Commun ty Matters Manor of the Plains
March 2015
Giving is a hallmark of PMMA’s history Generous donations and local relationships are the hallmarks of Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica. 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 in need of 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 Samaritan Program giving, special projects campaigns, and planned giving through wills, trusts and charitable gift annuities. Many of PMMA’s 18 communities were opened with the help of local fundraising campaigns. GIVING, continued on page 7
Decor gets an update
Renovations at Manor of the Plains The first phase of Manor of the Plains renovations were completed in independent living. The community room, exercise room, computer room and hallways, along with offices and coffee shop, received fresh paint and new carpeting. Marketing Director Kurt Lampe said these are the first major updates to the building’s decor in 25 years. The 1990s’ turquoise-and-mauve color scheme is being replaced with a more neutral palette throughout, plus new light fixtures. “It has brightened it up a bunch,” Lampe said. The next phases will bring new carpet and laminate flooring to rooms in the health care area, along with all-new fixtures, furniture, cabinets and paint. Lampe said work should begin before the end of this year. Assisted living also is in the process of upgrading decor, along with new appliances, showers and bathroom fixtures.
Elite competition team performance
March 8, 2015
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.
Jerry Korbe, executive director Kurt Lampe, marketing director Lisa Montoya, activities director Jacque Soltero, health care activities 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 March 2015
The Savannah Barr Southwest Elite competition team performs for Manor of the Plains residents. Carina Soltero, daughter of Jacque Soltero, health care activities director, is a member of the group. The girls perform several times a year at Manor of the Plains.
Art is Ageless exhibit comes home
‘Sing along with Bob’ Resident’s love of song is infectious
The annual Art is Ageless exhibit is returning to the Manor of the Plains campus this year. For more than 10 years, the exhibit has been held at the Carnegie Arts Center in downtown Dodge City. But the center has cut back its hours, which made it difficult to schedule, said Marketing Director Kurt Lampe. “I really think people are excited to have the exhibit back here,” he said. At the same time, Manor of the Plains completed remodeling some of the common areas with fresh carpet and paint. The renovation work forced the cancellation of the traditional Christmas open house. So, Lampe said, the open house and the art exhibit will be combined on March 15. Lampe said the open house was started a few years ago to show off the holiday decor on campus, including 25 decorated Christmas trees. After this combined event with Art is Ageless, he said, the open house will return to December. Both events are a great opportunity to showcase the campus and its programs for the local community, Lampe said. The events will feature live music from a local harpist and from pianist and artist Murry Eckles. Make plans now for the Art is Ageless exhibit and Manor of the Plains open house from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.
It was one of Bob Meanor’s first questions when he moved to Manor of the Plains last year, “When are we going to sing?” Meanor, a retired Presbyterian minister, came here after working many years for a long-term care community in Omaha, Neb. There he led regular resident sing-alongs. Manor of the Plains was lacking in that area, so Meanor created it. “I discovered that here the residents are often gathered together to listen to other people sing, but not ever to do much singing themselves,” he said. Last fall, Meanor started hosting “Sing Along With Bob” once or twice a month with the help of Activities Director Jacque Soltero. Their repertoire includes popular songs most of us have known all our lives, including “Home on the Range,” “She’ll be Coming ’Round the Mountain,” “I’ve been Working on the Railroad,” and “You Are My Sunshine.” In December, they sang Christmas carols. Soltero decided to organize the sing-along as a social to give it a broader appeal. About 15 to 20 residents regularly attend. “More people will come out if there’s food involved,” she said. SING continued on page 8 Manor of the Plains
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! S U IN
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{take a staycation} It’s a perfect time to take a staycation — and because of increased demand —now we have two staycation apartments! This is your invitation to come stay with us at Manor of the Plains for one full week in a fully furnished apartment. We will even furnish one meal a day in our complete remodeled dining room. All you have to do is provide an approved application and we will take care of the rest. Once your staycation is over and you have discovered Manor of the Plains is a wonderful place to live, we would love to welcome you to our campus. Contact Marketing Director Kurt Lampe at 620-225-1928, 620-338-0240 or klampe@pmma.org to schedule your personal tour.
