Emporia Community Matters April 2022

Emporia Presbyterian Manor

APRIL 2022

Maggie Danborg rejoins Emporia Presbyterian Manor as director of nursing After beginning her career in the health care industry at Emporia Presbyterian Manor back in 2010, Maggie Danborg returned to the community in late February to become its new director of nursing.

Maggie initially came to the community as a certified nursing assistant and left to pursue a degree in nursing. In the 12 years that have passed, Maggie has gained experience as an ICU nurse, a home health case manager and a clinical nurse educator.

“I’ve been all over the field of nursing,” said Maggie.

One of the aspects of her career that Maggie has enjoyed the most has been nurse advocacy—something she has found to be especially important over the past couple of years and was a main driver for her to take her new position.

Maggie Danborg,

“Throughout COVID-19, I’ve been out director of nursing in the trenches and to have this opportunity to step up and help where I can was a big sell for me,” said Maggie.

Since returning to the community, Maggie has found that she has not only been able to serve as an on-site advocate, she’s also been able to use many of the other skills she’s acquired over her career.

“It’s been really cool because I’ve been in so many different areas that I can utilize what I’ve learned,” said Maggie.

Maggie says she has also enjoyed the overall environment she has found at the community.

Danborg – continued on page 2

Is COVID in the rearview mirror?

Not really.

By Susan Schaefer, Next Avenue

Dr. David Meyers, 75, has a long and accomplished career in the practice of medicine. He has served as the emergency department medical director at Resurrection Hospital in Chicago, as well as chief of emergency medicine at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Meyers was also Chief of the Medical Practice Division at EmCare, Inc, a large physician practice management company.

At 73, Meyers earned his Master’s degree in Bioethics (MBE) at John’s Hopkins University’s Berman Institute of Bioethics. He maintains medical staff privileges at Sinai, where he teaches residents and confers with the hospital on quality improvement and safety. Meyers is a member of the hospital’s ethics committee and also teaches a course to pre-med students at Johns Hopkins.

I’ve known Meyers since my graduate and his medical school days.

Meyers and I met via Zoom to discuss his perspective about the past two COVID pandemic years, and to look forward to living in a COVID endemic world.

COVID – continued on page 3

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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PMMA celebrates history with Founder’s Day PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) employees will observe the founding of the senior living system this month as the company celebrates its 73-year history of serving seniors in Kansas and Missouri.

PMMA’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision laid the foundation for the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more.

Through the many decades, PMMA® remained true to the spirit of Alice’s vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Each Founder’s Day, staff members re-commit to live our mission by signing the “WE PROMISE” board that lists the pillars of the mission: respecting that seniors retain their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; assisting residents with specific needs; providing compassionate service; serving as a trusted resource; and advocating for seniors.

“Our nearly 2,000 employees view what they do as a calling,” said Bruce

Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, as well as its heritage. I believe Alice would be very proud.”

Alice Kalb’s dream has turned into a network of 15 senior living communities and two hospices across Kansas and Missouri. A new senior living community is under

development in Colorado Springs.

PMMA remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

For more information about Emporia Presbyterian Manor, contact Andraya Taber, marketing director, at 620-343-2613 or ataber@pmma.org. u

Alice Kalb’s inquiry sparked a two-year study and the eventual opening of the very first Presbyterian Manor on April 19, 1949.

Danborg – continued from page 1 “I’m just really liking how everyone here is pretty close,” said Maggie. “It’s a small hometown community, so I like that part too.”

Away from work, Maggie enjoys fishing, hanging out at the lake, painting and baking. She is also the mother of two and has two dogs and a cat.

“I like to say that I have five animals,” said Maggie. u Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

Community Matters 620-343-2613 ◆ Fax: 620-343-9195 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6635 EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: ataber@PMMA.org Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Andraya Taber, marketing director

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

COVID – continued from page 1 Susan Schaefer: What impresses you looking back over this pandemic?

