Aberdeen Heights
MARCH 2020
Aberdeen Heights’ Art is Ageless® call for entries underway
Residents, staff deck the halls
It seemed that everyone found the Christmas spirit, as residents and staff joined forces for a friendly hallway decorating competition. “Two of our CNAs came up with an idea to put a more positive spin on everything that goes on in the skilled nursing area,” said assistant director of nursing Peggy Bienefeld. “We thought a decorating contest would be a great idea.” Aside from the opportunity to show some Christmas flair, the contest also gave residents and staff a chance to show off their creativity and crafting skills. Each wing chose a different theme, and the teams went to work in November to bring their ideas to life. The east wing decided to build their display around the theme “hometown Christmas.” Scenes of old-time celebrations filled the hallway, including traditional stockings and Santa Claus. The west wing decided to take an “elf on the shelf ” approach. Together, this team crafted a variety of elves, which incorporated photos of the residents and staff. The north wing focused their efforts on building snowmen, all decked out with different accessories. HALLS - continued on page 2
Aberdeen Heights has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held April 27 – 30, 2020. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 40th anniversary Art is Ageless calendar in 2021. Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2015). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Aberdeen Heights by April 20. The Art is Ageless® program encourages Aberdeen Heights residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as
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“It was really cool to see the residents participate,” Peggy said. “While we were decorating a tree, one resident said she remembered when she could stand up and decorate the top of the tree. Others would say ‘you need to fill in there on the right,’ because they were sitting in a wheelchair and saw things differently than if they had been standing.” Even though this was a friendly competition, that doesn’t mean it was without shenanigans designed to bring home the victory. “The east hall went a bit further,” Peggy said with laughter. “We purchased a Mr. and Mrs. Claus outfit and they dressed up. They also had cookies and bells—and said they wanted to have the sound and taste of Christmas as well. That was kind of cool.” Peggy also remarked at the work of resident and former Aberdeen Heights staff member Betty Schmidt. “She worked on it every night,” said Peggy. “She put her finger into almost everything, but she didn’t want anyone to know about it.” In the end the east hall won Most Traditional, the west hall took the prize for Most Creative, and the north hall landed Best in Show. But after the experience, it seems everyone came out a winner. “We did this for Halloween and Christmas, and now we’re going to do it for Mardi Gras,” Peggy said. “David Evans, our director of life enrichment, has been very open to any ideas the staff have. He’s enabled us to be more involved with the activities, and that’s important—because we feel more a part of their department.” ◆ See more Halls photos on page 5 Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
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 | March 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) organizaton.
To submit or suggest articles: llandy@PMMA.org Rick Cumberland, executive director Lily Landy, health care administrator David Evans, life enrichment director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
The inspiring influence of an art lover By Lauren Stiller Rikleen for Next Avenue
My husband’s mother, Rebecca Frank Rikleen, celebrated her 96th birthday on Halloween, but likely did not have a lot of time for festivities. Most days, she walks down the steep hill behind the rent-controlled New York City apartment where she’s lived for the past 68 years to catch a bus that takes her to an art workshop or poetry class. After returning by bus and walking up that same hill, she may spend some of her afternoon attending a memoir class at a neighborhood complex or walking to the Riverside Church for a lecture or going to another senior center for an additional art class. Rebecca would describe herself as a mother, grandmother and wife of a husband whose void was never filled, 42 years after his passing and notwithstanding the company of a kind companion for more than 30 of those years. Even as she maintained all of these roles — and met each with loving responsibility — the description is relational, and offers little insight into her complexity, her life struggles and her passion for art in all its forms. Art, to Rebecca, is the oxygen that keeps her alive and vibrant, even in a 96-year-old frame that often frustrates her with its slower pace and occasional malfunctions. She found her joy in creating art Her passion for art and poetry does not stem from a life of privilege where exposure to the masters solidified her talent. Rather, it was her escape from a life of scarcity
that started when she was born on the boat that carried her parents who were fleeing Russia.
