Farmington Presbyterian Manor
MAY 2021
Free event to feature strategies for communicating with people with Alzheimer’s disease From left to right: Bill and Barb Flesh, Doug and Arlene Houser, Brian and Joy Houser, Jill Houser Malan and Mark DeClue
Grateful family supports employee scholarship program with $10,000 gift As told by Barb Flesh
Barbara Flesh spoke with admiration and respect for her parents Brant and Jane Houser, who recently gifted the Employee Scholarship Program at Farmington Presbyterian Manor with $10,000. The program grants funding to qualifying employees to advance in their careers. Barbara said they are so appreciative for the excellent care her parents received on the Dogwood and Magnolia neighborhoods. Her mother spoke so highly of her caregivers, especially Charlene “Charley” the night nurse. The Scholarship Program gift is a testament to the appreciation of such intimate and loving care. COVID protocol brought challenges for everyone, and while the family was not able to visit their parents, they felt GIFT- continued on page 3
Communication is more than just talking and listening – it’s also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. As people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect. Join Farmington Presbyterian Manor for Effective Communication Strategies, a free virtual event, at 3 p.m. May 19 to explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate EVENT - continued on page 3
Farmington Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Pinnacle Quality Insight survey results As part of Farmington Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing customer service initiative, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. The graphic above 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 February
2020 and January 2021, Farmington Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in providing safety and security, demonstrating dignity and respect, communications and ease of the admissions process.
Presbyterian Manor to others] quite a few times!”
We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate “I have to admit I’ve been very honestly when contacted by pleased with the place and the staff,” Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state one respondent said. “The staff is and federal confidentiality laws are always pleasant and cooperative. “I met in Pinnacle’s service. ◆ have recommended [Farmington
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Community Matters 573-756-6768 ◆ Fax: 573-756-6014 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: jhull@PMMA.org Jane Hull, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
GIFT - continued from page 1
confident they were in good hands. Education was very important to Jane. She studied history but really wanted a degree in library science. At that time library science degrees were only offered at Mizzou in Columbia. She had a family to care for, so this was not an option. She attended Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., as the first nontraditional student and where she has a named endowment. She did, in fact, finish her history degree at UMSL. “An interesting fact about my mother,” said Barbara, and goes on to explain that Jane had two
brothers. Growing up in the 1940s, young boys were encouraged to go to college and pursue professions. Young women, not so much. Her brothers went on to achieve bright careers. One was a Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the LA Times and the other had a respected job at the U.S. State Department. She loved raising her family but always wondered “what if ” and placed strong importance on education. While the pandemic ensued around us all, Brant passed in November of 2020. Brant and Jane had celebrated their 72nd anniversary in September 2020. As sometimes happens with long lasting marriages, Jane passed away
a month later in December (2020). A year prior, Barbara had seen a story in Community Matters about the Scholarship Program and it stuck in her mind. As the four siblings discussed combining the appreciation of the care givers and their parent’s value of education, they decided the Scholarship Program at Farmington Presbyterian Manor would best honor their parent’s lives. What an incredible legacy! To join the Houser Family in supporting the Employee Scholarship program go to https:// giving.presbyterianmanors. org/support-us-now/donatefarmington/. ◆
COVID-19 updates continue
Get the latest updates on visitation, ongoing safety measures and PMMA’s response to COVID-19 on your community website at FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays and as needed as our COVID status changes. Send an Art is Ageless® e-card for Mother’s Day using the link on the COVID-19 Updates page. May is also National Nurses’ Week, May 6 through 12. Send a note of appreciation to a special nurse using a Thank You e-card or one of the blank Art is Ageless e-cards. ◆
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at each stage of the disease. Register online for Effective Communications Strategies at FarmingtonPresbyterianManor. org/events-activities. Registration is handled through the Alzheimer’s Association of Great Missouri. The event is one in a series of webinars exploring Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and some of the most important topics of concern to caregivers and those
who are experiencing the disease. Through November, we’ll explore a different topic each month through virtual presentations led by the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri. The series is part of Farmington Presbyterian Manor’s Just Ask lifelong learning program, featuring topics and speakers of interest to seniors and their adult children. Future topics include understanding and responding to dementia-related behaviors,
legal and financial implications, and how to have difficult conversations about driving, finances and more. Check out a list of future events, by visiting FarmingtonPresbyterianManor. org/events-activities. If you have questions about memory care services or attending virtual webinar using your phone or device, please call 573-756-6768. ◆
Farmington Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Changes are coming
Starting in July 2021, the Community Matters newsletter will transition to a fully electronic newsletter. To receive the newsletter by email, visit FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org and use the sign-up form on the lower portion of the homepage to sign up for regular monthly delivery of the newsletter in your inbox. Residents may still receive a hard copy upon request through the Administrative office. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2021
PEOPLE GIVING TO PEOPLE
An update on how gifts are changing lives in PMMA communities
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE A donor's story
We often hear from donors, "I wish I could do more to support the PMMA mission." Many are surprised to discover that through estate planning, they can have a tremendous philanthropic impact on PMMA’s future, while still caring for their own financial needs along the way.
