Aberdeen Heights
MARCH 2021
Handy residents find fun and fulfillment with crafting Residents and staff are having a blast during regular crafting events. Each week, the activities staff works to find another fun item to make. Recently, residents hand-painted and cured a decorative tile coaster. The designs were fun and remarkable, ranging from floral and heart prints to neat geometric patterns. March is National Craft Month, and it’s a great time to get creative with whatever supplies you have on hand. It doesn’t matter how you craft or what you make — the goal is to use your imagination and creativity to craft something unique and fun. In February, crafts included heart trees and Valentine’s canvas art. We enjoy seeing all of your handiwork and hope you’ll continue to share your creative spirit with us. u Health Center resident Ellen Umlauf works on her decorative tile coaster.
Health Center residents working on crafts: Ellen Umlauf, Barbara Jordan and Phyllis Hippenmeyer.
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 at AberdeenSeniorLiving.com/ covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays and as needed as our COVID status changes. You can also send a message to any resident with the Art is Ageless® e-greeting cards. Find a link on the COVID-19 update page. Vaccine distribution has begun in our community. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large. PMMA strongly encourages our families, employees and residents to carefully consider obtaining a vaccine for themselves as well as their loved ones. u
Everyone was happy with how their tiles turned out. Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Let’s say ‘hi’ to John and Kathleen Rorris John and Kathleen Rorris joined our community last August, but some of you might recognize John from his time as a member of our choir earlier in the year. The couple married in October 1988, after a mere three dates. When Kathleen made the announcement to her family, they were shocked. But she explained that she had worked with John for more than five years in her career in real estate and property management. At the time, John worked in Washington, D.C. as a senior vice president for a company that developed and managed 60,000 affordable housing units in 42 states. Kathleen grew up and worked in St. Louis. She was a certified property manager and the first female president of the St. Louis chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management. She also worked as president of a company that managed 10,000 affordable and senior housing units. When John’s company bought a partnership stake in Kathleen’s company, the two had many opportunities to learn about each other. Once they decided to tie the knot, they had to choose a place to live. John agreed to move to St. Louis, provided that Kathleen would help
him find a job — and more importantly, a singing group to join. John recently retired from Love Management Company, a subsidiary of Heartland Bank, and Kathleen retired after 20 years with Sugar Creek Capital in Webster Groves. Kathleen graduated from St. Mark’s High School and earned a degree from Mount St. Scholastica (now Benedictine) College in Atchison, Kan. When jobs were scarce after graduation, she travelled to Jamaica with her college roommate. There, she taught school and tutored for two years. Later, she managed a small resort. When the political situation became unstable, the owners boarded up and fled to the U.S. They offered Kathleen an opportunity to help manage the property they owned in Los Angeles. She has a master’s degree from Webster University. John was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio State University with a major in political science. He was also in the Army as a second lieutenant, but he was quickly dispatched to Germany where he trained as a paratrooper.
John and Kathleen Rorris
He served as part of the quick action airborne brigade to support special forces operations in the Middle East and Africa. After his father’s death, John returned to Ohio and operated several restaurants and bars near the OSU campus. That led to his interest in buying rental properties, and eventually property management. John is also involved with the Lifelong Learning Institute at Washington University and serves as a facilitator in several military history classes. He volunteers regularly for the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. John began his involvement with Aberdeen Heights three years ago, when he served as co-chair of the Docents of the Opera Theatre, which scheduled presentations about the opera’s features. u
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Community Matters 314-909-6010 ◆ Fax: 913-599-3810 505 Couch Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122-5536 AberdeenSeniorLiving.com
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Heights by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: lliefer@pmma.org Rick Cumberland, executive director Lily Landy, health care administrator
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
PEOPLE GIVING TO PEOPLE
An update on how gifts are changing lives in PMMA communities
IN HER LIFETIME A donor's story
Recently, a longtime friend of PMMA, we’ll call her Agnes, was concerned about burdening her sister with financial decisions and responsibilities when she passes. In order to eliminate the burden for her sister, Agnes wanted to get all of her affairs in order now, but also wanted to accomplish her wishes of helping others. After sharing her thoughts with her advisor and visiting with PMMA’s regional development director, Patti Christen, Agnes was able to spare her sister the task and put her gift to work now.
Agnes made a gift from her donor advised fund for the benefit of the Good Samaritan Program - a program she has supported and appreciated for more than 30 years. She wanted to see the gift in action while she was living. Thanks to Agnes, so many residents have the assurance of the PMMA mission of quality senior services guided by Christian values.
“I’m so thankful for the blessings I have received in my lifetime. It’s my obligation to share it with others. And, I’m so glad my sister doesn’t have to worry about this when I die,” said Agnes, 84. (not her real name to ensure her anonymity)
Spring 2021
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BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE by Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA
“It is better to give than to receive.” Why does this old saying still ring true? Isn’t it because the gift giver takes pleasure in seeing their gift in action? That pleasure may cause a donor to give too much. Sometimes donors give too little, cheating themselves out of the pleasure of giving because they fear running out of money and don’t know their true capacity to give or their giving options.