That her parents were able to disembark on American soil with their infant was likely due to the compassion of their boat captain. Cognizant that the United States was close to reaching its annual quota on Russian immigrants, he rerouted his ship to Providence, thereby avoiding the larger queue of vessels waiting at Ellis Island in New York City. Had he instead waited his turn in New York waters, the annual quota may have been reached before they landed and the newborn and her parents would have been denied entry and sent back to Russia. But Rebecca’s good fortune to be born an American citizen did not alter her family’s difficult economic circumstances. The family moved from their port of entry to Philadelphia, where they lived above a hardware store. Rebecca became the dutiful daughter who retreated within, excelled in school, and found her joy in creating art. Art also brought her love When an uncle moved to the Catskills region of New York, her family followed, and Rebecca finished her high school years in a small town. Her grades propelled her to the top of her class, but she was told by the principal that the honor of being valedictorian should
fall to the No. 2 student who had grown up in the town. Subsequently, Rebecca obtained the highest score in the county on a statewide exam, an achievement that brought her an automatic acceptance into Cornell University. Her parents dismissed the idea without even exploring whether scholarship support was possible. College for their daughter made no sense, they felt, when she really needed to learn to cook, sew and type. Not to be deterred, Rebecca ultimately earned a B.A. at Temple University and, nearly two decades later, her masters degree. When circumstances brought her to New York City, she found refuge by spending spare time in museums. There, she met a Russian immigrant 17 years her senior who came to America as a young teenager. Rebecca marveled in the opportunity, for the first time in her life, to have conversations with someone who seemed genuinely interested in her thoughts and ideas. Together, they built a life and raised four children in an atmosphere where their intellectual nourishment made up for their precarious financial circumstances. ◆
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Staff double as ‘secret Santas’ during the holiday season It’s always fun to wonder what you might get for Christmas—but when both the gifts and the people are “secret,” it is especially fun. In December, roughly 30 staff members participated in a secret Santa gift exchange and party with Aberdeen Heights residents.
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It was a fun event that drew laughs and smiles from everyone in attendance.
“I posted a list of resident names in mid-November for the staff to sign up,” said David Evans, director of life enrichment. “The list filled up within a week.”
COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2020
As the day of the party neared, staff placed the gifts under the tree. Some of the gifts included cozy slippers, Cardinals T-shirts, chocolates and Christmas ornaments. Every resident received a gift, and the party included homemade cookies and eggnog. ◆
Residents ring in the new year Residents rang in the New Year with a classic movie ending, a song and toast, and fireworks displays from across the globe.
Together, the group enjoyed the ending of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” - when George realizes the value of his friendships. A chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” — also part of the movie’s ending — rang through the Aberdeen Heights hallways. A toast launched everyone into a new year. The night wouldn’t be complete, however, without a special game of New Year’s bingo. Instead of numbers, this version uses images such as party hats, champagne, fireworks and “baby New Year.” Winners took home stuffed animals, including bears, bunnies and a Dalmatian wearing a fireman’s hat. ◆
The Halls’ Christmas celebration
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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.
Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
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Mid-America Community.
art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year. Aberdeen Heights is a Presbyterian Manors of
Local competition winners will join winners from 15 other PMMA communities to be judged at the systemwide level. Entry forms and information can be
picked up at Aberdeen Heights, or by contacting Susan Press at 314909-6083 or spress@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online. ◆
Change to compliance hotline PMMA’s corporate compliance program provides a mechanism for the organization to guard against misconduct by employees, service partners, volunteers and others who are regularly in PMMA’s communities in compliance with federal and state laws governing providers of health care services. It is everyone’s responsibility to report suspected misconduct without fear of retaliation or retribution. PMMA uses a third party provider to manage the compliance hotline to ensure anonymity of those who report suspected misconduct. This company recently made upgrades to its system, which have changed the way people can report suspected misconduct, offering both telephone and online options. The new toll free number is 1-844-973-0049. A new web portal offers the ability to make a report via the internet at www.pmma.ethicspoint.com. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2020