Emporia Community Matters August 2019

Emporia Presbyterian Manor

AUGUST 2019

The enlightened life of Jim Calvert

For some, retirement is a simply a chance to sit back and relax, but for Jim Calvert, it is a continuation of a lifelong quest for enlightenment.

A physics professor for 32 years at Emporia State University, Jim’s own education is an ongoing process.

Just Ask

“I read a lot, and everybody thinks that’s something strange,” said Jim. “I read three newspapers a day—the [Kansas City] Star, the [Emporia] Gazette and the Topeka [Capitol] Journal.”

Fortunately for Jim, he found a kindred soul in former Kansas representative and fellow resident Jim Lowther. The two eat lunch—and talk politics—together virtually every day.

“I’m very interested in what’s going on. Unfortunately, in this age group, there are not many people who care.

But he and I do,” said Jim.

Benefits explanation on Aug. 22 Jim Calvert, a former physics professor at Emporia State University, reads three newspapers a day and engages in lively political discussions on a regular basis.

Jim’s keen interest in politics is nothing new. Soon after he retired, he teamed up with another former ESU faculty member, Bob Grover, to write a weekly article for the Emporia Gazette that chronicled the actions of the state legislature which, Jim said was something he just “did for fun.”

In addition to politics and current events, Jim is also very interested in the arts, something that started when he and his late wife first moved to Kansas City following Jim’s service at Forbes Air Force Base. In fact, even though he now lives in Emporia, Jim has remained a season ticket holder for the Kansas City Symphony, Opera and Ballet.

Join us for our next Just Ask event from 2 to 4 p.m. on August 22 for a presentation on benefits.

Rhonda Gordon, an extension agent with K-State Research and Extension, will give a presentation on Medicare.

Crystal Stock, marketing director at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, will discuss LTC insurance.

“Demystifying Your Medicare Benefits” is part of Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing Just Ask lifelong learning series focusing on issues of interest to seniors and their adult children.

Light appetizers will be served. RSVP to Crystal Stock at 620-343-2613 or cstock@pmma.org by August 15. ◆

-Calvert, continued on page 4 Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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Sept 5: Coffee and Conversations with Crystal How exactly do Medicare and Medicaid work?

What are the benefits of supplemental insurance or long-term care insurance?

What are the senior living options in Emporia?

Get all these answers and more at Coffee and Conversations with Crystal on September 5 from 9:3010:30 a.m. in Room 110.

During this event—open to all residents, family members and the Emporia community—Crystal Stock, marketing director at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, will answers questions about senior living, insurance benefits and any other topic attendees want to know about regarding senior living. If she doesn’t have the answer, Crystal will find it! To prepare Crystal for the upcoming event, we gave her multiple questions about what attendees can expect. Here are her answers.

Q: How did the idea for coffee and conversations come about?

A: A lot of other local businesses, such as ESU and the Chamber, are offering these informal educational events that have been helpful to me and colleagues of mine, so I thought it would be great to open this up to adult children or seniors in the area to informally discuss any questions or misconceptions people have about how senior living, insurance, non-profit versus for profit senior living and more work.

Q: Why do you want to host this event?

A: We want to host this event because here at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, we pride ourselves on being senior advocates. I have been working in senior living for four and a half years, and my colleagues have worked many more than that. For that reason, we have answers to a lot of questions seniors have, or we know where to get the answers. Why would we not

want to open up this opportunity for seniors and adult children to pick our brains and learn more themselves?

Q: How often will you host this event?

A: We hope to host this event at least twice a year, if not once a quarter. We will see how successful this event is and what the need for this style of dialogue is and adjust from there as needed.

Q: Do residents and guests need to RSVP? A: It would be our preference if you RSVP for this event so we could ensure there is enough food for all attendees. Also, if you have a specific question versus a general question, it may be beneficial to email us this question ahead of time to cstock@pmma.org.

This way we have time to do our research, and we can provide you with this answer confidentially if needed.

Q: What topics do you plan on covering?

A: I plan to cover topics that seniors desire to learn more about. At a minimum, I plan to discuss how Medicare and Medicaid work and also the benefits of a supplemental insurance or long-term care insurance plan. These are some of the top questions I get from seniors. It does not have to stop there though. We can find the answer for any questions that anyone has.

They can be specific to our community and campus here at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, or they can be general questions about senior living if people are looking at other senior living options in town, in Kansas or even out of state.

Q: Why is it important for seniors to be educated on these topics?

A: Just as seniors graduating from high school should be educated on their options, or first-time home buyers should be educated, seniors should be educated on what the next step could look like for them.

-Conversations, continued on page 4

Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

EMPORIA Presbyterian Manor 620-343-2613 ◆ Fax: 620-343-9195 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2019

Community Matters

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) organizaton.

To submit or suggest articles: cstock@PMMA.org Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Crystal Stock, marketing director

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

Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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EMPORIA Presbyterian Manor

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

Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided

by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

-Conversations, continued from page 1

Everyone should have a plan for retirement in place and all plans, all aging stories look different, but surely there will be questions along the way.

Why not take the stress and worry about the “what ifs” off your plate and develop your aging story how you desire, no matter what that looks like?

Why not have the answers to these questions before you desperately need them?

Q: What do you hope the residents gain from these conversations?

A:We hope seniors and adult children in the Emporia and surrounding communities will gain peace of mind.

RSVP for the September 5 Coffee and Conversations with Crystal by emailing cstock@pmma.org or calling 620-343-2613 by Aug. 30. ◆

-Calvert, continued from page 1

When weather permits Jim to make the nearly twohour trek into Kansas City to catch a performance, he is often joined by his son and daughter who live in the area.

“I was very reluctant to make the move because it’s a pretty big change, and I was just getting accustomed to living on my own, but it’s been a very good thing,” said Jim.

They have followed Jim’s lead to establish careers in education.

That said, Jim has a few words of advice to others who find themselves in the same situation.

It was this desire to remain active and continue to live a full life following the death of his wife that made the decision to move into community a difficult one.

“Get out and see different sites, do other things and move more,” said Jim. “There are just so many things that make our lives more fruitful.” ◆

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2019