Fort Scott Community Matters March 2021

Fort Scott Presbyterian Village

MARCH 2021

Fort Scott residents vaccinated Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is pleased to have partnered with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHCSEK) to help our residents receive their first round of the Moderna vaccine. We experienced nearly 100% participation on Jan. 14. Many thanks go to CHCSEK registered nurses Kyla Probasco, Morgan Shockley, Karalee Shoopman and Kristen McCoy for their kindness and diligence.

On March 13, 2020, former President Donald Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency and stay-at-home orders began across the country. This past year has changed the lives of so many, but senior living residents were affected most. Instantly, life changed and brought a great deal of uncertainty.

The everyday normal had to change in order to protect the ones we love.

Our team has done an excellent job adhering to strict infection prevention and control protocols throughout the pandemic to keep our residents and each other safe. We have an excellent COVID-19 response team.

On the day the vaccine was first administered, one couldn’t help but feel change in the atmosphere. Residents were nothing but smiles, with a sense of faith and hope restored and life starting to look a little bit more normal.

Once residents reach full immunity following the second dose, residents will be able to come and go without having to quarantine when they return. They can go back to church, take trips to the grocery store or coffee shop, and visit family and friends. Presbyterian Village will continue to follow CDC guidelines throughout the community.

If you would like more information about Fort Scott

Presbyterian Village Art is Ageless® exhibit and reception features senior artists Local senior artists will be celebrated March 22 through April 2 at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, 4201 S. Horton, as the community hosts its annual Art is Ageless® exhibit.

Works will be on exhibit at the community for residents only. The Art is Ageless exhibit will be held virtually for friends of the program on the community’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/FortScott PresbyterianVillage. Winners will be announced on Facebook.

The entry deadline is March 19. The drop off for exhibit pieces will be at the Presbyterian Village front entry.

Please contact Megan Brillhart to schedule a date and time.

Art is Ageless is a trademarked program of PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America). The program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork.

“The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s something we want to celebrate and share with the entire Fort Scott community,”said Megan Brillhart, marketing and admissions coordinator.

For more information about Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org. For more about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, visit FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org or contact Megan Brillhart at 620223-5550 or mbrillhart@pmma.org. u

VACCINATIONS – continued on page 2

Kale Roberts gets his vaccination.

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Vaccinations– continued from page 1 Presbyterian Village, please contact Megan Brillhart 620-223-5550 or mbrillhart@pmma.org. u

Clarice Russel rolls up her sleeve for her shot.

Earlene Foster takes her turn.

Tamera Belisle gets her vaccination.

Facts about COVID-19 vaccinations Now that there are authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, accurate vaccine information is critical.

Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the

live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

There are several different types of vaccines in development. All of them teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID19) after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just be-

FACTS – continued on page 3

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Community Matters 620-223-5550 u Fax: 620-223-7800 2401 S. Horton Fort Scott, KS 66701 FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org

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is published monthly for residents and friends of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village

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

To submit or suggest articles: mbrillhart@pmma.org Ginger Nance, executive director Megan Brillhart, marketing coordinator

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

(continued)

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

Facts – continued from page 2 fore or just after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.

If your body develops an immune response—the goal of vaccination—there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may a effect antibody testing results.

If I have already had COVID19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. CDC is providing recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first.

We won’t know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until we have more data on how well the vaccines work.

Both natural immunity and vaccine-in-

duced immunity are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

Will a COVID-19 vaccination protect me from getting sick with COVID-19?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and this protects you from getting sick with COVID-19.

Being protected from getting sick is important because even though many people with COVID-19 have only a mild illness, others may get a severe illness, have long-term health effects, or even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, even if you don’t have an increased risk of developing severe complications. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA? No. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.

Messenger RNA vaccines—also called mRNA vaccines—are the first COVID19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA

cannot effect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease. Learn more about how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work.

At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect against future infection. That immune response and making antibodies is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.

Last updated Jan. 20, 2021 by the Center for Disease Control u

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 FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org/ 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® egreeting 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

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2401 S. Horton Fort Scott, KS 66701 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Teaching is a big piece of the education pie March is a month to celebrate education. Those who serve in this field are, without a doubt, some of the most important members of our society. They are influential and inspire a drive to succeed in life. The impact an educator has can change a student’s forever. Students can also leave a lasting impression on their teachers as well.

Presbyterian Village has several residents that can recount great memories with students throughout the years. Betty Barnes can remember the wonderful time when her students threw a surprise Christmas party. However, what stuck with her was how the students who started the year hating math

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would end the year liking it — even if it was just a little bit.

Barb Stuart worked in the administration office, and though she didn’t teach, she can remember seeing the students and going to their games.

“It was nice getting to see the students wear the game uniforms that they had worked so hard for,” she said. “I always really loved that job, and I always felt appreciated.”

There is a particular day in March that coincides with education appreciation. It is a day where people can overindulge with pecan, apple, coconut cream, and many more. Pi Day is March 14, and any day that

combines fun, education and pie is a day worth celebrating! Pi, also known by the Greek letter “π,” is a constant value used in math that represents the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter, which is just about 3.14.

Not only that, but March 14 is also the birthday of one of the world’s most famous educators, Albert Einstein.

To show our appreciation, Presbyterian Village residents will celebrate those in education with an afternoon of pie delights! u