Aberdeen Village
SEPTEMBER 2019
Paula and Robert Wilson
A sign of greatness Resident Robert Wilson’s signature a permanent part of Moon monument The 50th anniversary of the first U.S. Moon landing on July 20 was a reminder to Robert Wilson that he will be forever memorialized 238,900 miles away on the Moon’s surface. Back row, from left: Angela Kolich and Jordanne Gerdes. Front row, from left: Shannon Grantham, Manisha Patel and Heather Holbert. Not pictured: Trisha Bahr and Jessica Dunagan
Therapists vital to helping residents regain and maintain health and independence
Aberdeen Village therapists play such an important role in providing top-notch care to temporary and long-term residents recovering from surgery, illness and other debilitating ailments. Employees in the therapy department are dedicated to helping people regain their strength and wellness, so they can get back to enjoying life. Aberdeen Village would like to thank the staff of therapists who work hard to improve quality of life for residents experiencing a health setback. Take a moment to get to know our staff: THERAPISTS - continued on page 3
A representation of a plaque signed by NASA engineers and staff was left on the moon in the Lunar Module during the Apollo 12 mission. This mission was launched Nov. 14, 1969, four months after the famous Apollo 11 landing. Commander Charles Conrad, Lunar Module Pilot Alan L. Bean and Command Module Pilot Richard F. Gordon flew the 10-day mission, returning to Earth on Nov. 24. Robert, an Aberdeen Village resident, worked as an electrical engineer for NASA in Houston during that time and was given the opportunity to sign the plaque. MOON - continued on page 2
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MOON - continued from page 1
Nearly 50 years later, a copy of his signature still resides in the Lunar Module on the Moon’s surface.
Special thanks to the many individuals and organizations that share resources so that our mission thrives. The names below are donors who gave a gift of $50 or more from Feb. 1 through June 30, 2019. Mrs. Janice L. Adams Community Foundation of the Ozarks Ms. Wanda Evans Mr. Thomas B. Ewing Mrs. Jo Ann Hendrickson Knox United Presbyterian Church Mrs. Carolyn F. Kuhlman Mrs. Marcia L. Schuler Mr. and Mrs. Charles Weldy
“It’s quite an honor,” Robert said. “We have a balcony here at Aberdeen and once in a while we get to see the moon, and I can’t help but think my name is up there and will be there forever I guess.” Robert was born and raised in Everittstown, NJ, and grew up working on his family dairy farm. After graduating high school, he served for four years in the Navy, where he met Paula, his wife of 66 years. Robert and Paula had three sons, Robert, Richard and Larry. Robert earned his BS degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas and worked for several entities before joining NASA in Houston in 1966. At that time, Robert said, NASA was finding it difficult to attract talented engineers to work in Houston because of the remote location and threat of hurricanes. But he had attended school in Texas and his wife was from Corpus Christi, so they weren’t intimidated by living in Houston. “I applied for it, and NASA accepted, and they moved me down there,” Robert said. “I spent 30 years with NASA after that initial move.”
Fortunately, Robert wasn’t afraid of making the move to Houston. He was able to travel the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan during the construction of the Space Station and spent the last decade of his career working at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. About a year and a half ago, Robert and Paula made the move to Aberdeen Village to be near their son, Richard, who lives in Kansas City with his family. The couple plans to spend the rest of their days enjoying life at Aberdeen Village. “We like it here,” Robert said. “It’s very, very nice.” Even after he leaves this world, the memory of Robert will survive on the Moon’s surface in the form of his signature. “It’s a very satisfying feeling,” he said. “Not many people would have the opportunity to do that.”◆
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ABERDEEN VILLAGE A PMMA COMMUNITY
913-599-6100 ◆ Fax: 913-599-3810 17500 W. 119th St. Olathe, KS 66061-9524 AberdeenVillage.com
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2019
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizaton.
