Parsons Community Matters February 2022

Parsons Presbyterian Manor

Moments define a life FEBRUARY 2022

Residents rely on occupational therapy to regain the skills of everyday life When they are struggling with certain tasks, Parsons Presbyterian Manor residents can receive one-on-one assistance from Aegis Therapies®. They provide physical, speech and occupational therapy services to short- and long-term residents of our community.

Though most of us understand what physical and speech therapy entails, there is often some confusion about the role of occupational therapy in a senior living community, said Kaysha O’Daniel, director of therapy services for Aegis.

“Occupational therapy focuses on the activities of daily living.

When seniors hear about occupational therapy, they may think, ‘I don’t have a job anymore, I don’t need that.’ But everyone needs to put clothes and shoes on every day and perform other activities of daily living,” Kaysha said. “Those are the kinds of skills our staff helps our residents regain.”

While physical therapy focuses on mobility and balance, which are largely determined by lower-body strength, occupational therapy is more focused on upper-body strength. It is also concerned with sequencing — that is, executing tasks that require a person to take multiple steps in a certain order.

Occupational therapy – continued on page 4

By Greg Schmidt, Chaplain

NOTE: Each month, we feature a column from one of PMMA’s community chaplains in honor of our faith-based roots. This month, we’re featuring Greg Schmidt, chaplain for Heart & Soul Hospice in Wichita and Newton Presbyterian Manor.

Have you noticed that every Hallmark movie follows the same basic algorithm?

Here’s how it goes: A princessdamsel presents with some sort of professional or social dilemma. In walks a socially awkward, wannabe prince-hero who demonstrates the desire to provide support or answers. His advances are, of course, rebuffed.

A second “Captain Obvious” prince-snob rises to the challenge, but in his rush to care for the princess, manifests an arrogant, superior, you-know-you-need-me spirit. While at first the princess foolishly longs for the attention of Captain Obvious, ever so slowly over the course of the movie she falls in love with Mr. Wannabe’s cute little nerdy self. They finally kiss (it never happens until the end). The rocket’s red glare engulfs the sky. And they live happily ever after in Mayberry. Or is that Whoville?

Memories – continued on page 3

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

1

Parsons Presbyterian Manor shares satisfaction survey results

Parsons 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 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 December 2020 and November 2021, Parsons Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in cleanliness, the ease of the move-in process, communication as well as dining services.

“I would tell them they do a good job of being kind,” one respondent

said. “They are taking care of the needs of [my family member].”

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

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

Community Matters 620-421-1450 u Fax: 620-421-1897 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

2

COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor

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

To submit or suggest articles: nnash@pmma.org Maegen Pegues, executive director Natae Nash, marketing counselor

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

Memories – continued from page 1 My response to Hallmark’s oversimplification is best stated

by Remy, the Disney character in the movie “Ratatouille” who said, “The only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability.” Real life is not simple. Or predictable. It has to be understood over the course of years, not moments. Who knew that the trick to life is living long enough to view unpredictability as your friend? Having said that, it is the “moments” – all added together – that define the life!

When family and friends gather for funeral or memorial services, they recount a lifetime of moments otherwise known as “the dash.” The “dash” is that symbol on a tombstone that is centered between the birth and the death. I’m sure your family is like mine and exactly what we remember about someone’s “dash” may differ from person to person, which makes total sense to me, since none of us approach the exact same story or experience at the exact same time, perspective or history. For example, seven members of my wife’s family tried to remember their Grandma Honey’s Christmas tree. We’re talking about 30-50-year-old memories here! And guess what? There were seven strongly held “I specifically remember …” perspectives. Some remembered

a silver tinsel tree illuminated by a multi-colored rotating disc (ahh, the 60s!). Still others remembered a pink flocked tree (ahh, the 70s!). Who was right? They all were! What had to be figured out was what time period was being remembered and/or discussed, because at some point throughout their collective childhood experiences she had both!

The greatest joy of being a Hospice Chaplain and a Heart & Soul Hospice Team member is helping

families remember – and celebrate! – their loved one’s “dash”! When disputes arise among family members, I try and remind those willing to listen that it really doesn’t matter who is “right” … and that it’s still quite possible no one is “wrong.” Why? Because our memories are about what is precious and inspirational to us individually! Such memories become our foundational and motivational reflections about those we’ve loved. Why is that important? Because all of us want our lives and the lives of those we’ve loved to matter! We want our cherished memories to be about living, not dying … even … or especially when … we’re dying! So, we search for joy and seek to eradicate pain! We look for promise and hope and peace. And, even when we’re vulnerable, we open our lives to unpredictable people, places, and things hoping they’ll enable us to look up and onward to the things that last forever!

Just like in a Hallmark movie when everything turns out for the greater good in the end, so goes the life of promise found in God and in the love found in His people! NEVER let love die! Find joy in other people’s memories! Give it away! Daily! u

Remember the silver Christmas tree that was lit by the color wheel?

Parsons Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

3

3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Occupational therapy – continued from page 1 Kaysha meets weekly with the director of nursing, and she enjoys “open communication” with the nursing staff. When someone notices a decline in a resident, they know to bring a therapist in to help. Kaysha noted that communication among the nursing and therapeutic staff is particularly important for residents who may not be able to ask for assistance themselves.

A recent example is an assisted living resident who gradually required a greater level of assistance from staff.

“It turned out that she had an illness that caused her to have a little bit of a setback,” Kaysha said.

The resident spent a few weeks working on regaining some strength

4

with an occupational therapist, and that enabled her to return to where she was before her illness.

Occupational therapy begins with an evaluation.

“A lot of the evaluation is trying to figure out what their baseline is, what their prior level was, what their responsibilities were prior to their stay with us,” Kaysha said. “We want to get a good sense of where they were, so we can help get them back to that level or exceed that level. We like to exceed goals whenever possible.”

The evaluation is also a way for the therapist and resident to get to know each other.

“We want to get to know the

COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2022

residents on a personal level, so we can really tailor their therapy to their needs,” Kaysha said. “It’s also easier for a resident to participate in therapy when they feel comfortable (with the therapist).”

Kaysha feels strongly that when residents feel a sense of purpose, they are much more likely to meet their therapeutic goals. That purpose could be a pastime like quilting, spending time with grandchildren, or living independently again.

Either kind of therapy a resident requires, Kaysha and her staff are here to help.

“Between the three of us, we help people get back to whatever it is they like to do,” she said. u