Commun ty Matters Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
March 2019
Thank you, angel donors Established in the 1950s, the Good Samaritan Program provides funding to assist residents who outlive their financial resources through no fault of their own. Since the inception of our mission, Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica has ensured thousands of residents of its commitment that they will always have a home. To continue to meet the growing need among seniors in our communities, we invited donors to become an “angel for a day” by making a contribution to the Good Samaritan Program over the Christmas holiday. In exchange for a donation to this program, a bell was placed on our Christmas tree as a reminder of their generosity. The 2018 Angel Appeal raised $4,635 for the Good Samaritan Program in our community! We are honored by the staff and residents who so strongly identify with the heart of Presbyterian Manor’s mission that they give to the fund. Thank you, angels, for donating to the 2018 Angel Appeal!
Sharon Goger, Cynthia Browning and Sandy Brooks are long-time members of the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor dining services team.
Get the scoop on your dining staff team As we celebrate National Nutrition Month in March, get to know some of your dining staff team members who are dedicated to serving up delicious and nutritious meals to you each day. Patrick Ludwig, dining services director For nearly 19 years, Patrick has been the dining services director on campus, planning menus, predicting trends for new and upcoming items and staying educated on nutritional guidelines. The parts of his job he enjoys the most are the residents, people he works with and the creativity and freedom that come with the job. Some of the resident’s favorite dishes his team serves up are the beer cheese chowder, fried chicken and BBQ. What’s his secret to dishing out great meals?
Mrs. Millie Averitt
“The many dedicated staff who make me look good. I couldn’t do it without them,” said Patrick.
Mrs. Mary A. Barr
Sandy Brooks, dietary aide
Mr. Stuart A. Beals and Ms. Nancy
For the past nine years, Sandy has been making the salad bars on all floors
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ANGELS, continued from page 1
K. Jorn
Mrs. Lesley Ketzel
Ms. Beth S. Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Arlyn Kinsey
Mr. and Mrs. Brower R. Burchill
Ms. Susan Koelling
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Chamberlin
Msgr. Vince E. Krische
Mr. Leslie Christenson
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Laird
Mr. James Compton
Mr. and Mrs. John Landgrebe
Mr. William A. Dann
Mr. David and Mrs. Sandra Laney
Mrs. Dorothy A. Daugherty
Mrs. Mildred M. Luckan
Mrs. Kathryn E. Roblee
Mr. David A. Dinneen
Mr. and Mrs. Michael McCormick
Mrs. Emily Russell
Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Embers
Mr. and Mrs. James D. Neeley
Dr. Richard L. Schiefelbusch
Mr. and Mrs. Hans J. Fischer
Mr. David T. Nichols
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Stokes, III
Ms. Sandra M. Heacock
Ms. Cara Nossaman
Mrs. Carol Ann Vernon
Ms. Sandra R. Hick
Mr. Lawrence Penny
Dr. and Mrs. James A. Wise
Mrs. Doris L. Hockenberger
Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Roberts, Jr.