To submit or suggest articles: sroark@PMMA.org Tim Allin, executive director Sean Roark, director of sales and marketing
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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Name: Trisha Bahr, PTA/DOR Number of years you have worked at Aberdeen Village: one year Why did you decide to become a therapist? I enjoy helping people regain their independence after a physical set back and pushing them to their maximum potential. What do you enjoy most about your position? Getting to see residents enjoying activities again that they had not been able to do because of physical limitations and pain. Hobbies/interests outside of work: I have three girls ages 10, seven and four, and they keep us busy with all of their activities. I currently volunteer on a few councils at their school and am the leader for their Girl Scout troop. I love to play softball; however, I have no time for it currently. I have been a PTA for 18 years! Name: Heather Holbert, SLP/therapy coordinator Number of years you have worked at Aberdeen Village: I have worked at Aberdeen Village as a PRN speech language pathologist since 2010 and have been here full-time for one-and-a-half years. Why did you decide to become a therapist? I have always been passionate about communication and loved the idea of being able to assist people with improving their communication skills for safety, sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings and for their quality of life! What do you enjoy most about your position? I love to interact with people and enjoy the satisfaction of an individual being able to communicate and share with family and friends for their quality of life. It is also so exciting to see an individual being able to eat the foods they want with safety to enjoy their life. Hobbies/interests outside of work: I grew up as a missionary’s child in Africa and Australia. In my head I am a proud American, but my heart is African through and through. I am married with four wonderful children and two exceptional grandchildren. My time now revolves around enjoying every minute with our family with weddings, grandchildren and sporting events! I had four fabulous athletes in my children, so I am a diehard football, basketball, baseball, track and crosscountry fan. Go Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks! Name: Angela Kolich Number of years you have worked at Aberdeen Village: I have been at Aberdeen for two months. Why did you decide to become a therapist? My stepmom had MS and I learned a lot from watching her receive physical therapy and the importance it had on her well-being. I loved the positive aspects they brought to her life and knew I wanted to do the same.
What do you know about therapy?
You can learn more about the therapists, the services they provide and win prizes during our Therapy Scavenger Hunt Sept. 16-20, which is National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. If you are an assisted living or independent living resident, you’ll receive a scavenger hunt questionnaire in your mailbox. Use the newsletter, what you already know or ask around to find the answers to the questions. First and second place will receive a prize! ◆
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What do you enjoy most about your position? I love being able to help others regain independence. I learn a lot from the residents with great conversation of what others have done when they were younger. Hobbies/interests outside of work: I grew up in Topeka and went to Washburn University, where I met my husband Mike, whom I have known 18 years. We have a seven-year-old son named Austin and a Boston Terrier named Beans. We love to be outdoors, watching his ball games, and I love to bargain shop. Name: Shannon Grantham, OTR/L Number of years you have worked at Aberdeen Village: three years Why did you decide to become a therapist? I wanted to move away from working at my desk job and interact with people daily to help them be more independent and live their best life for as long as possible. What do you enjoy most about your position? All of the lovely residents of Aberdeen Village who have been so kind and wonderful to work with! I love learning about their stories, their families, and all that they have done and continue to do in their lives. Hobbies/interests outside of work: Outside of work, I love exploring Kansas City, spending time outdoors, playing sand volleyball, and learning the ukulele. I have eight nieces and nephews that I try to spoil, and I spend a lot of time with my grandparents who are my heart and soul. Name: Jordanne Gerdes Number of years you have worked at Aberdeen Village: I have worked for Aberdeen Village for almost three years. Why did you decide to become a therapist? I became a therapist to help people regain their independence and enjoy an improved quality of life after illness/ surgery. What do you enjoy most about your position? I enjoy getting to know my residents and their families on a more personal level to further assist with appropriate transitions back to home through improved safety and allowing for participation with daily activities that illness and pain may have been limiting.
