Arkansas City Community Matters December 2020

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

DECEMBER 2020

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor named among best nursing homes

by U.S. News and World Report

Whitley Stokes

Welcome, Whitley!

Whitley Stokes has joined Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor as the new marketing and admissions director.

“Whitley will be a great addition to our team,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director. “She has a wonderful sales background and has demonstrated a genuine interest in learning the senior living industry and getting to know our residents at Presbyterian Manor.”

Whitley joined Presbyterian Manor the first of October. She has 10 years of experience in direct sales and leadership, most recently a sales consultant for US Cellular for eight years. She has a bachelor’s of business administration in business management from Friends University.

“I’m looking forward to representing Presbyterian Manor to local groups in Cowley County and building relationships with local seniors who may benefit from what is offered at the campus,” said Whitley.

Be sure and say hello to Whitley when you see her around our community! ◆

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor is returning to the U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Homes List, earning recognition as a High Performing skilled nursing community in long-term care. The list was published October 27 at www.usnews.com/best-nursinghomes/search.

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor has 56 skilled nursing beds in its health care center and offers both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation. The campus offers a full continuum of living including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and long-term care. The community last appeared on the list in 2016.

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Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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U.S. News and World Report annually analyzes data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other sources to determine which short-term rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing communities perform at the highest level and designates them as Best Nursing Homes in their publication.

All Medicare- and Medicaidcertified health care centers were evaluated by U.S. News. To be eligible for an overall rating, a center must have received reimbursement from CMS in July 2020 and had sufficient data to evaluate quality in that rating.

CMS, the government agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes, assigns one to five stars to each community for how well it performs in health inspections, nurse staffing and level of quality care. Over the past two years, U.S. News has changed its focus from the star ratings to specific quality measures included in the CMS data to determine which skilled nursing centers meet the High Performing standard.

The 10 quality measures focus on staffing, outcomes, resident complaints and processes of care.

Some of the measures used by U.S. News are not included in the CMS approach to determining 5-star ratings.

U.S. News added the Short-Term Rehabilitation rating in 2018 evaluating the care delivered to patients after a hospitalization for surgery, heart attack, stroke, injury or similar condition. In 2019, U.S. News added a Long-Term Care rating evaluating the care delivered to residents who are no longer able to live independently and need help with daily activities such as eating, getting in or out of bed or a wheelchair, using stairs, or getting dressed, as well as administering needed medical care.

In order to be included on the U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Homes list, a skilled nursing center had to receive the High Performing designation in either the short-term rehabilitation or long-term care categories. In 2020, CMS awarded 5-stars to 3,689 skilled nursing centers. A total of 3,277 skilled nursing centers were recognized as Best Nursing Homes in 2020 – 2,362 in shortterm rehabilitation and 1,623 in long-term care. Just 708 skilled nursing communities received this designation in both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care.

(Kirkwood) in Missouri.

“Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica employees continue to focus their efforts on delivering quality care every day,” said PMMA President and CEO Bruce Shogren.

“The High Performing designation confirms their good work.”

Aberdeen Village (Olathe), Manor of the Plains (Dodge City), and Wichita in Kansas and Aberdeen Heights (Kirkwood) in Missouri were named High Performing in the Short-Term Rehabilitation category. ◆

In addition to Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, six other PMMA communities were recognized for long-term care: Aberdeen Village (Olathe), Lawrence, Manor of the Plains (Dodge City), Topeka and Wichita in Kansas and Aberdeen Heights Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

Community Matters 620-442-8700 ◆ Fax: 620-442-8224 1711 N. Fourth St. Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2020

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.

To submit or suggest articles: wstokes@PMMA.org Sarah Griggs, executive director Whitley Stokes, marketing director

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Art is Ageless winners on display in 2021 calendar It’s no secret that our greater community is full of talented individuals! We’re excited to highlight seven of them who participated in the 2020 Art is Ageless competition.

Wilda Buffo has participated in Art is Ageless for five years and appreciates what the competition offers seniors. “It gives you a chance to have something to do and to show something you enjoy doing,” she said.