In the old days, frugal folks made gifts from items at hand, like a quilt from fabric scraps or a dress from flour sacks. Today, a knowledgeable, trusted advisor can help you develop a gift giving budget and help you explore alternative methods for your charitable giving. You may find your ability to give during life may be more than you think! Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA
If you were taught to never touch your invested assets you may be surprised to learn there are strategies to help maximize your donations by using those investments. For example, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-advantaged way for those over 70
½ to
donate IRA dollars directly to charity and avoid taxation on the IRA withdrawal. Or, you might benefit from donating appreciated non-retirement assets, like stocks and mutual funds and when you transfer those assets directly to a charity, neither you nor the charity pay capital gains taxes on the appreciation.
Seeking advice on a charitable budget and/or utilizing one of the strategies above may help you increase your gift giving ability and your pleasure in seeing your donations in action. Plus, if you budget your donations correctly, you won’t need to revert to giving or wearing a flour sack dress or shirt!
The information in this article is not presented as personal financial or legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for obtaining advice specific to your situation. Please seek advice from a trusted financial, tax or legal advisor. Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA is a Vice President & Relationship Officer with Central Trust Company in Lawrence, Kansas. Contact Barbara at 785-865-1065 or Barbara.Braa@centralbank.net.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 316-685-1100
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DEVELOPMENT@PMMA.ORG
Faith holds steady in the face of pandemic As the COVID-19 pandemic reached across the globe, Aberdeen Heights made a difficult decision to suspend in-person worship services at our community. During a challenging time that restricted outside visitors and normal opportunities to gather and socialize, faith, albeit in isolation, was a vital source of strength. “Residents have felt isolated, bored, unable to access their own congregations’ services of worship if they are not tech-savvy,” said Chaplain Julie Berger. “No family events to anticipate with joy left residents feeling demoralized and in spiritual distress. Worship is an important source of socialization that they missed each week. That was a difficult time for me as chaplain, unable to provide direct support to residents and staff for a large portion of the community.” To provide access to services, Berger and the activities crew found a way to use YouTube and closed circuit TV to broadcast worship services and weekly meditations. They also produced and distributed regular newsletters, which they used to validate the emotional and spiritual struggles everyone faced during the pandemic. Phone calls replaced inperson visits, and gifts of snacks with supportive notes reminded residents they weren’t alone. “On Easter of 2020, when the pandemic’s reality was settling in, several of us on staff rounded the facility outdoors at sunrise, waving
banners and exchanging alleluias,” Julie said. “Later in the spring, the marketing department organized an uplifting outdoor worship service with a local praise band, which was well-received by residents.” While the efforts gave residents opportunities to engage with their faith, it simply wasn’t the same as inperson visits and services. Zoom meetings helped, but couldn’t reach residents who lacked experience with the technology. During the summer, some of the gathering restrictions lifted, which allowed very limited in-person services in certain parts of the community. “At the end of July, independent living worship resumed in person, with a maximum of 10 attendees in an altered format — no bulletins or hymnals, humming hymns instead of singing, and reduced responsive readings by worshipers,” Julie said. “Later in 2020, worship resumed in person within higher level of care with smaller groups.” The services and the guidelines were adjusted based on the virus’ activity to reduce risk for residents and staff. With services starting to return to somewhat normal, Julie can see that residents and staff not only appreciate the opportunity to worship in person alongside their friends, but they have appreciated the efforts to support them and keep them connected to the light of faith through the darkness. “Because of the isolation of COVID-
Chaplain Julie gives an inspirational sermon.
accelerated cognitive decline, worship and rituals, which would have been familiar and comforting, were absent,” Julie said. “Staff have been weary, covering additional shifts and dealing with extra steps and precautions to protect residents and themselves. Many have expressed gratitude for televised services and devotionals and have given us feedback that the poetry and prose in the newsletters have been meaningful and gave them hope. Staff, too, have said thanks for chaplain support, and The Glen residents show by their smiles, tapping feet and heartfelt ‘air’ passing of the peace that they are glad to be able to worship again.” u
Aberdeen Heights | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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505 Couch Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Aberdeen Heights’ Art is Ageless® call for entries underway Aberdeen Heights is seeking artists age 65 and older for its annual juried art exhibit and competition April 23 – 27. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2022 Art is Ageless calendar. The exhibit is slated to be open for residents from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily April 23 – 27. The community will celebrate the artists during a reception from 4 – 6 p.m. April 27. Plans remain flexible due to COVID-19. Artists may choose to enter works for exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2021
the past five years (since January 2016). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Aberdeen Heights by April 15. Please contact Susan Press to arrange to drop off pieces for the exhibit by calling 314909-6083. The Art is Ageless® program encourages Aberdeen Heights residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year. Aberdeen Heights is a PMMA (Presbyterian Manors
of Mid-America) senior living community. Local competition winners will join winners from 14 other PMMA communities to be judged at the systemwide level. Entry forms and information can be obtained by contacting Susan Press at 314-909-6083 or spress@pmma.org, or access them online at ArtIsAgeless.org.