Parsons Presbyterian Manor
DECEMBER 2022
Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Greg Schmidt, chaplain at Newton Presbyterian Manor.
Christmas Devotional By Greg Schmidt
Introducing Crystal Packard Crystal Packard’s tenure as executive director of Parsons Presbyterian Manor is also a homecoming. Back in 2005-06, Crystal served as a social worker in our community before leaving to pursue an opportunity in senior living administration. “I really want to be part of a change in senior care, and I thought going into administration would allow for that,” Crystal said.
Crystal Packard
In the intervening years, Crystal has worked as a senior living administrator for multiple communities. She credits her involvement with LeadingAge Kansas for much of her professional growth. Learning from and serving on the board of the association of not-for-profit aging service providers has enabled her to learn from “the best of the best.” “I feel very blessed that I was able to do that,” she said. Crystal has also contributed her own valuable perspective as an administrator in a more rural area, where communities often function with smaller staffs and employees who juggle multiple roles. Over the course of her career, she has developed strong beliefs about the value of independence and autonomy for people living in congregate communities. “I feel very strongly about person-centered care, and that residents should be in charge of directing their lives,” she said. That commitment was rewarded with a PEAK Award from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) for Prairie Mission Retirement Village, where Crystal served as administrator. KDADS issues the awards to reward aging service providers who demonstrate person-centered care. According to its website, the program focuses on five domains essential to person-centered care, including resident choice, staff empowerment, home environment and meaningful life.
Packard – continued on page 2
When my three boys were little, we looked forward to participating in our church’s Christmas Eve program and then racing home to open presents! We lived only a block Greg Schmidt from the church, so as soon as the “Amen!” was offered, the boys would sprint to the house rather than mess around waiting for their pastor-father and gracious mother to say, “Merry Christmas!” to all the parishioners who had attended the service and drive the car home. As if they hadn’t already shaken them a thousand times trying to guess what was inside of them, the boys couldn’t wait to rip away the beautifully and carefully wrapped packages containing what my wife and I hoped would be exactly what they wanted. We seldom missed the target. It wasn’t until the oldest two were in their early 20s that we began hearing, “Um, did you keep the receipt?” and we knew it wasn’t quite what they were hoping for. But that’s a story for another article! I wonder sometimes if God contemplated the excitement that would be generated with one special gift? Or did He, like us, get concerned
Chaplain – continued on page 2
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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