Topeka Presbyterian Manor
SEPTEMBER 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 Dinah Dutta, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor®.
Knitted together By Chaplain Dinah Dutta
Local artist among Art is Ageless
®
masterpiece level winners A winning artist in Topeka Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2023 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®).
I have several friends who like to knit. They create beautiful things through knitting. Dinah Dutta The churches I serve as a pastor make quilts that we send to Lutheran World Federation. They are distributed all over the world.
“Nick's Music Journey,” a quilt by Peggy Shrewsbury, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall. Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 14 other PMMA® communities. More Area artists earned a place for their work at the 2022 than 170 entries were Art is Ageless masterpiece level. Peggy Shrewsbury’s received for this year’s quilt, “Nick’s Music Journey” will be featured in the masterpiece 2023 calendar. competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards. “Bluebird of Happiness,” a mixed media/crafts entry by Frances Wood, will be
Art is Ageless – continued on page 2
Quilting requires choosing a fabric, cutting, piecing it together, and finally stitching and tying the quilt. I always wanted to learn to quilt. I could not find the time to meet groups when they met. Finally, I asked my church members who quilt, if they could give me a quilt to take home so that I can tie it. The quilting group from my church let me do that. I have to make marks on the fabric to tie the knots, slowly, carefully, I tie each knot. I learned patience and perseverance are very important to tying the knots. Well, where am I going with this? As I continue to struggle to understand the situation we are facing in the country, we call
Knitted together continued on page 3
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at TopekaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Keeping connected – continued from page 2 featured on a pull-out postcard included in the 2023 calendar. “When Tears Flow Angels Show,” a mixed media/crafts piece by Dorothy Jeffries, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards. “We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Danica Loftin, marketing director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of senior artists. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”
well as art classes, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year. Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health. u
A copyrighted program of PMMA, Art is Ageless is open exclusively to people age 65 and older. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Topeka Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as
“Bluebird of Happiness,” a mixed media/crafts entry by Frances Wood, will be featured on a pull-out postcard included in the 2023 calendar.
“When Tears Flow Angels Show,” a mixed media/crafts piece by Dorothy Jeffries, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards.
Assisted Living Week–September 11-17 Assisted Living Week was started in 1995 as a way to recognize the role assisted living plays when it comes to caring for seniors in the United States. This year, the week’s theme is “Joyful Moments.” The goal is to honor the residents, family members, staff, and volunteers who come together to create fun and joyful activities that leave everyone with beautiful memories.
This year’s theme is especially meaningful after dealing with COVID-19 restrictions for the last two years. The hope is that everyone will find “happiness, joy, and fulfillment in both the big and small moments of life.” Assisted Living Week was established Source: National Center for Assisted by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), American Health Living (NCAL). Care Association u Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Community Matters 785-272-6510 ◆ Fax: 785-272-0496 4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 TopekaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2022
is published monthly for residents and friends of Topeka Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: dloftin@pmma.org Christie Patrick, executive director Danica Loftin, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Residents celebrate ‘Christmas in July’ with unseasonal holiday décor, treats Why wait until December? This summer, Topeka Presbyterian Manor residents enjoyed an out-ofseason holiday party with food and activities to match. “Each level was decorated differently,” said Alyssa Colter, life enrichment director. “Health care has a snowman theme, assisted living
was a Charlie Brown theme, and independent living was a fun Christmas-at-the-beach theme.” Each theme corresponded with a different activity. For example, health care residents used fake snow to make snowmen. The party was Alyssa’s brainchild,
and it was produced by the life enrichment team. Staff and residents enjoyed a menu of tasty holiday desserts, plus frozen hot chocolate and “Grinch” popcorn. The event was a success and helped prime the community for the real holiday celebration to come in just a matter of months. u
Knitted together – continued from page 1 America the Beautiful, the image of a quilt or a knitted, crocheted product comes to my mind and reminds me that we are created by God beautifully and wonderfully, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well (Psalm 139:14). As I write this note we have a difficult issue in front of us to process. Many young adults ask me to explain what is right, and what is wrong. I tell them I do not know what is right or wrong. I ask God to help me understand. Most
wrapped by His unconditional love, and forgiveness, we continue to knit together, make a new quilt, cutting, shaping, and tying ourselves and our communities in spite of all the confusion and chaos around us. importantly, as a Christian believer and an ordained pastor my understanding of Christianity and the faith I accepted through the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit is not about right or wrong. It is about following Jesus’ words, love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12: 31), do unto others what you want them to do (Matthew 7:12). Therefore, knitted together in the image of God (Genesis 1:27),
Dear ones, “Have no fear for what tomorrow may bring. The same loving God Who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.” – Francis de Sales. May the peace of the Lord be with you! u
Topeka Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Topeka Presbyterian Manor shares customer service survey responses Topeka Presbyterian Manor continues to seek customer feedback through monthly telephone surveys. Each month, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. The graphic highlights some of the survey results. All scores are given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between July 2021 and June 2022, Topeka Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores for demonstrating dignity and respect, for addressing transportation needs, and providing safety and security.
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“We feel very safe here,” said one resident. “We are very comfortable. They seem to go out of their way to make sure we have what we need.” We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives
about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. u
We Score! Source: Pinnacle Quality Insight (12 month ave. July 2021 - June 2022)
5
5.00
4
4.78
4.93
4.73
Transportation Needs ASSISTED LIVING
Dining Services
Dignity & Respect
INDEPENDENT LIVING
HEALTH CARE
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2022
Safety & Security PATH