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Hobbies/interests outside of work: I am married to my wonderful husband of 16 years and we have two daughters: Jessalyn is five and Jillian is four. We enjoy activities outside with our girls, watching them grow and explore their world. I also love movies and all kinds of music. I have been a therapist for eight years. Name: Manisha Patel Number of years you have worked at Aberdeen Village: 15 months Why did you decide to become a therapist? I wanted to do something related to healthcare to help people with health issues. What do you enjoy most about your position? Working with older adults is fun. Their life experiences help me to become a better person and assist my professional development. The challenges I have when working with certain populations, especially with dementia, helps me to be creative and explore new resources. Hobbies/interests outside of work: I have two children. My son is two-and-half and my daughter is four. I love to spend time with them and watch cartoons and Disney movies which always have happy endings. â—†
Aberdeen Village artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece winners Two winning artists in Aberdeen Village’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2020 Art is Ageless calendar produced by Wichita-based PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica). Aberdeen Village is a PMMA senior living community. “Golden Years, Golden Gears,” a drawing by Sharon Nelson, was named Best of Show – Amateur in the masterpiece-level competition. In addition, “Eagle Eye,” another drawing by Sharon Nelson, and “His Majesty, The King,” a drawing by Shirley Dixon, will be featured in the calendar. “A Peaceful Sea Shore,” a painting by Bill Walter, will be one of the pull-out postcards added to the calendar for 2020. In addition, “Power, Spirit & Beauty,” a drawing by Carol Rondinelli, and two pieces by Cecil Mashburn, “Rutting,” a painting, and “A Mother’s Love,” a drawing, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards. Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 16 other PMMA communities. More than 190 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards. “The arts are an integral facet of the Aberdeen Village lifestyle. Art is Ageless is a big deal around here, and we’re thrilled the efforts our artists consistently devote to their
“A Peaceful Sea Shore,” a painting by Bill Walter, will be one of the pull-out postcards added to the calendar for 2020.
“Golden Years, Golden Gears,” a drawing by Sharon Nelson, was named Best of Show – Amateur in the masterpiece level competition.
work has paid off with this welldeserved recognition,” said Sean Roark, marketing and sales director at Aberdeen Village. Art is Ageless, open exclusively to people age 65 and older, is a copyrighted program of PMMA. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Aberdeen Village residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events and educational opportunities throughout the year. Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health. Residents and friends of PMMA’s Art is Ageless program are proving that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition. ◆
“Eagle Eye,” a drawing by Sharon Nelson, will appear in the 2020 Art is Ageless calendar.
“His Majesty, The King,” a drawing by Shirley Dixon, will be featured in the 2020 Art is Ageless calendar.
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ABERDEEN VILLAGE A PMMA COMMUNITY
17500 W. 119th St. Olathe, KS 66061-9524 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Go Team Aberdeen Village! Lace up your shoes and join Chaplain Diane Gunsolley for a special walk on Sunday, Oct. 6.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. It’s held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. As Aberdeen Village chaplain and one of the leaders of the Dementia Care Partners Support Group, Diane passionately supports the cause and envisions a world without Alzheimer’s. “One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another form of
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dementia, and as the number of older Americans grows rapidly, so too will the number of new and existing cases of Alzheimer’s. We desperately need medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure Alzheimer’s disease,” Diane said.
There are two ways that you can join Team Aberdeen Village. Either log on the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s - Kansas City website by searching for the Kansas City walk at https://act.alz.org. You can join Team Aberdeen Village or make a donation by following the prompts. If you prefer to mail in a donation, Chaplain Diane has the form. Once you are on the team, you can decide how much you would like to donate and if you would like to
COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2019
join us Oct. 6 at Corporate Woods for the walk. We ask every walker to make a personal donation and commit to raising funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s. The walk starts at 9:15 a.m. All funds raised further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. “This is a great event for families including every generation,” Diane said. “You can choose the pace and length of the walk or just come to cheer on the walkers. If your schedule doesn’t permit you to be with us, take satisfaction knowing that you’re part of the team with your donation. Together we can make a difference.” ◆