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Community Matters March 2015
4 easy ways to build strong bones, inside and out By Linda Melone
Bone building reaches a peak during adolescence but then slows after age 25. In addition to this natural bone loss, we’re less likely to perform high-impact, bone-stimulating exercises (such as jumping) after age 50. This adds up to an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone breaks and fractures. Fortunately, you can build stronger bones at any age. A recent study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion shows that people who jumped 10 times twice daily increased bone density by .5 percent compared with those who didn’t and lost about 1.3 percent. (Note: the study did not include women with osteoporosis; jumping is not recommended in cases of weak bones.) Experts offer these seven easy tips for men and women to keep bones strong throughout their lives: 1. Snack on yogurt and other calcium-rich foods. Including
yogurt, cottage cheese and other low-fat dairy foods adds bone-strengthening calcium to your diet. “In addition to dairy products, choose fish with bones such as salmon, sardines or whitebait,” says registered dietitian Laura Jeffers. For additional benefits, serve these foods with a side of dark leafy green vegetables or broccoli, which also contain calcium. Other bone-building snacks include almonds, dried figs, calcium-fortified tofu and, if you prefer non-dairy, soy milk. 2. Take a hike. Try to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, by jogging, brisk walking or aerobics — at whatever level of ability, says Susan Randall, of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). “As you build stamina, increase the duration and intensity of your exercise,” she says. To see real improvements in bone density, you need to push your intensity, says Cleveland Clinic physical therapist Maribeth Gibbon. “Increasing your pace for short intervals or going up and down hills will place appropriate forces on your bones.” Alternate higher-intensity exercises two to three days a week with lower-intensity activities four to five days a week for best results.
3. Lift weights. “All women begin to lose bone mass after menopause,” says Randall, “so the stronger the muscle and the stronger the bone mass before menopause, the better.” Men should lift weights, too. Resistance exercise requires muscular strength, which improves muscle mass and strengthens and supports bone. Examples of resistance training tools include free weights, wrist weights, weighted vests, exercise bands and resistance machines found at gyms and health clubs. Strive for two to three resistance training workouts a week. 4. Consider a supplement.Your calcium needs increase with age, making it a challenge to take in enough calcium through food alone. The U.S. recommended daily allowance for calcium is 1,000 mg a day during your 20s, 30s and 40s. After menopause, most women need 1,000 to 1,500 mg a day unless they take hormone therapy, says Jeffers. Men between 50 and 70 years old need 1,000 mg a day; men over 70 need 1,200 mg. “And since your body absorbs only 500 mg of calcium at a time, divide your dosages out over the course of the day,” Jeffers says. Check with your doctor before starting supplements to find out what amount is right for you. Copyright© 2014 Next Avenue, a division of Twin Cities Public Television Inc. Manor of the Plains
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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 MidAmerica’s proposal for a continuing care retirement community was selected as the project to be constructed on the old hospital site.
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 PMMA’s 18th senior living short-term rehabilitation suites and community known as Aberdeen new common areas for all levels Heights opened in September 2011. of care. The amenities include a Upon completion, Aberdeen Heights new chapel, bistro, beauty salons would include 243 independent for independent, assisted living living apartments, 30 assisted living and health care areas and a new apartments, 15 residential-style kitchen for the entire campus. The memory care rooms and 38 private first phase was completed in late nursing rooms. Aberdeen Heights 2014 with health care residents is PMMA’s fourth senior living moving into their new building in community in Missouri, joining the November, and the assisted living communities in Farmington, Fulton residents moving into their new and Rolla. residences in December. In August 2012, PMMA announced plans for a major repositioning of its Wichita Presbyterian Manor
Phase II of the repositioning of the Wichita campus will include 90 independent living apartments in
Aberdeen Heights, PMMA’s fourth senior living community in Missouri.
A beautifully appointed sitting room at Wichita Presbyterian Manor.
a new three-story building known as The Westerly. This second phase began in December 2014 with demolition of the previous health care and assisted living buildings. The Westerly is slated to open in late 2015.
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 Marketing Director Kurt Lampe to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.
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Community Matters March 2015
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GIVING, from page 1
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. Ark City added a memory care assisted living neighborhood, and Clay Center added health care rooms and space for dining and activities. Newton
created several neighborhoods at the health care level, and Rolla added assisted living rooms and a community meeting room. 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 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. For example, a couple of months ago, Lawrence’s soft-serve ice cream machine, donated to the Manor 15 years ago, could no longer be repaired. To meet this need, residents kicked off a campaign to raise the money for a replacement. In a matter of two weeks, they reached the $15,000 goal. For information about planned giving, contact Ed Shafer at eshafer@pmma.org or 800- 336-8511.
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SING, continued from page 3
“But we also have residents who come to sing who don’t come to other events. They’ll come out of their rooms just for that.” And, she said, Meanor helps by going room-to-room and to give a personal invitation. Meanor has a deep, full voice honed over the years in school
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Community Matters March 2015
choirs and at church. He grew up in Pennsylvania and came to Kansas to attend Sterling College. His minister’s aunt, who lived in Kansas, agreed to pay his tuition because he wanted to become a minister. After college, Meanor became associate pastor at a Denver church, where he met his wife, Barbara. They’ve been married for 51 years. Since moving to Dodge City last
year, Meanor has filled the Manor with song wherever he goes. He might burst into two-part harmony with a friend over breakfast. Or Marketing Director Kurt Lampe will call on him to serenade someone having a birthday. Meanor’s neighbors appear to be catching the singing bug, too. “They talk about the sing-alongs and look forward to them,” Lampe said.