Commun ty Matters Manor of the Plains
April 2019
Meet our greeters: Front row from left: Jane Tyler, Jean Honnold; Back row from left: Donna Penner, Shirley Ballard, Donna Imel, Shirley Richardson and Jack Honnold. Not pictured is Wanda Culver.
Volunteering with a smile and a purpose Earlier this year, our community saw a need for making access to our healthcare center easier for visitors. Today, those visitors are greeted with a smile and helping hand. “Many of our visitors find it confusing and intimidating to find, know and punch in the key code to unlock the doors entering the healthcare area. By us having greeters in the area, we can leave the secure doors unlocked and open for easy visitor access,” said Michael Rajewski, executive director. VOLUNTEERS, continued on page 4
Manor of the Plains staff celebrate a zero-deficiency rating.
Manor of the Plains earns zero-deficiency rating Manor of the Plains earned a zero-deficiency health care survey from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services following its annual inspection in early February. “We are very proud of our staff’s achievement,” said Michael Rajewski, executive director. “It is their commitment to our mission and residents that led to a deficiency-free community. By being blessed with a great team of staff and volunteers that is dedicated to Manor of the Plains and each other, we’ve created a foundation that enables us to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values for our seniors every day.” Each year, senior living communities are surveyed by their licensing agency for compliance of regulations established by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. These regulations, which number in the hundreds, are designed to ensure a standard of care is met. By meeting this standard, senior living communities are able to renew their licenses and continue to provide care. There are 17 major areas assessed, which include quality of care and RATING, continued on page 2
RATING, continued from page 1
physical environment. The surveyors look at every aspect of a resident’s life, from dietary choices, to dental care; from frequency of physician visits to ease of access to their mail. “Being recognized as a deficiencyfree community offers evidence of the staff’s compassion and desire to make Manor of the Plains a place our residents are honored to call home,” Rajewski said. The achievement by Manor of the Plains places the senior living community in the top tier of survey performances in Kansas. For more information about Manor of the Plains, contact Kurt Lampe, marketing director, at 620-225-1928 or klampe@pmma.org. Charlene’s quilt entry took first place in the 2017 Art is Ageless competition.
Art is Ageless®: Charlene Ackerman Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Manor of the Plains by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.
Michael Rajewski, executive director Kurt Lampe, marketing director Lisa Montoya, activity assistant Jacque Soltero, health care activity director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Kurt at klampe@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-225-1928 Fax: 620-225-3982 Address: 200 Campus Dr., Dodge City, KS 67801-2760
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. ManorOfThePlains.org
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Community Matters April 2019
Each year, PMMA’s Art is Ageless juried art competition allows seniors throughout the area to show off handiwork while proving the “agelessness of creativity.” This year marks the third time that 84-yearold, Dodge City resident, Charlene Ackerman will be submitting a quilt into the competition. Her entry this year is entitled “The ABCs of Life.”
soon.
“It’s a child’s quilt,” said Charlene. “It depicts sharing, loving, blessings … and it all goes along with the alphabet so ‘sharing’ goes with ‘s’ and so on.”
“Anymore, I’m leaning towards anything that has handwork on it, like applique,” said Charlene.
Charlene began quilting just eight years ago thanks to the encouragement of some friends and doesn’t expect to quit any time
“My hands are still good and my eyes are good—I think I should do that while I can,” said Charlene. Charlene does all of the piecing and embroidery involved in her pieces herself and is especially excited anytime she can put her own personal touch into her quilts.
As for the Art is Ageless competition, it’s the competition aspect that she enjoys the most. “It’s challenging … there’s a lot of good artists that show up,” said Charlene. “I just enjoy it.” Like us on Facebook
Alice Kalb breaks ground on the first Presbyterian Manor.
Presbyterian Manor system to celebrate 70 years On April 19, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA) will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Our first very first community opened in Newton, Kan., on April 19, 1949, nearly two years after 90-year-old Alice Kalb of El Dorado, Kan., asked the United Presbyterian Synod if it would consider opening a home for the aged. A small exploratory committee formed to look at the idea and determined it had merit.
Mother’s Day continues today. The first resident, Mrs. Frances Belle Townsend of Smith Center, Kan., moved into the first Presbyterian home for the aged on April 19. Alice Kalb moved in on April 21, and lived there until her death in 1951.
When it came time to name this new establishment, the committee did not choose to name it the Presbyterian Home for the Aged. To raise funds for the Newton effort, Instead, based on the separate suggestions of two women—Mrs. a dedicated offering throughout Mary Page of Topeka and Grace the synod took place on Mother’s Day in 1948. The practice of raising Derby of Manhattan, it was named funds for Presbyterian Manors on Newton Presbyterian Manor. Like us on Facebook
Grace later lived at Presbyterian Manor in Newton until her death in 1966. Alice’s dream has turned into a network of 17 senior living communities across Kansas and Missouri with more than 2,400 residents. The mission of the organization remains true to its core: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. PMMA has plans to extend its mission into Colorado with the proposed development of Aberdeen Ridge in Colorado Springs. Manor of the Plains
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Manor of the Plains 200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 Return Service Requested
VOLUNTEERS, continued from page 1
Every weeknight from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, eight residents divide their time into shifts to ensure the service is provided consistently. “The volunteers are very proud to be able to provide a meaningful contribution to the Manor of the Plains community,” said Michael.
on the radio and TV for a quite a few “Some volunteers help with resident years and a lot of people who come activities. Others serve on a chapel/ know her.” worship committee for regular services. Another volunteer makes Donna Imel – “I’ve got time and banana bread every week for all the need to do something. I’ve enjoyed residents to enjoy. Others assist the being a greeter because I’ve met office staff as needed. The volunteer people, and I like to visit with possibilities are endless!” said people. I also like to help them if Michael. they need to know where to go.”
Get to know some of the residents currently volunteering as a greeter and why they enjoy this new role:
Donna Penner – “I’m a greeter on Tuesdays and enjoy seeing people come in to see their relatives or visit with someone they know.”
Jack Honnold – “My wife (Jean) and I work on Sundays. We enjoy seeing other people. It’s also something else for us to do. Jean was
Whether it’s as a greeter or helping around the community in another way, more volunteers are always welcome.
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Community Matters April 2019
If you’re interested in finding a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you, contact Jacque Soltero, life enrichment director and activity coordinator. Volunteer AppreciationWeek is April 7-13. Thank you, volunteers, for all that you do for us!We appreciate you! Like us on Facebook