Angel wall located in the Espalande to learn how Ginny, Dawn, and Kyle made a profound impact on Emil’s life.
For more information on the Guardian Angel program and how you can nominate your PPH Guardian An gel, visit pphfamily.org/giving/guardian-angel-giving, or call the Fund Development Department at 215-6978586. For more information about other ways to support PPH, please contact the Fund Development Depart ment at 215-697-8586, email Development@PPHFamily.org, or visit www.PPHFamily.org/giving
PPH’s Guardian Angels from left to right: Dawn Gordon, Kyle Ozimkiewicz, and Ginny Maciocha
Volunteer of the Month: Carol Feeley
Chris started with our Security Department here at PPH in January of 2021. He was promoted to a supervisor and has been acting as a trainer for the Security Department for several months. Chris provides quality service to our residents and goes that extra mile! We are happy to have him as part of the PPH family
Thanks so much for all that you do, Carol. We are very happy to give her this award that she truly deserves.
Congratulations Chris! Thank you for doing “Whatever it takes.”
Congratulations go out to Carol Feeley, resident of Gateway Manor, who is the “Volunteer of the Month” for September 2022.
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September 7 and 21, Farmers Mar ket will take place in the Fountain Room from 10:00 - 11:00 am. Join Executive Chef Jerome on Thursday, September 22, for a Crepes showcase, as well as Thurs day, September 29, for a showcase on how to make home-made shrimp and chicken gyoza with dip ping sauce. Both events will take place in the Fountain Room.
★ TED Talks: See the September calendar.
★ Food Collection: The PPH Food Drive — a 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Project — will continue indefinitely as long as PPH’s neighbors are in need of food. Food will be collected the last week of the month, and then will be delivered the first day of the following month. There will be two collection sites: the vending machines area, located near the Wellness Center and in front of the Security office. For more informa tion, call Tom Sexton at 8368.
★ WISE Program: Our Fall Wisdom in Senior Education Program will commence on September 12 and continue until October 3. If inter ested in conducting a WISE class, you will only need to teach one day a week for four weeks. Please contact Carol Cherrington (8027) for more information.
★ Trips: Fees for trips are now added to each resident’s monthly bill (NO CASH). If you’d like to cancel, you must call the Business Office (8010) to have the trip fee removed.
★ Patriot Day: We are having a Flag Raising Ceremony at 11:30 on Sun day, September 11 at the Gateway Manor Flagpole. On September 11, we remember and commemorate the anniversary of the 911 attacks. We have invited our local commu nity first responders: PFD, PPD, and Burholme EMS. We need to stand together and pay tribute to those who perished on this day.
★ Independent Living Residents Association: The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 19 at 2 p.m. *(If subject to COVID-19 restric tions, this will broadcast on chan nel 57)
★ Dining Services – September 14 and 28, The Continental, featur ing fresh pastries, bagels, yogurts, juices, fruit, and coffee, will be available for purchase and will take place in the Fountain Room from 9:30 - 10:30 am.
★ COVID-19 protocols for visitors: Guests are now permitted to eat in the Fountain Room and dining areas. Guests are also welcome in our gift shop and the Tabor Mar ket. PPH encourages visitors and guests to get vaccinated, to con tinue to practice infection control precautions, such as maintaining a healthy social distance, prop erly wearing a mask while visiting and performing hand hygiene frequently while on our campus. Please advise your guests to refrain from visiting if they feel sick or have been exposed to COVID-19.
★ PPH Auxiliary: The Auxiliary’s next meeting will be held in the So cial Hall and broadcast on PPH TV channel 7 on Tuesday, September 13 at Membership11:30am.in the PPH Auxiliary is open to PPH residents, staff, and community supporters (only $5 per year). Dating back to its origins as the PPH Ladies Aid Society in 1889, the Auxiliary continues its initiatives to support the heart of PPH’s fundraising mission, Benevolent Care, as well as supporting staff/ resident gratitude activities. Contact Auxiliary President Patricia Coyne at cameo1200@gmail. com or 8403 to become a member or for more information.
★ Calling all Veterans: It is important to PPH that we identify all veterans living in our community. We want to make sure you are receiving the meeting notices, ceremonial invitations, and other veteran specific information. If you are new to the community and/or you have not completed the May 2021 veteran survey, please contact Bill Conaway (8194) or Kathy Wers inger (8017).
NEWS BRIEFS 6
★ WBCB Radio: WBCB 1490 AM is live at PPH every Tuesday from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, located in either the Fountain Room or the Courtyard, weather permitting. Please stop by and listen to the broadcast in-person with a variety of baked goods and coffee.
