Arkansas City Community Matters March 2017

Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

Set free

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, some may 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. FREE, continued on page 4

March 2017

Licensed social worker and activity director, Lori Peters, left, pictured with director of social services, Joyce Kisner.

Celebrating social workers When people ask Joyce Kisner what a social worker does, she can’t help thinking, “What don’t I do?”

As director of social services for Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, Joyce is involved in important tasks from care plans to helping residents make challenging transitions. But she never really knows what the day could bring – she could be helping someone find a lost hearing aid, asking families to send a different size of clothing, or defusing conflicts between residents. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I like the people, and I like to bring joy to the people who are in longterm care. I’m a success if I make a difference in one person’s life.

Sometimes it’s just visiting, making them smile, and making them think ‘I’m OK.’ I just think it was my calling. I always said God put me where I’m supposed to be.”

This summer, Joyce will celebrate her 10th anniversary at Presbyterian Manor. This month is National Social Work Month, so we are turning the spotlight on these important members of our team. Joyce oversees our social services, and she is joined by Lori Peters who serves as the licensed social worker for residents of assisted living and memory care. Lori is also our activity director.

“She’s been a real asset to that side of building with her dual roles,” Joyce said.

SOCIAL WORKERS, continued on page 3

Fighting ageism and unfair treatment in health care

By Terry Fulmer for Next Avenue

Everyone deserves equal treatment — in the broader society and in our health care system. Today, older people are often not treated fairly and do not get the care they deserve, simply because of their age. While one of our great success stories in the 20th century was the stunning gain in human longevity, recent research from The Frameworks Institute, funded by my group, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and others, has found that the majority of us still don’t recognize ageism or its deleterious

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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Community Matters March 2017

effects. They call it a “cognitive hole,” a mental blind spot.

care workforce often lacks the knowledge and experience to treat a group of patients who make up As 10,000 of us turn 65 each day, it 35 percent of all hospital stays and is critical that we shine a bright light 27 percent of all doctor’s office on this insidious prejudice. It is a visits. And though nearly four in matter of simple fairness and justice.

10 older people take five or more It is a way to honor the priceless medications, clinical trials generally and irreplaceable contributions exclude older patients with multiple that older adults make every day chronic conditions, so we may to enrich our society and culture. misjudge drugs’ efficacy (and even And for those of us at The John A. Hartford Foundation, it is critical to dangers) with this important patient population. the broader effort to improve care for older people.

Even our own views of aging can The dangers of ageism Research during the last two decades has implicated ageism in the under- and over-treatment of older patients, as too many clinicians mischaracterize organic medical conditions as normal aging. Others ignore pain, anxiety and depression as unavoidable as we get older or unconsciously view older people as less worthy or less important than their younger counterparts.

A classic example is the underdetection of elder mistreatment, when, for example, clinicians ascribe bruises to anticoagulants instead of making an effort to ensure there is no family violence. Another — the assumption that all older people become confused and forgetful, when, instead, a brain tumor may be the real problem.

These negative and inaccurate views of older people consistently hamper our ability to recruit nurses, doctors and other health professionals into geriatrics and gerontology. The result: our health

have important influences on health and well-being. Researchers note people with more positive expectations about aging live longer, experience less stress and have a greater willingness to exercise and eat better. Conversely, negative perceptions of aging — inadvertently supported by unhelpful and negative stereotypes in popular culture and the media — can reinforce self-defeating behaviors that make us more vulnerable to disease and disability.

Developing an age-friendly health system

During the last century, our health care system has consistently demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt and to find innovative solutions to challenging problems.

Looking ahead, we need an intensive effort to create an age-friendly health system where all older adults and their families feel that the care they receive is the care they want and that they feel respected in the process.

AGEISM, continued on page 3 Like us on Facebook

SOCIAL WORKERS, continued from page 1

Lori joined Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor in July 2004 with nearly a decade of prior experience as a family therapist.

She earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas, and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southwestern College. She has been certified in Advanced Dementia Care through the Alzheimer’s Association and as a Trainer for Behavioral Based Ergonomic Therapy.

Joyce came to Presbyterian Manor

in 2007 from the Cowley County Council on Aging, where she served in a variety of social services roles for nine years.

know when it was the right time to move into senior living. And she made sure to start the conversation before there was a pressing need.

“I didn’t know I was going to end up in this area,” she said. “I started out in nursing school.”

That experience has been helpful when it comes to greeting potential new residents or helping them transition to life at Presbyterian Manor, Joyce said. “I think the most important thing is to meet the person coming in as they are, not as they used to be.”

Social workers in a senior living community often serve as liaisons to the families of residents. Joyce can empathize closely with those family members since her own mother came to live at Presbyterian Manor about five years ago. Joyce always told her mother that she would

Be sure to let Joyce and Lori know they are appreciated this month!

Senior artists invited to enter Art is Ageless® exhibit Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor is accepting entries for the 2017 Art is Ageless competition and exhibit through March 9. Artwork will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 13-16 in the Clubroom.

There will be a reception with the artists at 2 p.m. Friday, March 17, in the dining room.

For more information, contact Tara Clawson at 620-442-8700 or tclawson@pmma.org.

AGEISM continued from page 2

We need health care suffused with aging expertise, devoted to person- and family-centered care, and able to provide coordinated services in the hospital, clinic and the community. This work is neither simple nor easy. Raising awareness about, and addressing, ageism throughout the health care system — and throughout our society — will be critical to delivering the care all of us want and deserve as we get older.

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Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

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

FREE, continued from page 1

Happy Birthday!

Myrna Merz

George Gabbart

Dorothy Decker

Melba Neighbors

Margaret Gilliland

Edith Marlow

Pearl Powell

Marge Piel

Bessie Tanner

Dorothy Rahn

Marie Potter

Neva Wilcox

Barbara Smyer

Dick Reed

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.

Amen.

Fitness routines Everyone knows fitness is important. 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, contact Marketing Director Tara Clawson, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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Community Matters March 2017

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