Aberdeen Heights
JANUARY 2020
Adventures abound when a penguin gets cold feet
Bruce Shogren, PMMA president and CEO, left, and Bill Taylor, PMMA COO, right, present Rick Cumberland, executive director, with a certificate of recognition at the Emerald Award banquet Nov. 13.
If the idea of a penguin getting cold feet doesn’t make sense to you, then you haven’t read the children’s book written by Carole Beere and illustrated by Pat Neilson. The duo visited Aberdeen Heights to share their collaboration, “The Penguin Had Cold Feet.” The story “The Penguin Had Cold Feet” follows the adventures of Markus, a baby emperor penguin. Moments after hatching, Markus announces his feet are cold. He sets out to find a solution on his own when no one in Antarctica knows how to help. “I often get asked how did I come up with the idea, and I don’t know,” said Carole. “This has been five years in the making. The toughest part was we couldn’t come up with a solution. That took the better part of a year of talking with my grandkids to come up with an answer.” Carole published several books and journal articles during her career as an academic, but writing a children’s book used a different skillset. “I have written quite a few books, but not for this audience,” Carole said. “My grandchildren who live in Germany would ask me to tell them a story, so I’ve always made up stories. I used to make up stories when I was a kid, and I would pretend they were true, though it was clear they were not.” What is a true story is the friendship that developed between Carole and Pat as they collaborated on the book. Pat, who worked as an art teacher for more than 20 years, lives in the PENGUIN - continued on page 2
Aberdeen Heights honored for achievements Aberdeen Heights received a certificate of recognition from PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America) for reaching goals in fiscal year 2019, covering the months of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, during a banquet November 13 in Wichita, Kan.
The recognition came through PMMA’s Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 16 campuses and two hospices to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s HONOR - continued on page 2
Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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PENGUIN - continued from page 1
with a laugh.
same building as Carole.
Carole wanted the book to be both imaginative and educational. In addition to the lessons on problem solving, each page contains “fun facts” with scientific Author Carole Beere reads “The Penguin Had Cold information Feet” with illustrator and collaborator Pat Neilson. about emperor penguins and I told her it’s also true that animals life in Antarctica. Carole and can’t speak English—but we have Pat also teamed up with the the fun facts.” National Science Foundation Sharing the book at Aberdeen for a companion website to the Heights was a fantastic experience, book. Coldpenguinfeet.com includes photos, coloring and word both Carole and Pat said. activities, and educational games. “It was fun!” said Neilson. “The
“Pat’s my neighbor,” Carole said. “We started to get to know each other. Finally, I got my courage up, and she said yes!” “That’s when we became closer,” Pat said. “We had a system. I would draw a page, and before going on, I’d show Carole. In most cases we totally agreed. We did something very important—we talked about it before I drew anything.” To better illustrate Markus’ plight, and perhaps just for a bit of extra fun, Pat dresses in full penguin regalia to attend readings. “The same grandfather who got me into teaching had a black tuxedo, and I found it two years ago on his farm,” Pat said. “I put it on and it was almost perfect. I said I’d wear it every time we read the book.” To achieve the penguin effect, she wears a bright orange turtleneck under a white shirt and black shoes. “I’ve perfected the walk,” Pat said HONOR - continued from page 1
mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards. To receive an emerald, a community has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. Certificates of recognition were given out to
“We have an orca and a leopard seal in the book, and we give accurate information in there about what size they are. There is a lot of science in the fun facts,” Carole said. “Of course, if either an orca or a seal came across a penguin, they’d eat it. One person said that something in the book wasn’t true.
kids asked all the questions during the time they were there. When they left, the residents started asking questions.”
communities that reached their goals in one or more category.
the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA.
