Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
April 2017
Easter is a time of refreshing By Wayne Rector, Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor resident
In the Gospel of Matthew, we read where Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Jesus touched her and the fever left her and she arose and ministered unto him. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to entertain Jesus in our home? He has done so much for us that if His bodily presence were with us today, there would be no end to the things we would seek to do to make Him comfortable. While some are weighted down by doubts and fears, selfish desires and guilty consciences, many find themselves infirm insofar as being able to serve Jesus. But, praise be to God. The Master still reaches down His hand to bless, to forgive, to heal, to fulfill and inspire us when we ask and place our trust in Him. REFRESHING, continued on page 4
Volunteer Judy Olmstead.
Perfect match Volunteer enjoys devoting time to one resident’s needs When Judy Olmstead first signed up to volunteer at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, she assumed she would be calling bingo or something similar. Instead, Judy was paired with a resident who has become an inspiration and joy in her life. For almost three years, Judy has been coming once a week to serve as a personal volunteer to Grace Potter, who is blind. Judy writes letters for Grace or reads to her. Sometimes, they’ll work a crossword puzzle together or check in on the day’s activities. And they always pray together. VOLUNTEER, continued on page 3
Don’t let fear stop you from end-of-life planning By Debbie Reslock for Next Avenue
When I was in my early 20s, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It felt like a one-two punch, since my dad had died unexpectedly a few years earlier. Although Mom tried chemotherapy, the results seemed to suggest that this was going to end badly, which it did — less than six months later. During that time, her life became a mere shadow of what it once was. And yet no one, including her doctors, myself or my mom, ever talked about what was happening. Only in the last few days did her
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.
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Community Matters April 2017
doctor suggest to me, not her, that we were reaching the end of this painful road. And then he asked if I thought she’d be more comfortable at home or in the hospital. I remember how angry I was, unprepared to make this decision and wanting to scream, “Why are you asking me?” But of course when I got older, I realized the real question was why hadn’t any of us asked her? planning consultant Jane Markley of M Jane Markley Consulting. Struggling with end-of-life “Completing these types of decisions documents isn’t part of our culture.” I’m sharing this story because many “But it’s not because we don’t like years later, I find myself struggling to plan,” Markley says. “We plan to put my own end-of-life choices everything — getting married, on paper through an advance care having kids, traveling and even who’s directive. And I’m not sure why. going to take care of the dog while we’re gone. But we don’t want to I don’t like uncertainty. In fact, face the end of life. We don’t want I’m all about control. It makes me to plan for this. We don’t want to uncomfortable when others speak believe this is going to happen even for me. So why am I handing off these decisions that are clearly mine though we all have a 100 percent mortality rate,” she says. to make? “As humans, we’re not wired to Apparently, a lot of you are here accept death,” says Jon Radulovic, with me. According to research, 90 vice president of communications percent say talking with loved ones for the National Hospice and about end-of-life care is important, Palliative Care Organization. “It’s but just 27 percent have done frightening and final. There’s so so. Only 7 percent have had this much apprehension surrounding the conversation with their doctor and topic that it’s understandable why we less than a quarter of us have put don’t want to focus on it.” our wishes in writing, although 82 percent say it’s important. It seems most of us are also good excuse makers, according to Joseph As we grow older, most of us say Ferrari at DePaul University, we want control over our lives, so a professor of psychology and why is this where we draw the line? When we let fear or anxiety stop us, research expert in the subject of procrastination. It’s also not that we’re just shifting the responsibility to others. By default, we decide that uncommon to take the Scarlett O’Hara viewpoint that there’s always they are the ones who will one day another day, he says. make the decisions for us. “We delay the consequences when Why we delay the inevitable we put something off,” says Ferrari. For one thing, advance directives “If the decision is upsetting, we avoid are easy not to do, says advance care having to feel that.” Like us on Facebook
Golf tournament set to raise money for seniors This year’s Dick Metz Memorial Golf Classic benefiting the Good Samaritan Program at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor will be held May 6 at Great Life Golf and Fitness in Arkansas City. The tournament was named for the late Arkansas City native, Richard “Dick” C. Metz, who was a leading golf pro in the 1930s and 1940s. He won 14 professional victories and was inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame in 1991. After Metz’ death, a golf tournament named for him was started to benefit the Arkansas City Good Samaritan Program, which provides assistance for Presbyterian Manor residents who have outlived their financial resources. Last year’s tournament raised more than $17,000. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at VOLUNTEER, continued from page 1
“Almost from the first moment I met Grace, I thought, ‘What a wonderful lady!’ She is cheerful and bright and looks upon the world as a blessing from God each day,” Judy said. “And how many people could maintain that attitude every day?” A few months into her retirement, Judy said, her pastor announced at church that Presbyterian Manor needed volunteers. (He leads a Bible study on the campus on Wednesdays.) Judy’s mother had lived here, and she thought it would be a good fit. She expected to be helping with activities for all. Instead, social worker Lori Peters Like us on Facebook
Great Life Golf and Fitness in Arkansas City. The Karl Faidley Memorial Ball Drop is at 10:15 a.m., and the four-person scramble tournament begins at 10:30 a.m. A grilled hamburger lunch will be offered during play and appetizers will be served afterward during the awards ceremony.
Registration forms are available at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor. Team and individual registrations are available, with individuals being placed on four-person teams. The entry fee is $100 per person. For more information, contact Tara Clawson at 620442-8700 or tclawson@ pmma.org. asked Judy if she would agree to work with a single resident.
Residents and staff treat her like a member of the family, she said.
Now, both women look forward to their hour together. “Grace has a great family that loves her, and she does not want for love in her family. But I think why she appreciates me so much is that it’s a scheduled visit. It’s between meals, and nothing will interfere with it,” Judy said. “It may be a highlight of her week, but it is most certainly a highlight of mine.”
This month, we’ll honor Judy and many more of our wonderful volunteers on Thursday, April 13, with a reception at 2 p.m. in the dining room.
Judy also serves on the advisory council for Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, and she knows how valuable our volunteers are to every neighborhood and need.
Judy encourages everyone to give volunteering a try, because the benefits go both ways. “I miss it when I’m out of town,” she said. “I never would have realized how rewarding this is, to meet someone with such a phenomenal attitude.” And as it turns out, Judy has gotten to call a few bingo games after all, too. Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
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Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor 1711 N. Fourth Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 Return Service Requested
REFRESHING, continued from page 1
Happy Birthday! Join us in celebrating our neighbors born in April! Doris Gilmore-
Wayne Rector
Dan Brook
Rogers
Helma Unruh
Bill Flick
Bernice Metcalf
Betty Harris
Rita Stocksen
Grace Potter
Sarah Lewis
Lila Teufel
Although His bodily presence is not with us today, his spirit is, and the opportunity to serve Him comes in many and various ways. He tells us we are serving Him when we minister to the needs of the hungry and thirsty, the poor and the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned. Our Father, forgive us our sins, our short comings and failures, and make us aware of our opportunities to serve Thee. Grant us the grace and strength to be true servants of thy Son Jesus.
Father’s Day We will be featuring summertime and Father’s Day in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about a memorable Father’s Day or how your father influenced you, we want to share it. If summertime is your favorite time of year and you’ve got great memories to share, let us know. If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Tara Clawson and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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