Karen Smith (right), an independent living resident at The Westerly on PMMA’s Wichita campus, plans to give back to the place that has meant so much to her during retirement. Karen made provisions in her will to benefit Wichita Presbyterian Manor.
“When I came here in 2015, they promised I would be cared for, for the rest of my life, even if I ran out of money,” Karen said. “I have saved all my life, but I am not a millionaire, and that security has been a comfort. I decided that leaving my estate to Wichita Presbyterian Manor was a good option. I want to leave anything I have left to someone else who came here with the promise of being cared for, for the rest of their life.”
Karen’s estate planning still leaves her plenty of options while she is living.
“There is not a restriction as to how I spend,” she said. “I started traveling, took a break during the pandemic, and plan to start up again when it is safe. This is a good time in my life.”
Karen, a retired nurse practitioner, began envisioning what she wanted life to be like in retirement while she was still in the throes of her career. After discovering Wichita Presbyterian Manor, she knew it would be the right place to live out the rest of her life.
While many of Karen’s activities were put on hold during the pandemic, she also knew that living at PMMA meant there was help if she needed it. She would be safe and cared for, no matter what.
“I don’t have any children and I have too many nieces and nephews to count,” Karen said. “I didn’t want anyone to have to take care of Aunt Karen. At PMMA, I have independence. Everyone I need is here, everything I need is here.”
Spring 2021
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WHY IS HE SMILING?
He just gave a tax free gift to PMMA.
He is over 70 1/2 and eligible to give a tax free gift from his IRA to support his favorite non-profit, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA)!
A gift from your IRA is tax free if... You are over 70 1/2 You need to meet your required minimum distribution for 2021 You make a charitable gift directly from your IRA to PMMA
You can make a gift of up to $100,000 of your required minimum distribution to PMMA without having to pay income tax on the withdrawal, all the while helping seniors in need.
We encourage you to speak to your financial advisor to determine if this is a good opportunity for you. To learn more, contact us by email at development@pmma.org or call 316-652-6222.
EMBRACE THE LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER Donate your extra vehicle to PMMA Rather than stress about a car you no longer need, embrace the lazy days of summer by donating it to PMMA. Vehicle donations make giving easy. Plus, we handle everything from the free pick-up and sale to sending the necessary donation tax receipts for your generous donation.
PMMA accepts many kinds of vehicles as a form of support, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even RVs. Donate your vehicle now, so you can relax, enjoy summer, and sleep well knowing your vehicle helped PMMA.
To learn more or to get started on your vehicle donation today, call 844-490-4483 or visit giving.presbyterianmanors.org/vehicle-donations/. Our Vehicle Donation Support team is here for you seven days a week. All drivers have been requested to practice safe and secure interactions with donors, including minimizing contact.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 316-685-1100
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DEVELOPMENT@PMMA.ORG