Emporia Community Matters - May 2022

Emporia Presbyterian Manor

We rise MAY 2022

Taylor Fournier named assisted living supervisor When Taylor Fournier was promoted to assisted living supervisor at Emporia Presbyterian Manor back in February, she knew she’d continue working closely with residents.

“Some of my new responsibilities involve handling any concerns or needs our residents have, but I also have the joy of getting to know our residents’ families as well,” said Taylor.

Taylor had previously served as a licensed practical nurse.

She says one indication that she’s enjoying her new Taylor Fournier, assisted living supervisor position is that she looks forward to coming to work every day.

“I enjoy getting to know my residents,” said Taylor. “I love hearing their stories and learning about the life events that they have had.”

Taylor is also enjoying the opportunity to put her own personal touch on the community.

“I love decorating and I try to bring that into all of the living areas of the facility as much as possible,” said Taylor.

Aside from decorating, Taylor says she also likes spending time with family, doing crafts and cooking with her husband of two years. Together the couple has two small dogs, Beans and Reggie, along with a cat and a turtle. u

Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our Dinah Dutta newsletter.

This month’s column comes from Rev. Dinah Dutta, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor® The month of May brings memories of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2022 will occur on Monday, May 30.

Many of our resident friends are sharing their thoughts and experiences of World War II since the war against Ukraine started. As a chaplain and pastor when I counsel people I hear a lot of anxiety and fear.

Many wonder if there will there be a World War III. While we are getting ready to start a new normal after COVID, we are plunged into a different situation. How can we cope with all this?

As a Christian believer, my faith encourages me to trust in the risen Christ and remember His word: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or

We rise – continued on page 2

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

1

We rise

I rise.

– continued from page 1 persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, 38-39, NKJV).

My dear PMMA family, I want to encourage that no matter what goes around us we will rise. While I think of what it means to rise Maya Angelou’s encouraging poem, “I Rise” comes to my mind that I want to share with you. Let us continue to rise with hope, let us continue to remember those who sacrificed their lives to build this great nation. Let us Rejoice and Be Glad!

by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise I rise I rise.

Happy Memorial Day! Welcome Summer! 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

2

COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 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.

Create a financial roadmap before your spouse dies

By Bart Astor

I don’t even know where to begin,” Sindy Steinberg told me after her husband died. “I’m just trying to stay on top of the bills. I don’t even know all the passwords for the bank accounts and investments.”

I heard this repeated from all the recent widows — and widowers — I’ve spoken to. While the family is deeply into grief and mourning, life around them continues on. And keeping up with it all can be overwhelming.

Steinberg’s husband, Steve, died at 62 after a short illness, leaving her to not only deal with crushing grief, but confused by the intricacies of how their finances were handled.

administrative and business life of my family, but have not fully shared enough with my wife or heirs to ensure a smooth transition.

Gabe Caponetto, a certified financial planner with the Alpha Legacy Wealth Management group of UBS in Red Bank, N.J., emphasizes the importance of creating a roadmap that “connects all aspects of your financial life.”

A Plan Provides Security He also points out that “Having a plan in place will provide both individuals a sense of security that their financial lives are in order.”

“Steve was meticulous about how he organized everything,” Sindy said. “He had set up everything and managed the day-to-day business of our lives and also the strategy for our future.”

Sindy Steinberg, now 64, knew she would ultimately be fine financially, but not knowing the day-to-day tasks she had to take on led to her receiving late payment notices and administrative roadblocks that added to the stress she was already feeling.

Like most families, the Steinbergs had settled into separate roles, with Steve responsible for all the family finances.

Caponetto likes to think of his role as the quarterback, guiding the game for families.

Picking Up the Financial Pieces of a Family Running a family is much like running a business. There is income and there are expenses. There are investments and accounts to keep track of and bills to be paid. Although sometimes the tasks of running the household are shared, often there is one Chief Operating Officer, or COO, who keeps it all humming smoothly.

“By knowing who all the advisors are in a client’s life, that includes financial advisors, CPAs, tax preparers, and attorneys — my client can make one phone call and have the quarterback take over,” he said.

I am personally well aware of the fragility of life, having seen friends leave us through illness or accident. So I am embarrassed to admit that this shoemaker’s children do not have shoes: I have been in charge of the

The plan he advises clients to create will keep track of assets and liabilities, sources of income, expenses, estate plans, and how accounts and assets are titled. “And,” he adds, “the great thing about the plan is that once you start it, you’re able to continuously update it as your life changes.”

8 Tips For Transitioning to a New COO 1. Access. Make certain all user IDs

and passwords are accessible. Keep an up-to-date list on your passwordprotected phone or computer, or on a piece of paper in a locked safe.

Those are easy and secure ways as long as the new COO knows the password to the phone and the combination to the safe. Be sure to also keep the partner’s email account active so notifications can still be received.

For some assets that are valuable but may not have a monetary value, such as frequent flyer miles and points, the survivor can continue to utilize them by accessing the account online.

2. Sharing Accounts. Make sure both parties have legal access to accounts or safe deposit boxes if one person dies. This may require changing the ownership of some. For accounts with significant assets, consult an attorney to be sure ownership is set up the best way.

3. Automation. Arrange to have repeating bills such as mortgage/rent and loans, credit cards, and utility bills made automatically every month directly from your bank account. And be sure that both party’s names are on the account.

Make a list of all the recurring bills you have and how they are paid, that is, through a manual process or an automatic withdrawal or credit card.

Roadmap – continued on page 4

Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

3

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

Roadmap – continued from page 3 4. Experience. Sit down with your partner and together pay the bills for a month or two.

5. Prearrangements. In the midst of grief, the last thing mourners want to deal with is making decisions about what to do with the body or what kind of service or memorial the decedent wanted.

6. Short-term planning. Prepare a simple, estimated budget for the next two or three months and share that with your partner. Often the clearest way is to divide the expenses into discretionary vs. non-discretionary so if the incoming COO sees a shortfall, he or she can easily determine where cuts can be made.

7. Longer-term planning for the year. If there are large expenses that will happen later in the year, like

4

COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2022

taxes or insurance, or expected income such as a bonus, make sure the budget notes that. The current COO can set aside or notate where the funds will come from to pay the upcoming large expense.

8. Long-term planning. If you have a financial advisor, broker, attorney, or tax advisor, each should have contact information for the others.

It is essential that everything is set up for an easy and legal transition of assets when one partner dies.

Goals and plans will likely change later but knowing the original plan and the advisors will make the transition smoother. Once the dust has settled, the new COO can meet with the advisors to review the goals and plans to make sure they reflect the current needs. u

National Nurses Week celebrates those on health care’s frontlines Every year since 1990, May 6-12 has been designated as National Nurses Week. Established by the American Nurses Association (ANA), the celebration concludes with National Nurses Day—which corresponds with the birth of Florence Nightingale.

In honor of the occasion, please join us in giving thanks and paying special recognition to all of the nurses at Emporia Presbyterian Manor whose dedication, compassion and expertise are the backbone of our community. u