A quilter for 30 years, Wilda has always liked the Dresden plate quilt pattern and had scraps of material from the 1930s that was primarily flowers. All that was missing was the pattern—until there was a bit of divine intervention. “A friend of mine had passed away and her husband left me a bunch of her quilt magazines. The first magazine I picked up had that Dresden flower garden pattern on the cover.

I thought, ‘this is a God thing,’” she said.

Wilda’s “Dresden Flower Garden” quilt is featured on a pull-out postcard in the Art is Ageless 2021 calendar and as a greeting card.

“I was pretty surprised when I found out. I know there’s so many talented people who enter the contest. I don’t consider myself top-notch, it’s just something I enjoy doing and that’s why I do it. It’s icing on the cake to get recognition,” she said.

Donna Eastman has a talent for creating art out of jewelry. It started in 2013 when she saw some jewelry art and realized that’s what she could do with all the jewelry she had collected from family. “I had all this jewelry from relatives and great

Wilda Buffo’s quilt, “Dresden Flower Garden.” aunts and a lot of jewelry from the 1960s of my own. It takes quite a few pieces to put the jewelry art together like you want it,” she said.

Donna Eastman created “Christmas Tree” from her family’s jewelry collection.

For this year’s Art is Ageless entry —her second year to compete— Donna used Christmas jewelry to make a Christmas tree. “I had some Christmas jewelry and then I went online and got a few more pieces,” she said.

Her Christmas entry, “Christmas Tree,” is featured on one of the Art is Ageless greeting cards. “I was Claudia Ehlers’ “A Journey really surprised and pleased when Through Time” I found this out. I might send the card to friends and family this year,” got in the way—we remodeled the house and we spent time visiting she said. grandkids, so it got put on the Claudia Ehler has an Art is Ageless back burner. Finally, one of my entry that was seven years in the friends said this is really neat and making. “I saw this quilt on the you should finish it. So, I did. I was internet, it was from a lady in Nova really pleased with it after I saw Scotia. She would post a clue every what her plan was,” said Claudia. month, and you had no idea what the quilt was going to look like until She was also happy with her results she released the last clue. I started it in the Art is Ageless competition. several times and thought I’d quit. I saved the clues each month, but life AIA - continued on page 4 Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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“I’ve probably participated three or four years in the past, but I’ve not had anything judged. I just entered my work. This year I was talked into having my work judged. I’m glad I did,” she said.

Claudia’s quilt, “A Journey Through Time” is a masterpiece winner and is featured in the Art is Ageless 2021 calendar. “This is the first time anything I did on my own was featured in anything. It is really exciting! I feel really honored to have won and want to thank everyone who is a part of this program,” she said.

Janice Hale may have had a little beginner’s luck at this year’s Art is Ageless competition. “This was my first year to compete. I’ve been to several exhibits over the years, but this is the first time I’ve entered something in the competition,” she said.

Janice’s winning mixed media/ crafts entry, “Peacock,” was created with repurposed materials and is featured in the Art is Ageless 2021 calendar. “My sister gave me a bag full of playing cards—some were from the casino and some she bought at garage sales. I thought maybe I should make something out of them to get rid of some of them. I thought it out and realized that if I cut the cards just right, they’d look like a peacock’s tail,” she said. Janice attached the cards to the back of a large wall calendar that she recycled, too.

“I was completely surprised I won,” Janice said. “I think Art is Ageless is a very good program because there’s a lot of seniors that have such talent. I think I notice that more now,” said Janice.

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Marjorie Swaim’s “Waiting for Spring” was inspired by farm life.

Janice Hale’s “Peacock” includes a clever use of playing cards.

Marjorie Swain competed in her first Art is Ageless competition 11 years ago, and she’s been doing so ever since. “I heard about the competition from a friend in an art class. I entered the first pastel I had ever done. It got first prize … because it was the only entry. I was hooked!” she said.

This year, Marjorie’s winning pastel, “Waiting for Spring,” is featured in the 2021 Art is Ageless calendar.

