Arkansas City Community Matters March 2016

Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

March 2016

Art is Ageless® exhibit and reception features senior artists Since the beginning of time, creative expression has brought joy to both its creators and those who experience their art. The Art is Ageless® program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork and reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity.

Some have resumed art after putting it aside for a career, others have been creating beautiful pieces throughout their lives, and others never picked up a brush until after they retired, but all are now expressing themselves through art. This month, their works will be on display at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor.

“It’s inspiring to see the beautiful pieces these seniors have created,” said Tara Clawson, marketing director. “The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s something we want to celebrate and share with the entire Arkansas City community.”

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Devotional: He walks with me

By Wayne Rector, Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor resident

We are approaching what is known as Holy Week.

What makes this one of the most exciting seasons of the year on the Christian calendar is the knowledge and realization that our Savior lives.

Wayne Rector

We can look back in retrospect and sense the drama and the agony of the traumatic events leading to Calvary’s cross where the Son of God willingly endured a cruel death for our sakes.

We can sense the helplessness and hopelessness that the disciples and the family of Jesus must have felt that day on Calvary’s mountain.

But we know from our position centuries later that beyond the cross of Good Friday was the Resurrection of Easter Sunday; and so we sing as in the chorus of that grand old hymn, “He Lives, He Lives, He Lives, Jesus Christ lives today He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He Lives, He Lives, salvation to impart.You ask me how I know he lives, He lives within my heart.”

Happy Easter! The Lord has risen! He has risen indeed!

Fidget quilts benefit residents Happy Birthday!

Melba Neighbors

Edith Marlow

Pearl Powell

Bessie Tanner

Dorothy Rahn

Neva Wilcox

Norman Rankin

George Gabbart

Barbara Smyer

Marion Lightfoot

Dorothy Decker

C. Marie Potter

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

A project designed to help one resident with dementia wound up benefiting people throughout Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor.

Activity Director Lori From left, Eva Beeks, Della Catron, Wilda Buffo and LaVona Peters said it Morrison are each holding one of the fidget quilts that started with a they made. So far, more than 10 fidget quilts have been woman who lives made. in the health care neighborhood. She was falling from Morrison—had fashioned some of her wheelchair because she was the blankets to be worn more like constantly leaning forward to pick at aprons, for women. For the men, her pants legs or things she saw on they made them out of old bib the floor. So, staff members began to overalls. brainstorm about ways to keep her hands busy and keep her upright, but They attached all kinds of familiar items in fun ways, like an empty not restrained. thread spool that slides up and down On the Internet, Lori found pictures a piece of elastic. There are pockets, of fidget quilts, with textures and some of them transparent, with shapes for people with dementia to items attached inside. They added touch and manipulate. many textured fabrics, such as lace “It was a neat idea, but they were too and fringe, plus buttons, snaps and big,” Lori said. “I thought, it can’t get zippers. caught in the wheelchair, and it still could fall on the floor. How could we modify these?”

Lori realized a smaller version could be attached to the resident’s waist with a ribbon. She and activity assistant Rebecca Self took the idea to residents who like to sew. Lori and Rebecca showed the ladies pictures of fidget quilts, gathered a few supplies for them, and the ladies got to work.

The final products exceeded anything Lori had dreamed of. The four seamstresses—Eva Beeks, Della Catron, Wilda Buffo, and LaVona

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Community Matters March 2016

“These are things of an adult life— keys and crosses and fishing lures and sewing bobbins,” Lori said. “By doing it this way, we’re providing that dignity and respect of honoring them as an adult.”

The bib overalls was a stroke of genius, Lori said, because “putting this on is not out of the ordinary for them. It’s comforting.”

The sewing team, in turn, called in friends and family to help. One of the ladies set up an assembly line in her apartment with two friends, and QUILTS, continued on page 3

The Art is Ageless program has been The Art is Ageless exhibit will feature encouraging creativity in seniors for more than 35 years, and is works from local artists who are 65 sponsored by Presbyterian Manors and older, including a few Arkansas of Mid-America (PMMA), which City Presbyterian Manor residents.

Lawrence Presbyterian Manor is a nonprofit organization that Lawrence Presbyterian The deadline for entries is Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor Manor owns and operates 18 senior living Lawrence Presbyterian Manor March 11.

ON on and Kansas. on communities in Missouri ON Each year the organization publishes The public is welcome to visit the an Art is Ageless calendar, featuring community to view the exhibit works by amateur senior artists. of acrylics, oils, photography and various other mediums, ranging from Proceeds from the sale of calendars are reinvested into new art programs amateur to professional levels. The and opportunities for PMMA exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. residents.

March 14 to 17.

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In addition to the exhibit, Arkansas City will honor local senior artists during a reception at the community at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 18.

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QUILTS, continued from page 2

they turned out six blankets/aprons in one day.

So far, 10 have been completed and distributed to health care and memory care.

Lori said she loves how the project has integrated so many levels of resident life and care, as well as involving people in the surrounding community. And it’s been a meaningful way for the more independent residents to use their skills to help others.

A few weeks ago, Lori took a finished apron to the resident they originally sought to help. When they walked in, she was leaning forward again in her chair. They put it on her, and she immediately started touching all the “fidgets” and tucking her hands in the pockets. She looked happy. When Lori left, she was still sitting upright.

“We were trying to solve a problem with a particular person, and it grew into something really good,” she said.

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Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor 1711 N. Fourth Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 Return Service Requested

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Community Matters March 2016

How have you taken steps to be fit? What’s your regular fitness routine? If you’ve started a fitness routine late in life, what advice would you have for others? How do you think you benefit from regular exercise?

If you’ve got a story to share about getting or staying fit, contact Marketing Director Tara Clawson, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.