Newton Presbyterian Manor
APRIL 2020
Safety update Presbyterian Manor Families of Residents, and Visitors,
Fun fact about resident Elenora Alexander: She was in the movie “The Parade,” which was filmed in Halstead, Kansas in the early 1980s.
An interesting look back with resident Elenora Alexander
Health care resident Elenora Alexander is like a walking history book for life at Newton Presbyterian Manor. She worked here from 1960 to 1987 and has many stories from her experiences as an employee in dining services. “When I worked here, we would put breakfast and dinner trays on carts and send them upstairs on dummy elevators. Once when we were on an elevator, we got half-way up and the elevator stopped. The doors flew open and there was a brick wall. Ella Jones, my helper, had a fit. I told her to calm down, then I pressed the button and the maintenance man released us. We had more fun!” said Elenora. ALEXANDER - continued on page 3
Keeping our residents and staff healthy is a top priority for PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica). We fully understand health care workers and seniors are at a higher risk of experiencing serious infections, so our staff members are doing their very best to stay current on every change that is occurring in this rapidly changing environment. On March 13, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced strict in-person visitation guidelines for senior health care communities. All PMMA communities are enforcing limited access for in-person visitation. Limited Access means all visits to the community must be rescheduled except in case of endof-life situations per the March 13 guidelines released by CMS. COVID-19 - continued on page 4
Newton Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Bravo of the Month: Nurse Clarissa Jackson Clarissa Jackson, nurse for Haury Place. Tara Stewart, director of nursing, writes, “Thank you, Clarissa, for jumping in and helping your fellow nurses when they had multiple admissions. Not only did you help with admission paperwork, but you also worked the fall that occurred during the time of two neighbors arriving at the same time. As if that wasn’t enough, the next day we were short
nurses, leaving Clarissa as the only nurse on the floor. I offered to take two halls so that she would just handle one, but she was persistent to say that she would handle two halls knowing it was my first week back full-time. Clarissa goes above and beyond every day, but what makes her stand out is that she does this with a smile on her face and a ‘go get it’ attitude. Thank you for all that you do!” Congratulations!
Clarissa! ◆
Devotional: The eternal hope of Easter We often think of Easter as a time of hope. Jesus is alive! Death is defeated. He is RISEN!! But how do we live a life of joy and hope when our world is turned upside down, and we’re uncertain what tomorrow will hold?
The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
It seems the first step for finding hope this Easter season is to stop and reflect on the love that is being offered to us every second of our lives. Jesus is with us, even when our loved ones can’t be. Jesus sees and knows our struggles and fears, and He walks with us through them.
Matthew 28:6 says, “He is not here; He has risen, just as he said…” What life-changing, miraculous words! The grave could not hold Him. His LOVE overcame death. He rose again, victorious! And He loves and sees you, right where you
are. And He is with you.
Our Easter celebrations may look a little different this year, but take heart friends, our God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). May we continue to look forward to celebrating Easter and our Risen Savior as we are reminded that no matter what we’ve been through in the past, what we’re facing today, or what uncertainties tomorrow may bring, Christ alone is our HOPE. He defeated death, He rose from the grave and He makes all things new. Amen! ◆
Safety reminder: Fire code does not allow power strips or extension cords in
licensed areas which includes Kalb Villa, Anderson Place and McFarland Center. For your convenience and safety, we have had quad plugs installed in these apartments in hopes that there are plenty of outlets. If you have a concern about this, please contact the maintenance hotline at 316-283-5400, ext. 1030. Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
NEWTON Presbyterian Manor
316-283-5400 ◆ Fax: 316-284-5900 1200 E. Seventh Newton, KS 67114-2862 NewtonPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2020
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Newton Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizaton.
To submit or suggest articles: ndickinson@PMMA.org Marc Kessinger, executive director Noelle Dickinson, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
ALEXANDER - continued from page 1
She remembers fun (and messy) moments in the kitchen, too. “Virginia Abney was the boss of the kitchen and one day everything was late getting to the table. She realized the potatoes didn’t get in the mixer. She pressed the wrong button and the potatoes flew to the ceiling,” shared Elenora. As you would expect, the dining room and the staff ’s attire looked different back then. “When I worked there, everything was on a table and served. What they called the ‘big dining room’ is the now the little dining room and it had nine tables. Now they use big pans and we have five dining rooms! The staff also dressed differently. We all had white uniforms with a little pocket where I would have a hanky stick out with embroidery. We wore white work shoes that would be good for our feet,” remembered Elenora. Thinking about how life was different at Presbyterian Manor
yesterday has Elenora excited about the changes coming to the dining room in the near future. “The food is so good here, you can’t believe how they cook. Now they’re going to remodel the dining room, and I can go up to a little window and call in what I want to eat. It seems to me, all the outside people, if they hear about that they’ll come in and eat and it’ll be crowded!” But being surrounded by people is something Elenora doesn’t shy away from. In the two years she’s lived at Presbyterian Manor, Elenora has found plenty of activities to keep her days busy. “On Saturdays, they have a big screen set up in the wellness center, and we watch movies. On Sunday, I go to the Zion Lutheran Church. On Fridays at the Manor, I go to church here at the chapel. On Wednesdays, we have breakfast and then we exercise. After exercise, we have sing-alongs, and we have a minister that comes and reads Bible stories. Then it’s time for dinner. After dinner we have crafts. And at Fitness Challenge Race for Health was a fitness challenge held at the Newton YMCA for which other health providers challenged Presbyterian Manor to put a team together. Alex Ramos, wellness director, took on the challenge and even recruited his parents to fill spots on the Presbyterian Manor team. Team members competed in volleyball serves, free throws, biking, walking, running and swimming. Way to represent Newton Presbyterian Manor!
Elenora Alexander worked at Newton Presbyterian Manor from 1960 to 1987. 3 p.m. we have Bingo. We’re so busy here, every time you turn around,” said Elenora. Want to know more about getting involved and making memories at Newton Presbyterian Manor? Contact Noelle Dickinson, director of marketing/senior living counselor at 316-283-5400 or ndickinson@pmma.org. ◆
Mardi Gras The Shriners Jazz Band brought down the house for a Mardi Gras concert with a Dixieland feel.
Newton Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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NEWTON Presbyterian Manor
1200 E. Seventh Newton, KS 67114-2862 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
COVID-19 - continued from page 1
Visitors who meet the end-of-life exception should: • Expect to complete a questionnaire about recent travel, health status and COVID-19 risks. The questionnaire will be signed and dated and kept on file at the community; • Have their temperature taken upon entering the community; • Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, rubbing palms together, cleaning between fingers and the backs of hands; • Utilize hand sanitization stations prior to entering and upon leaving resident rooms;
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2020
• Limit movement within the community to your resident’s room and limit the number of surfaces touched; • Limit physical contact with the resident through social distancing – no hugging, kissing or handshaking – and remain 6 feet apart; • Report to the community any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or acute illness within 14 days after visiting the community. Personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes gloves, masks and gowns, are available as necessary. In the meantime, we encourage you to contact your resident family
members via telephone and email. We have also established electronic communication options. Please contact your local Presbyterian Manor offices for information. This situation continues to change daily, if not more frequently. The most up-to-date information about our COVID-19 response and visitation policies will be posted to our website and our Facebook page. We greatly appreciate your support in our efforts to keep your family members/our residents and community healthy. Sincerely, Your PMMA Team ◆