Her inspiration was a scene she saw on a road trip to Iowa with her husband, Steve. “Being farmers, just seeing that farm with the snowcovered field made us think of all the wheat fields covered in snow waiting for spring, and the crops underneath being patient,” she said.

Even though she’s been competing in Art is Ageless for a decade, Marjorie still gets excited when she is recognized for her talent. “That’s always just a real affirmation that what I’m doing is special to others besides myself,” she said.

COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2020

Marjorie encourages other seniors to participate in the competition, too. “I think Art is Ageless is wonderful and it’s really good we’re reminding everybody that you can be creative and productive no matter what age you are, especially during a pandemic.”

Dr. Steve Swaim and his wife Marjorie are a creative power couple. They have been participating in Art is Ageless since 2009. “It gives us older folks a purpose in life. Some of us may not be able to get around very well, but we can use our hands and abilities for a purpose,” said Steve.

As a veterinarian and professor, Dr. Steve Swaim found his purpose after retirement that continued to incorporate his work and love for animals. “I spent 50 years carving on dogs and cats as a surgeon and thought, ‘I have to keep doing that in some way,’ so I did this,” said Steve.

His hobby is carving caricatures of animals and people, but he branched out for this year’s Art is Ageless competition.

“After I taught at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, I was asked to do a teacher graduate course at Oklahoma State. One lady on the administration was very AIA - continued on page 5

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helpful getting all the paperwork and bureaucracy taken care of to get the course started. So, I thought I’d carve something for her as a thank you. She’s a tremendous OSU fan, so that’s where I started,” said Steve.

His sculpture 3-D entry, “OSU Cowboy Alumnus,” is featured as a pull-out postcard in the Art is Ageless calendar. “After it won, Marjorie said to keep it for our collection, so I guess I’m going to keep it and carve another one for the lady at OSU. I’m going to send her the postcard and tell her hers is coming.”

Jean Swanson has participated— and often placed—in the Art is Ageless competition for seven years. “This program is important.

There are so many talented people in this area. It’s amazing! It gives them the chance to show what they can do,” said Jean.

Jean demonstrated her talents with her first acrylic entry, as she’s always done pastels. Her piece, “Kern Valley, CA Horse Ranch” won the painting category and is featured in the 2021 Art is Ageless calendar.

Dr. Steve Swaim’s “OSU Cowboy Alumnus” “It was a really challenging thing.

I hadn’t been painting for a long time with acrylics, I had been doing nothing but pastels. I took this big canvas and put the charcoal on and it looked pretty good. When I took my paints out I just did it. It just magically appeared on the canvas because God held my hand. That’s the only thing I can think of,” said Jean.

Jean recently illustrated a children’s Bible story book that was written by her husband’s son-in-law and she was recently asked to teach a class

Jean Swanson’s “Kern Valley, CA Horse Ranch” at church. “These are things I have dreamt of. God has given me these opportunities. I can’t walk without a walker but I’m young at heart. I think I enjoy my abilities now more than I did before,” said Jean.

Congratulations to these talented individuals who represent our community. Pick up your copy of the 2021 Art is Ageless calendar by calling Whitley Stokes at 620-4428700 or emailing wstokes@pmma. org. If you or someone you know would like to participate in next year’s Art is Ageless competition, please contact Whitley for more details. ◆

COVID-19 updates continue

Get the latest updates on visitation status, ongoing safety measures and PMMA’s response to COVID-19 on your community website, ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays for the week ending the following Sunday. Visitation status is updated as needed in between due to outbreak or health department orders.

You can also send your loved one a digital Christmas Card from our Art is Ageless® card collection.

Email the card to your campus contact for delivery, or send directly to your loved one via their email address.

With cases on the rise, we remind you to practice basic safety measures to keep yourselves and others safe from COVID-19. Whenever you leave your residence or are in the presence of others, wear a cloth mask or face covering over your nose and mouth, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based gel, and maintain a safe social distance of six feet or more between yourself and others with whom you do not live. Practicing these simple safety measures can help stop the spread of COVID-19. ◆ Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | December 2020