★ Veterans’ Meeting: The Sep tember Veterans’ meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 5, at 10 am in the Social Hall. If you have not provided your photos for the Veterans video, please bring them with you to the meeting. Please contact Bill Conaway (8194) with any questions.
Collection of the Month
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Vincent Barrett Has His Eyes On You... in the POOL by Lawrence H. Geller
You’re in good hands with all the lifeguards at the PPH pool. This story features Vincent Barrett, 23, who has been swimming since he was four years old. “My mom loved swimming and she started me off with lessons early on,” he said. “I took to water like a fish.” Continuing to swim through his formative years, Vincent decided to become a lifeguard at 17. The training was no easy task. “It was hard,” he said. “First of all, it’s an Olympic size pool (164 feet), making it three times longer than the one here at PPH.” One has to swim 12 laps - one lap being down and back. Then one has to tread water for two minutes with no hands. “That was the hardest,” said Vincent.
The August display featured Alpha resident Marlene Matarazzo's beautiful hand-made wood carvings. There are different types of wood used. Some pieces are either painted, stained, or natural wood. These carvings feature a variety of creations, which include wooden animals, instruments, birdhouses, a Nativity carved from one piece of wood and several other pieces. We hope that you will enjoy them, and make sure you give recogni tion to Marlene for her hard work!
Marlene Matarazzo’s Hand-Made Wood Carvings
While here at PPH, Vincent has also gained some experience by helping people walk again - going from a wheelchair to walking unassisted. “I’ve gotten a lot of satisfaction from that,” he said. “Enough to want to study geriatric physiology.”
To accomplish these tasks, he established a “mindset,” i.e. formulating the mental energy to accomplish something, which is very helpful when trying to do something difficult. It’s like saying to yourself, “I can do this.”Next task was dropping a brick down to the bottom of the pool (9 feet), go down, retrieve it and swim back up. You’re given up to one minute and 45 seconds to accomplish this. Vincent set a record by doing it in just 50Areseconds.youkidding me?
Vincent appreciates all he has learned here from the PPH fitness instructors, Mauren Solomon and Kayla Jurimas.Awayfrom PPH, he relaxes by playing golf, basketball, and running, topped off by consuming his favorite food, cheesy spaghetti.
Greetings
Guided by Christian values, the mission of The Philadelphia Protestant Home is to provide a caring senior living community that affords its residents the opportunity to achieve their highest possible quality of life.
for inviting me into your lives. I am honored to walk with you on this journey, and in this commu nity. Going forward, all three of the pastoral team will be contributing to “Reflections” section, so that you will get to know all of us.
— Pastor Peter >>>PPH and Labor Day, continued from page 1
“It's not the building itself or our campus that provides that; it's the individual staff members from each de partment.”PPHprides itself as the employer of choice, a goal in which we want to maintain within the local commu nity. PPH consistently honors and recognizes employees on a daily basis, and this is done with a variety of programs. Some of these programs include Employee of the Month, Guardian Angel, as well as a Volunteer of the Month program. The Guardian Angel program goes a step further from the Employee of the Month program, as it designates a special service that was provided to a specific resident, or a group of residents by a member of the PPH staff. Residents can donate $250 to PPH Benevolent care and recognize the employee with an award. The award is presented to the employee, and gets placed on the Guardian Angel board in the Espalande for everyone to view. The President’s Award is another prestigious way of honoring an employee for going above and beyond to provide care for a resident. There are also smaller, departmental celebrations.
In the July 2022 edition of REACH, Pastor Jack wrote his good-bye reflection. It seems appropriate that my first reflection be a greeting piece, so hello! I want to recognize the diversity of the PPH community. Diversity is a necessary condition for true unity in the practice of community. Based on your faith traditions and worldviews, you may find different ways to relate to me – pastor, chaplain, or simply as another human being. One thing I keep in mind is that I am not here to just minister to you. I am here to minister with you. You have much to offer; in our every encounter, you add value to my life as I add value to yours.
Pastor Peter
This is a vast space, so I imagine it will take time to learn names and places. Most people call me Peter or Pastor Peter, and I do not have a strong preference. If you would like a visit or a talk, please feel free to call me (8012) or email me (pahn@pph family.org).Thankyou
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PPH remains a vibrant and positive community because of the hard work and dedication from every staff member, no matter their job title. For that, we are forever grateful for all PPH staff not just on Labor Day, but every day.
THE PPH MISSION
by Pastor Peter Ahn, Director of Pastoral Ministries, and Chaplain Linda Lewis
