Chaplain Note: Dinah Dutta
Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
Which road shall we take? MAY 2021
Resident credits reading for Jeopardy skills Dorothy Maxwell has read a lot of books in her 98, nearly 99, years. “When I was in high school, my ambition was to be a librarian,” Dorothy said. “Even in college, I thought when I graduated I’d go to the library in Illinois. The library has always been a second home for me. I find it comes in handy for Jeopardy, and a lot of other question and answer programs.” It hasn’t hurt her skills at the Wii Dorothy Maxwell enjoys the version of Jeopardy, either. friendliness of staff and residents.
“I find I’ve picked up a lot of information,” Dorothy said with a laugh.
A resident of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor since 2003, Dorothy said she prefers a good mystery book over most others. “I’m not much for romance,” she said. “Some are all right, but I like to have a little question.” Dorothy recently entered the annual Art is Ageless® competition with her floral bouquet made entirely of buttons. By twisting the buttons together with wire, she was able to craft the arrangement, which she displayed in a salt and pepper shaker set repurposed as a vase. “You need a good assortment of buttons to begin with,” Dorothy said. “It was fun, but I had never done it before. It was a cute idea, and I had some cute buttons to use.” Throughout her time at Presbyterian Manor, Dorothy has been involved MAXWELL– continued on page 2
There is so much on my heart I want to share with you. By the time you read my note, we will be in a full season of spring. I am constantly reminded of the tough path we all walked and still are walking since last spring. However, the beauty of God’s creation is bringing new life from the dull and dead trees. Birds are singing, and that gives me hope each morning. I still think we have a long road ahead before we come back to what we think of as normal. We have a long walk. I want to share with you a Bible verse from Luke 9:57: “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’” In this context, Jesus’ disciples were saying they were willing to walk a tough road with him, not knowing what that path would look like. As believers in Christ, we too can say, “I will follow you wherever you go” as long as you are walking with us, Lord! I have been reading a book titled, “We Make the Road by Walking” by Brian D. McLaren. In his book, McLaren tells us, “You are not finished yet. You are ‘in the making.’ You have the capacity to learn, mature, think, change and grow. You also have the freedom to stagnate, regress, constrict and WHICH ROAD? – continued on page 3
Lawrence Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Lawrence Presbyterian Manor satifies! As part of Lawrence 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, Lawrence Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high
Maxwell – continued from page 1 in a number of activities on campus, including bingo, knitting, and anything that will keep her active and connected with others. “I used to quilt and knit,” Dorothy said. “I like to cook and bake. Everybody liked my chocolate pie. I even baked one after I moved up here for the pie supper.” Dorothy grew up in Sterling, Kan., before attending the University of Kansas. After graduation, she eventually settled in Lawrence and
scores in dining services, offering safety and security, cleanliness and demonstrating dignity and respect. “I like the fact that it isn’t real large. Some of these place are so big. It’s just a nice, friendly place to live,” one respondent said.
worked for the Kansas Office of the Budget, retiring in 1978. Her husband worked for the Kansas Department of Labor. “I have a pretty small family,” Dorothy said. “I have one son and one daughter. And the son has a son, the daughter didn’t have children. We’re getting kind of thin. But I’m going to be a great-grandmother this month!” Dorothy said she’s enjoyed her time at Presbyterian Manor, and she feels right at home.
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
“It’s nice and homey,” Dorothy said. “The people, you meet them, and they speak and it’s nice and friendly. You walk in the door, everyone is pretty much happy, and they know each other one way or another. I tell people it’s a little town inside of a big town. People really know each other.” To learn more about how you can enjoy Lawrence Presbyterian Manor like Dorothy, contact Jenni Jones at 785-841-4262 or jjones@pmma.org. u
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Community Matters 785-841-4262 ◆ Fax: 785-841-0923 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 LawrencePresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: cpatrick@pmma.org. Christie Patrick, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Which road?
COVID-19 updates continue
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Get the latest updates on visitation, ongoing safety measures and PMMA’s response to COVID-19 on your community website at LawrencePresbyterianManor.org /covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays and as needed as our COVID status changes.
lose your way. So which road will you take?” Let me ask you this: during the pandemic did you develop a hobby, an interest, or a cause that intrigued, inspired, or provoked you? Would like to share that story so that together we can make a new road to walk and leave a path behind us for others to follow? Dear ones, as Brian wrote, we are constantly in the process of making a new path, and no pandemic can stop us. I am grateful for your patience, for your support, and for your prayers to make Presbyterian Manor a place of hope for me as well as for all those who share their gifts of service. u
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. u
UPCOMING ONLINE PRESENTATION:
Dementia Conversations
When someone is showing signs of dementia, it’s time to talk. Often, conversations with family about changing behaviors can be challenging and uncomfortable. Join Lawrence Presbyterian Manor for Dementia Conversations, a free virtual event, at 2 p.m. May 5 for tips for breaking the ice with your family so you can address some of the most common issues that are difficult to discuss: going to the
doctor for a diagnosis or medical treatment, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans for future care. Dementia Conversations is led by the Alzheimer’s Association’s Heart of America and Central and Western Kansas Chapters.
Register by May 3 at LawrencePresbyterianManor.org /events-activities or contact Haley Young, Outreach and Dementia Care Specialist at 1-800-272-3900 or hdyoung@alz.org. Have more questions? Contact Jenni Jones at 785-841-4262 or Lawrence Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 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 LawrencePresbyterianManor.org and use the sign-up form on the lower portion of the
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2021
homepage to sign up for regular monthly deliver of the newsletter in your inbox. Residents may still receive a hard copy upon request through the Administrative office. u
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