Aberdeen Heights was recognized for meeting assisted living and skilled nursing resident satisfaction goals. “This recognition is a visible sign of Aberdeen Heights’ commitment to
Not unexpectedly, a question arose about the tuxedo jacket. “I did a little modeling and told her the whole story,” Pat said. ◆
PMMA has been providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri for more than 70 years. ◆
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ABERDEEN HEIGHTS A PMMA COMMUNITY
314-909-6010 ◆ Fax: 913-599-3810 505 Couch Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122-5536 AberdeenSeniorLiving.com
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | January 2020
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Heights by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: devans@PMMA.org Rick Cumberland, executive director Lily Landy, health care administrator
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Nothing to fear from this Halloween celebration Robinson Elementary School students joined Aberdeen Heights residents for a festive and fun costume contest complete with a Halloween piñata. Nearly every resident in skilled nursing joined in the day of fun and celebration.
Landy and Executive Director Rick Cumberland served as costume judges. Robinson students paraded through the skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living buildings and the residents handed out candy.
Health Services Administrator Lily
“It was great to include more
students from kindergarten to second grade,” said Robinson teacher Cindy Star. “It was so nice to see the people we visit during Groovin’ in the Glen. It brought smiles to staff, teachers and kids.” Please see additional photos on page 4. ◆
HALLOWEEN - continued on page 4 Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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HALLOWEEN - continued from page 3
Robinson Elementary School students paraded through the Aberdeen Heights campus while residents handed out candy.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | January 2020
Kelly Stickley leads the recognition for Aberdeen Heights’ veterans during an event in November.
Honoring our veterans with luncheon, pinning ceremony Veterans and their families took center stage during a Veteran’s Day luncheon and pinning ceremony at Aberdeen Heights.
Social worker Kelly Stickley said 17 veterans received a commemorative lapel pin and a rose to honor them for their service to our country. Some 40 people attended to show their support. “Veterans ranged from WWII to Korean War-era veterans, some who were active during wartime and some during peacetime,” Kelly said. Honorees included the sole female veteran on campus, Naomi Dill, who served eight years: four in the Medical Corps and four in the Army Nurse Corps. She received a special lapel pin designed for women veterans.
“This [event] is close to my heart,” Kelly said. “Regardless of wartime or peace, active duty or reserve, draft or volunteer service, our veterans were prepared to fight and sacrifice their time, their energy, their lives for our country. They were ordinary men and women who responded to a call of duty in extraordinary ways and committed to something bigger than themselves. They didn’t cower in the face of fear. They faced it head on.” Kelly said she’s also struck by the way service can shape a person throughout the rest of his or her life and how they handle tragedies experienced in the course of their service. “This level of commitment shapes a person, and the experiences that they had during both wartime
and peacetime left imprints on their hearts and minds,” Kelly said. “Many veterans lock away their experiences, some never talk about it with family, friends or spouses, but instead carry it with them silently. Pinning each veteran, is our way of saying we see that part of you. You don’t have to share it, but we see it. We acknowledge it, we honor it. We hope that it is a validating experience for our veterans.”
The ceremony included reflections on the sacrifices these veterans made, as well as the challenges faced by their spouses and families. Regardless of whether that service took place during wartime, our veterans served a greater purpose than themselves. They should be acknowledged, honored and respected. ◆
Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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ABERDEEN HEIGHTS A PMMA COMMUNITY
505 Couch Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
OUR Mission:
To provide quality senior services guided by Chri stian values.
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We Score! Source: Pinnacle Quality Insight (12 month ave. Aug. 2018 – Sept. 2019)
As part of Aberdeen Heights’ ongoing customer service initiative, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. This company will conduct an interview regarding your impression of our service. We use this feedback as a tool to continually improve our quality of care and enhance our relationships.
Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service.
When you are contacted to participate in the survey, they will always identify themselves specifically as being with Pinnacle
The graphic above features some of our best scores for health care, assisted living, independent living and PATH® (Post-Acute to Home)
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4
4.81
4.77
Safety & Security
Cleanliness
5.00
4.65
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | January 2020
HEALTH CARE
ASSISTED LIVING
Food Quality PATH
Recommend to Others INDEPENDENT LIVING
short-term rehabilitation. We greatly value your opinions and encourage you to be frank and honest when contacted. Thank you in advance for your participation. ◆