Commun ty Matters Fulton Presbyterian Manor
Spring is for the birds
The activities department has been busy since mid-winter preparing for the the return of spring and all those lovely little birds. Activity Assistant Beth Boyd worked with several residents on making birdhouses, some woven from reeds and rattan to make them naturally weather-proof.
“We saw a picture of these wonderful teardrop-shaped birdhouses and thought they would be fun and easy to make. Boy were we wrong, Well halfwrong anyway. They are fun to make, but not easy. We broke several pieces trying to put it together. Once you get past all that, it is kind of easy weaving the rattan strips round-and-round,” Beth said.
When all the houses are finished we'll hang them outside in the trees to offer those birds returning for spring a place to stay.
Helen Epple, right, shows off some of the birdhouses that were made including the bright yellow one she painted. Activity Assistant Beth Boyd works on a woven birdhouse.
Presbyterian Manors rooted in Generosity
March 2015
We often recall the story of Alice Kalb, who at 90 traveled to a 1947 Presbyterian Synod of Kansas meeting to ask for a retirement community in Kansas. According to Edwin Shafer, senior vice president of development, what Mrs. Kalb basically told the Synod was: “If I give you all the money I have, will you build a home for the aging?” Her heart-felt offer symbolized the plight of a growing number of seniors needing the church’s help. Kalb’s initiative led a farmer from Wakarusa, Kan., to bequeath his farm to the new project. The sale of that land upon his death provided the funds for the first building of Newton Presbyterian Manor. Today, philanthropy at PMMA is evidenced through community partnerships, capital campaigns, Good — JOHN BUNYAN Samaritan Program giving, special projects campaigns, and planned giving. Many of PMMA’s 18 communities were opened with the help of local fundraising campaigns. There were donations of land for the Clay Center, Fort Scott, Olathe and Topeka locations. In addition, coalitions of citizens, churches and business leaders raised money for buildings in the Dodge City, Emporia, Parsons and Rolla. Through the years, capital campaigns have enabled PMMA communities to continue expanding services and remodeling campuses. Over the past eight years, Shafer said, there have been four capital campaigns.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
Good Samaritan Program
PMMA’s Good Samaritan Benevolent Care Program provides close to $4 million a year to touch the lives of nearly 400 residents, Shafer said. Mailings
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GENEROSITY continued from page 1 are sent throughout the year to enlist support from friends. The Good Samaritan Program allows residents to remain in their apartments even after they have exhausted their financial resources.
A similar mail solicitation is conducted in late summer/early fall to benefit the Employee Scholarship Fund, which reimburses employees for tuition for approved classes. Some campuses have special event fundraising programs, usually benefitting each campus’ Good Samaritan Program.
Special projects
Presbyterian Manor communities have
other events and efforts to raise money for special projects, often suggested and spearheaded by residents. A couple of months ago, for example Lawrence’s soft-serve ice cream machine, donated to the campus 15 years ago, could no longer be repaired. So residents kicked off a campaign to raise the money for a replacement. In a matter of two weeks, they reached the $15,000 goal.
Planned giving
“We promote gifts through wills and trusts as way for someone to ‘pay it forward,’” Shafer said. Wills and trusts have resulted in millions of dollars given to PMMA through the years. All of
those funds are invested in the communities, he said. Donors may designate which location will benefit.
Shafer said one of the most popular estate planning gifts is the charitable gift annuity. It is referred to as a “life income gift.” because the donor receives income for his or her lifetime at a specified percentage based on the donor’s age at the time of the gift. Donors for these annuities must be at least 65. Generally, older donors will receive a higher return rate, Shafer said. For more information about planned giving, contact Shafer at eshafer@pmma.org or call 800-336-8511.
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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Fulton Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.
Dawn Smith, executive director Keri Edwards, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact kedwards 2@pmma.org. Telephone: 573-642-6646 Fax: 573-642-2202 Address: 811 Center St., Fulton, MO 65251-1922
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. FultonPresbyterianManor.org
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Missouri gets new campus; Wichita campus is reborn
This month, we conclude our look at the history of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America as we celebrate the organization’s 65th anniversary. In 2006, SSM Health Care of St. Louis moved its St. Joseph’s Hospital from a site in Kirkwood, Mo. As part of this hospital relocation, SSM Health Care issued a request for proposals to determine what to do with the old hospital campus site. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s proposal for a continuing care retirement community was selected as the project to be constructed on the old hospital site.
Aberdeen Heights in Kirkwood, Mo. sits on the site of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital.
PMMA’s 18th The first phase was completed in late senior living 2014 with health care residents community moving into their new building in known as November, and the assisted living Aberdeen residents moving into their new Heights opened residences in December. in September 2011. Upon Phase II of the repositioning of the The first phase of Wichita Presbyterian new construction was completed in completion, Wichita campus will include 90 2014. The second phase is slated to open in late 2015. Aberdeen Heights independent living apartments in a would include 243 independent living apartments, 30 new three-story building known as The Westerly. This assisted living apartments, 15 residential-style memory second phase began in December 2014 with demolition of care rooms and 38 private nursing rooms. Aberdeen the previous health care and assisted living buildings. The Heights is PMMA’s fourth senior living community in Westerly is slated to open in late 2015. Missouri, joining the communities in Farmington, Fulton and Rolla. In August 2012, PMMA announced plans for a major repositioning of its Wichita Presbyterian Manor campus. The project would encompass nearly two-thirds of the grounds by replacing existing independent living cottages and the assisted living and health care areas with new buildings, completed in two phases.
The first phase encompassed new assisted living apartments including 24 assisted living memory care suites and a new health care neighborhood with dedicated short-term rehabilitation suites and new common areas for all levels of care. The amenities include a new chapel, bistro, beauty salons for independent, assisted living and health care areas and a new kitchen for the entire campus.
Coming up in Community Matters: Community Matters will focus on Older American’s Month in an upcoming issue. The 2015 theme is “Getting into the Act.”
How were you involved in your community? Did you serve in public office or otherwise participate in civic government? What was your experience like? If you have a story to tell, contact Keri Edwards to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter. COMMUNITY MATTERS MARCH 2015 3
Students bring sunshine to seniors
One winter’s day in January, student “heroes” from the Williamsburg Elementary School made a visit for an afternoon filled with bingo, bringing a bit of sunshine with their visit. “These are some of the best students,” said Activity Director JeffYoung. “They are the ones that help other students to do their best. This field trip to come visit us was a reward a year in the making.”
Naomi Boone (left) and Shirley Payne strike up friendships with young visitors.
Resident Carol Woolridge enjoys some bingo and the company of a Williamsburg Elementary student.
The students planned the trip and the activity and were thrilled to be able to interact with so many different residents. The students not only got to assist us with the game, they also visited with many who weren’t able to attend. It really did brighten up everyone’s day to see those smiling little faces.
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Catch them in the act New employee incentive program rewards extra effort
You already know about the Bravo Program, a way to recognize employees for going above and beyond the call of duty. Human Resource Director Debra Bates has decided to go above and beyond for employee recognition with a new program called “Toss a Coin.” “I actually wanted to start the program because we all work so hard, and even though we have the Bravo Program, I thought it would be great way to reward staff for being on their A-game. The coin fairy will be visiting halls and departments giving treasures for awesome work,” Debra said.
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What will these coins earn employees?
“They can either have a free lunch or get a goodie bag from my office,” Debra said. “We’ll have some team building and small gifts. I discussed it with employees and they are all for it.”
If you’d like to let Debra know about an employee who has shown exceptional service or dedication, contact her at 573-642-6646 or dbates@pmma.org.