Newton Presbyterian Manor
AUGUST 2019
Chaplain’s Corner by Jerroll Martens
Donor Profile: Allen McCune
Allen McCune, a valued PMMA friend and donor.
God, my portion “Thou art my portion…..” Psalm 119:57
Whether it’s giving his time, his money or a show, giving to others is in Allen McCune’s blood.
The Psalmist had made a deliberate decision. He chose God as his all in all.
Every weekday, Allen can be found volunteering at the Newton Senior Center. Up to two days a week, he shares his love for animals by volunteering at Newton’s Caring Hands Humane Society. A former school counselor, he has a special passion for working with troubled youth. And, to top it off, Allen can be found at a local club one night a week dancing 20-30 dances with his good friend and dance partner of 31 years.
A man’s portion is that which he chooses as his chief object, where he puts his energy, what he loves, what molds him. It may be wealth, fame, pleasure, illicit life style, even simple ease of life. But man is not only body and mind; he also has a spirit. The body will grow old and pass away but the spirit will live on forever. Yet so little attention is given to the spirit. The Psalmist chose God and now he belonged to God and God belonged to him. He was a rich man.
A man of many passions, Allen also has a special place in his heart for Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. His mother and aunt were both residents at the community in Salina, the city where he was raised. And never having to worry about the care they received, or the stress of having the funds to cover the expense, is something he hopes to help others experience. “I remember when seniors would be ‘put out on the curb.’ The Good Samaritan Program is so important and helps to ensure that doesn’t happen. My aunt benefited from the program, too. I never made much money while I worked, but I was blessed in my retirement by investments. So, I’m trying to pay it back and support the Good Samaritan Program,” said Allen. Allen’s spirit for giving doesn’t stop with his annual donation to PMMA’s program that assists residents who outlive their financial resources through no fault of their own. He and his dance partner are working to -McCune, continued on page 2
He had God now. If we do not have God in this life, it is too late after death. It has been said that no person is ready to live until he is ready to die. He could know what it was to have God in daily life, his strength and fellowship. He had that which satisfies and comforts. Death will come to family and friends, and God has great comfort to give. The guilt of conscience can be heavy, and God can forgive and encourage. Pleasures, fame, wealth have little to offer in satisfying the soul of -Chaplain, continued on page 3
Newton Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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keep the spirit of Christmas alive all-year-long with small gestures like saying “hi” to strangers and larger time commitments like serving others. Allen credits his parents for his passion for giving. They owned a small business, and he witnessed how they treated others who would stop in for a hand out—his father would give them a chore or two, never money, and then get them what they needed. They employed women in their warehouse, hired minority truck drivers and his mother loved animals. “It just dawned on me … I was raised that way.” ◆
Bravo of the Month:
Marcia Sneed
The July Bravo goes to Marcia Sneed in dining services! Heather Wallace writes, “I needed three weeks of coverage for the evening cook’s position while someone had to be away. Marcia stepped up to the plate without hesitation. Marcia is a huge asset to our department and is such a great team player. I sure appreciate all that you do, Marcia.” She certainly deserves a break after all of those extra hours, and the Bravo of the Month comes with a certificate for dinner and movie out for two. Congratulations! ◆
Marcia Sneed with Executive Director Marc Kessinger.
Video chats with family and friends offer mental health boost A new study says Skype and FaceTime provide more than just conversation. By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall for Next Avenue Anne Whitley lives 800 miles from her grandchildren’s home in Florida, but she still sees them daily. On her iPhone’s FaceTime app, Whitley catches up with her five-year old granddaughter, Cairo, who might show off a new toy, and her year-old grandson, Garvey, who enjoys practicing his latest words. All it takes is just a few minutes each day to bridge those miles between them.
“I don’t want them to forget me in between visits,” said Whitley, 83, a retired teacher in Clayton, N.C., who sees her grandchildren in person a couple times a year. “That keeps us connected.”
Whitley’s main concern is staying in touch with her grandkids, but there’s another reason older adults may want to consider dialing up their loved ones by video chat platforms like FaceTime and Skype. to connect with A recent study from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland found that the use of video chat with friends and family also may be an effective way for older adults to dramatically
reduce their risk for depression. Fending off depression with a video chat The study, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, used data from the National Institute on Aging’s Health and Retirement Study, which surveys older Americans -Video chats, continued on page 6
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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 | August 2019
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.
We appreciate our volunteers! Left: Presbyterian Manor counts on the help of more than 150 volunteers each year and that’s not counting all of the school groups, musical guests and carolers who would send that number right up! Volunteers and donors were welcomed to campus June 28 for a reception and program, our chance to tell them how much they help fulfill our mission each day. Some who attended had been volunteering for over 50 years! Thanks to all who make lives here richer and more fun by sharing their time, talent and treasure with us.
