Arkansas City Community Matters November 2014

Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

November 2014

Lifestyle changes key to Alzheimer’s prevention We now have a prescription that researchers think can delay or prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s not a pill, it’s a list of lifestyle choices. Results from a landmark study announced this summer show that having a healthy lifestyle may be the key.

“It’s the first time we have been able to give people a kind of recipe for what is useful,” said Maria Carrillo, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association.

More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Millions more will likely develop dementia as the baby boomers age.

In the study, researchers looked at 1,260 people in Finland from 60 to 77 years old, who were at risk for Alzheimer’s. One group went on a lifestyle improvement program and the other group received general health advice. The results were dramatic.

The lifestyle program included: Eat well: Start by adding fruits and vegetables to your regular diet. Ease out fats and fried foods, and always choose whole grains rather than highly refined bakery products.

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A team from Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor participates in Color for a Cure to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research.

Local support Alzheimer’s event raises funds for research The inaugural Color for a Cure 5K raised nearly $3,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Organizers say they couldn’t be happier with the turnout and how the race, in turn, benefited the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“We just had a really big year, and part of the reason the fundraising was so much more successful was because of the run,” said Tara Clawson, marketing director for Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor and co-chair of the 5K planning committee, with Memory Care Charge Nurse Sarah Standerfer. Executive Director Sarah Griggs led the committee for the walk.

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November birthdays 5

Bill Post

12 Dorothy Long 13 Jackie Shafer 20 Bernadine McLain

Devotion: Singing praises to the Lord

By Wayne Rector, Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor resident

In Psalm 30:4 we read, “Sing praise to the Lord all you saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name, and I have long had the feeling that God gives the songs that we sing – those that honor him.”

To me, there is nothing more rewarding and uplifting that singing to yourself of the goodness of God, even if you can’t carry a tune or sing it in the wrong key. I recall as a young lad, my mother standing at the ironing board and singing the old hymns of her day, “Bringing in the Sheaves,” “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” and “Throw out the Lifeline.”

Wayne Rector

Quite often during the week, I will be working away at something, and I will become aware of one of the songs that we have sung in church recently playing itself in the background of my mind.

We need to guard out minds, though, for one day I became aware that a tune that was used in a beer commercial the night before was running through my mind. I quickly squelched that and started singing “Amazing Grace.”

God is a good God, and he loves us. Jesus Christ is his Son and he died to save us. God loves you, and so do I. Sing praises to his holy name.

Community Matters

is published monthly for residents and friends of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Sarah Griggs, executive director Tara Clawson, marketing director Lori Peters, activities director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact tclawson@pmma.org.

Telephone: 620-442-8700 Fax: 620-442-8224 Address: 1711 N. Fourth, Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607

Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org

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About 250 runners participated in the race through Arkansas City on Sept.

13, getting doused with brightly colored powders along the way. The event netted about $2,800 to donate to Alzheimer’s research and support groups, Tara said.

Later in the day, about 195 people participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s – far more than expected. Tara said she thinks publicity about the 5K race helped raise awareness of both events.

“When the run was advertised, more people asked about the walk,” she said.

“We had a lot of new teams for the walk. We had 20 overall, and our goal was 14.”

The Presbyterian Manor team’s goal was to raise $1,500 from the walk. Tara said it brought in $2,951.

In 2012, the first walk raised $9,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. This year the goal was $14,000, and it was easily met and surpassed with $22,000 in total donations, she said.

Raising Alzheimer’s awareness is just as important, Tara said, because the disease shows no signs of slowing. Statistically, one in eight Cowley County residents age 65 or older will develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

“The shocking part is it’s going to affect everybody at some point, whether personally or through family and friends,” Tara said.

New decade, new locations, new services This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life.

The 1980s brought growth in independent living options on many Presbyterian Manor campuses.

New duplexes and apartments were constructed in Parsons, Lawrence, Wichita and Salina. It also brought construction of two new campuses and health care additions at the Wichita and Rolla campuses.

The first scholarships were given in 1981. Those funds served as seed for today’s Employee Education Assistance Grants.

Consideration of additional campuses continued through the 1980s as well. Efforts to raise funds for a Presbyterian Manor at Hays were not successful, and By early 1980, the United after thorough study, the board Presbyterian Foundation of Kansas’ authorized sale of the property in joint project with the Manhattan June 1980. The next year, a group Retirement Foundation was open. of citizens in Emporia petitioned PMMA continued to provide for construction of a campus in that management services for the new community, and a period of study Meadowlark Hills until July 1, 1981. and fundraising began. Additional campuses in Missouri also were Salina Presbyterian Manor opened considered in Jefferson City and its doors in February 1980, Springfield. and work started on additional apartments almost immediately.

The PMMA board voted to sell In addition to the expansion of Mid-Continent Presbyterian the physical plant, two important Manor, a campus formerly operated programs of PMMA began in 1980. by the Board of Pensions of the Residents, staff and advisory board Presbyterian Church of the United members were invited to submit art States. Residents of the campus, and poetry for potential inclusion in located in Kansas City, Mo., were the inaugural Art is Ageless calendar. given the option of moving to the Kansas City, Kan., campus. The sale A donor’s $10,000 gift established was completed in 1983. the Education Fund for PMMA employees, residents and trustees.

New services and new needs also

From left, Salina Mayor Karen Graves, Milton Morrison and Harry Steele.

The newly constructed six-story independent living apartment building at Salina Presbyterian Manor.

were explored. With the support of the Synod of Mid-America, PMMA worked to establish a campus for severely physically handicapped adults in Hutchinson. Home health care for residents living independently on PMMA campuses was started in 1984. Piloted in Salina, the service was expanded to other campuses before the end of the year.

reading, pursuing a hobby, playing a musical instrument Move more: “We shouldn’t just be encouraging people or singing. Having a purpose involves brain flexing, as well. For this, you can set goals and follow through or to exercise, we should discourage them from being solve a problem, for example. sedentary,” one researcher said. Researchers found that moderate activity such as chores and walking – not just Social interaction: Social relationships foster high-intensity exercise such as jogging, swimming or support, and this connectedness, as we grow older, biking – can protect the thinking process. Taking a walk is critical to our wellness. When we converse, our after dinner is an excellent habit. Always consult your brains are busy dealing with the activities of listening, physician before beginning an exercise program. observing, understanding and conversing.You can Brain games: Two excellent ways to train your brain is combine some of these activities for added impact, such to flex it and have a purpose. Things you can do on your as playing cards, joining an exercise class, participating own include working a crossword puzzle or jumble, in a book club and attending a lecture.

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K-9 unit demonstrates skills to residents Sergeant Eric Mata of the Arkansas City Police Department K-9 unit visited Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor in September to introduce residents to his partner, Lee, a Belgian Malinois.

Sergeant Mata demonstrated Lee’s training as a search dog. Although his primary role is drug enforcement, Lee is also trained to track people who are lost, fleeing or hiding; to find evidence that has been handled by humans; and to find other evidence at crime scenes. Lee comes to Ark City from the Hill Country Dog Center in San Antonio, Texas, and was patrol trained in the Netherlands. Together, he and Sgt. Mata also attended the Kansas Highway Patrol’s 10-week K-9 school.

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Left: Sergeant Eric Mata fields questions from residents.

Above: Sergeant Eric Mata prepares to have Lee, a Belgian Malinois, demonstrate his skills.