Dr. Robert G. Wright
Community Matters 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. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Christie Patrick, executive director Curtis Jones, marketing director Angela Fonseca, health care marketing director To submit or suggest articles, contact afonseca@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-841-4262 Fax: 785-841-0923 Address: 1429 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3425
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
In Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction, we have partnered with Pinnacle Quality Insight. This company will periodically contact the people we serve via telephone to conduct an interview regarding their impression of our service. We use this feedback as a tool to continually improve our quality of care and enhance our relationships. When you are contacted to participate in the survey, they will always identify themselves specifically as being with Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. We greatly value your opinions and encourage you to be frank and honest when contacted.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
LawrencePresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters March 2019
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You’re never too old, busy or rusty to make music By Amy Nathan, Next Avenue Do you ever wish you knew how to play a musical instrument? If so, you are not alone.Yet a 2012 National Endowment for the Arts survey found that just 12 percent of U.S. adults were playing musical instruments. This gap between aspiration and actuality occurs despite research showing that making music, as a pro or amateur, is good for the brain and may delay the onset of some of the mental decline of aging. Scans of musicians’ brains have shown that playing an instrument involves greater communication among regions of the brain than with other tasks, which may lead a musician’s brain to create new neural pathways. Those extra pathways may provide musicians with “cognitive reserve” when dementia strikes because their brains “will automatically be more able to cope and find new ways to do tasks,” explains Canadian neuroscientist Aline Moussard. Carving out time for music Given this tantalizing research, why haven’t more adults followed through on their desire to play an instrument? Some have said they had no time to spare. However, the time needed may not be as much as one might think, according to 274 adults who told me—as part of my research for a new book, “Making Time for Making Music”—how they carve out time to make music. Ranging in age from 25 to 96, most of them play instruments and a quarter play instruments and Like us on Facebook
sing in choral groups. About five percent don’t practice music at home but still enjoy being part of a community ensemble or choir. About a quarter practice only one or two days a week. Of those who do practice, about 15 percent spend 30 minutes or less a week, often finding ways to shoehorn practice into spare moments. Those who practice more may make more progress, but as Liz Sogge, a Baltimore statistician who plays violin in the Johns Hopkins University Concert Orchestra notes, “There is nothing wrong with never playing at the level of a worldclass violinist.” Music lessons are another timeeater, particularly for newcomers or those who haven’t studied music for years. But there are lower-cost group classes and ensembles that try to speed up the learning process. New Horizons International Music Association has more than 200 such ensembles geared to adults age 50 and over that help newcomers make music as quickly as possible. Only half of the adults I surveyed are taking lessons, with half of them doing so weekly, the rest less often.
‘You feel as if you are soaring’ A lack of confidence in their musical abilities may hold back some wouldbe musicmakers, caused by feelings left over from less-than-positive childhood musical experiences. It is possible to reboot as an adult by trying a different instrument or type of music, finding beginner-friendly ensembles and realizing that recitals are optional. Some adults may also be unaware of the many new opportunities available now. Music schools began expanding their adult programming as boomers started nearing retirement age. Adults currently make up about 25 percent of the enrollment at Baltimore’s Peabody Institute’s Preparatory Division. Once adults make the plunge, it’s not neurological research that spurs them to make it to an ensemble rehearsal. Instead, it’s the joy they find there, as violinist and Washington, D.C., arts fundraiser Maya Weil notes. “When you are playing with others and it is going well, you feel as if you are soaring.” Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
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Lawrence Presbyterian Manor 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Return Service Requested
independent living residents. She’s the only associate who works a split along with some of the salads. The shift—four hours in the morning residents are what she enjoys most about her job, and they enjoy her, too. and four hours in the evening—so she can be there for the residents for “Some of the residents say, ‘You’re each meal. the best salad maker in the whole “It’s very fulfilling. I’m almost 70 world!’ I like what I do, and the years old and was raised by my residents are really good people,” grandparents, so I can relate to said Sandy. older folks. After 10 years, I really As you might expect from the consider my independent residents salad expert, Sandy’s tip for good my second family,” said Sharon. nutrition is to “Just eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.” When it comes to having good nutrition, Sharon advises that we Sharon Goger, dietary aide have to respect what our bodies are telling us. Also, “keep active, be Sharon has spent the past decade serving up breakfast and dinner to healthy and have a positive attitude.” DINING, continued from page 1
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Community Matters March 2019
Cindy Browning, dietary aide/ aka ‘napkin folding lady’ For the last six years, Cindy has been folding napkins for residents in creative ways. A florist for 30 years, Cindy taught herself napkin folds with a book and YouTube. Assisted living residents have now napkins folded 40 different ways, including roses and stars. Residents look forward to napkins folded as bunnies for Easter. “It’s very relaxing. It’s kind of my therapy,” said Cindy. In celebration of National Nutrition Month, Cindy would like to remind everyone to, “eat your vegetables.” Like us on Facebook