Dr. David Meyers: Well, it’s now two years since the first cases of COVID19 illness due to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus were reported in the United States. As of mid-February 2022, nearly eighty million cases have been reported, and deaths are nearing the one million mark.

While the infection rates are now going down nearly everywhere in the U.S., deaths lag behind the reduction in cases, and will continue to rise a while longer. So, even though the trends are moving in the right direction, the threat is not behind us.

In addition, the virus has shown an ability to mutate unpredictably so these favorable trends may not persist if the virus changes.

Why should we not take this disease for granted?

COVID-19 illness manifests itself in many ways, ranging from very mild symptoms, in some cases none, to severe illness and death. Long COVID refers to a long list of symptoms affecting virtually every organ system which can persist for months and even years after COVID -19 infection, and include “brain fog”, fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, diarrhea, sleep problems, smell and taste abnormalities, and more.

Long COVID is more common in women, and its frequency increases with age. Treatment options are few, so prevention by vaccination, masking and handwashing are the best defenses against this syndrome.

The most recent variant of the virus, Omicron, is now the most prevalent form in the U.S. It appears to be less

virulent in terms of severity of illness, but it is more communicable than earlier variants. That has led to more illness in vulnerable populations, particularly unvaccinated older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

These features of the virus create challenges for each of us as individuals with differing susceptibilities, risk tolerances, personal values and living conditions and as members of communities with differing values, needs and expectations.

What are some of the most common and significant aspects of dealing with COVID-19?

Masks & masking: Debate continues, however if wearing [them], your masks should be N95, KN95 and KF94 types, and well-fitting with no air leakage anywhere.

Vaccinations & boosters: Current information is found on the CDC website.

Testing: Every household in the United States is eligible to receive at no cost four home COVID tests.

Treatment: Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, several effective treatments have been developed. One drug, remdesivir (trade name Veklury®), has full FDA approval for treatment of certain hospitalized patients. Several others have received “emergency use authorization.”

What can we expect in the future?

What are our responsibilities to ourselves and society?

For two years, our daily lives have been disrupted, friends and family have gotten sick and died, our economic, social and cultural routines have been altered

dramatically and full recovery to our pre-pandemic state is nowhere in sight.

In fact, it looks more and more likely that COVID-19 will transition from a pandemic crisis to an endemic fact of life, much like today’s influenza evolved from the flu pandemic of 1918.

Our overriding goals should be to minimize our own illness and the possibility of transmitting it to our loved ones, friends, co-workers, and others. These are individual and societal obligations, and they are both served by vaccinations, masking, social distancing, and other disease-mitigating behaviors.

The issue is probably most acute for vulnerable populations — children under five, and those who cannot be vaccinated due to circumstances of coexisting illness such as cancer and immune compromise and living circumstances.

Other personal concerns such as when and how to travel safely, when to return to work and school — in short, when to resume life outside our homes and safe “bubbles”— will also depend on our assessment of the risks of disease in our communities and our ability to use the tools available to us.

While we know a lot about COVID-19, the disease and recommendations regarding appropriate responses to it are constantly evolving. The CDC websites are generally reliable for up-to-date information on their recommendations and thinking about the disease. u

Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Art is Ageless exhibit, reception coming soon Artwork entered into this year’s Art is Ageless® juried art competition will be on display April 11 through May 6 in the Atrium Gallery at Emporia Presbyterian Manor with a virtual gallery viewable on Facebook. The exhibit is open to residents and the general public (by appointment only) Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sat.–Sun., 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

The community will also be hosting an artist reception and winner’s announcement at 4 p.m. on April 28. However, because of COVID-19 safety protocols, the event will be open to residents only, although the winner’s announcement will be viewable live on Facebook.

For more information—or to make an appointment—contact Andraya Taber at 620-343-2613 or ataber@pmma.org or visit artisageless.org. u

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022

Wishing you a very

“Hoppy” Easter!