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man. It has been said that when a person has God, he has all he really needs. The Psalmist also had something permanent. Millionaires have seen their wealth disappear, as estates can change with the stroke of a pen. Nothing really belongs to a person if it can be taken from him. If one has God, he has all God has, it is eternal as God is. Finally, this relationship is available to all. God offers himself to all, “seek the Lord while he may be found.” Jesus came to give us life. May he be our portion! ◆ Newton Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Our June Just Ask seminar was a special morning examining the idea of “Rightsizing” vs. “Downsizing.” Kirsten Awe of Rightsize Moving Solutions helped us adjust our thinking about the move to the right-sized space and then share ideas about how to get there with as little stress as possible! A quick campus tour and then lunch with other guests gave those who attended plenty of time to discuss the subject.
May and June are full of reasons to celebrate with national holidays and industry celebrations like Nurses Week, CNA Week and Older Americans Month. At Presbyterian Manor, we do our best to celebrate them all, which means there’s a party, music or cake often this time of year. An annual favorite is our summer kickoff Neighborhood Block Party, where all six campus dining rooms and all independent neighbors are invited to a barbecue in the courtyard. This year it was even cool enough to sit in the sun. Guests lingered over their blueberry or peach pie and enjoyed connecting with their friends.
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It’s always great to see our favorite EMS workers and police officers when there’s no emergency. Flag Day is our special day to welcome them for apple crisp, ice cream and fellowship, and to thank them for all they do for our community. Once again, groups of neighbors stuffed the cutest toy animals to give them to share with those who might need them on their emergency calls.
Caregiver classes on “Living with Alzheimer’s” start this fall This October, educators with the Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Kansas Chapter will host a series of courses for caregivers focused on “Living with Alzheimer’s.” “These courses are great for caregivers. Not every session is appropriate for every person. Someone in the later stages of Alzheimer’s may not want to come to the early stage course. If a loved one is just diagnosed, the caregiver may not want to come to the later stages course,” said Denise Vann, program specialist/walk manager with the Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Kansas Chapter. There are three courses planned for October, and each will focus on
different stages of the disease. Early Stage: Thursday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This course will cover topics such as getting a diagnosis, getting affairs in order and getting a care team around you. “There are a lot of times when caregivers feel alone. [This course covers] how you reach out and get everything in order so that as the disease progresses you have things in place. We’ll talk about what you might see with this disease,” said Vann. Middle Stage: Thursday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This course covers caring for someone in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s and will discuss topics such as the inability to
communicate, memory issues, behaviors you might see and the types of care needed. Late Stage: Thursday, October 17 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This course will cover the things you may experience during the end of life. “Education is power. With this disease, there’s still a lot of stigma around it. Know you’re not alone. The Alzheimer’s Association chapters out of Wichita serve 69 counties, and we’re here from A to Z – diagnosis to death,” said Vann. All classes are free. RSVP to Noelle Dickinson at 316283-5400 or ndickinson@pmma. org. ◆
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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.
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every two years. Researchers looked at Americans age 60 and up who used four kinds of communication technologies — video chat, email, social media networks like Facebook and instant messaging. Then, they examined their symptoms of depression two years later. “It gives my dad and me a more immersive, more interactive experience.” Researchers found that older adults who connected with their loved ones through email exchanges, Facebook posts or instant messaging sessions had about the same rate of depression compared to those who did not. By contrast, those who communicated through video chat cut their probability of depression by nearly half.
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“We need to get beyond a discussion of technology being good or bad,” said lead author Alan Teo, an associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science’s School of Medicine and a researcher at the VA Portland Health Care System. “The conversation we need to be having, and I hope that this study helps move forward, is what ways should we be using our technology and what particular types of platforms might be the most beneficial for our health and happiness.” Not just preventing the ‘blues’ Studies show that depression and social isolation can be problems for older adults. While the majority are not depressed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates can rise as high as about 12% for those who
are hospitalized and 14% for those who need home health care. And as many as 32% of people older than 55 feel lonely, according to the National Institutes of Health. Both depression and loneliness can have consequences beyond feeling blue and include links to poorer physical health and a shortened lifespan. “People literally die earlier when they are lonely,” Teo said. Teo’s research didn’t examine why video chat might be the better technology, but he can make an educated guess after years of treating patients as a psychiatrist and researching ways to help them. When we’re able to see the emotions and expressions as we talk to our loved one, we have a more intimate exchange, said Teo, who now makes the effort to video chat more often with his father, 82. ◆