Parsons Community Matters December 2018

Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor

Holiday Celebration

December 2018

In December, we love the holiday cheer that happens here at Presbyterian Manor.There isn’t a lot much better than Christmas cheer and our annual holiday dinner.This dinner is put on for the residents and their family members by the staff at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. It is such a great event for all of us to come together and celebrate the holidays.

Parsons Presbyterian Manor on U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Home list

Parsons Presbyterian Manor is on the U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Homes 2018-2019 list. The senior living community received the highest score of High Performing to make the list, available at www.usnews.com/bestnursing-homes/search.

The U.S. News and Report list uses information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the government agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes. CMS assigns one to five stars to each community for how well it performs in health inspections, nurse staffing and level of quality care.

U.S. News now uses the CMS star rating for staffing rather than the overall star rating to determine which communities are given the

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We are looking forward to the celebration and memories we will create this year with the residents, families and staff members.

“I honestly love all of it. I thought it was very festive, but yet not overboard – just the right amount of Christmas cheer, simple, but yet elegant!” said Courtney Stangle, human resource director.

The Holidays

I was digging through one of the closets at church the other day and found one of those manger props you see so often in nativity scenes. I have been around the church long enough now to know the names of some of the babies who were nestled in that manger on Christmas Eve.

It is the tradition of our church to hold Christmas Eve services. We gather together and have cookies. We read the story of Jesus’ birth. We celebrate as a family that something new happened on that night so very long ago.

Then, we each go off to celebrate our ®

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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of

501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Maegen Pegues, executive director Sloan Dwyer, marketing director

other traditions. Those traditions have changed a bit over the years. When I was a child, my family would have our Christmas Eve appetizer meal.

Christmas morning we would have cheesecake for breakfast. We would climb in the car and head to Grandma’s house for turkey, green bean casserole and Martha Washington balls.

Grandpa went on to heaven a few years ago and Grandma has moved in with my uncle. I grew up and had children of my own, who are quickly leaving the nest. The world has changed dramatically, and so have my traditions.

Today, I count among my favorite new traditions the dinner served at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. I get to see each of you with your families. The food is delicious, and the conversation is fabulous.

New traditions can often represent changes in our lives. Change is not always pleasant. But, the miracle of Jesus’ birth is a miracle of the new.

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are a promise to us of God’s love. There is

nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

Not the unexpected pregnancy of an unwed virgin, not the cross, not even death can defeat God. God is deeply invested in bringing life and hope to a dead and dying world. Each time we see our traditions changed we can rest in the sure and certain knowledge that God will bring something new into our lives.

As you head into December, I want to leave you with a few words from the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

(Isaiah 43:19)

This verse reminds us that God is always doing a new thing. Even if we find our traditions radically different from all we have known, God is doing a new thing. Even if we have done the same thing for years, God is doing a new thing. Enjoy this holiday season knowing that God is doing a new thing for each of us.

Blessings, Rev. Jennifer Dawson

To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact sdwyer@pmma.org.

Telephone: 620-421-1450 Fax: 620-421-1897 Address: 3501 Dirr Ave., Parsons, KS 67357-2220 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

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from the staff at Parsons Presbyterian Manor

Sloan’s spot

Tis the season to be merry!

I absolutely love Christmas and the holiday cheer that we all spread this time of year.You should see my house during Christmas. Decorating for it is one of my favorite things to do.

Christmas has a lot to do with traditions and memories with Sloan Dwyer your loved ones, which is what should be most important, even though it’s easy to get wrapped up in the decorations, playing Christmas tunes, and the gifts.

I know I have been guilty of making sure I get the best gifts for everyone. I start brainstorming and shopping in October to get ahead of the game for the holiday season.

Somewhere along the way, I snap out of it, and remember that Christmas is not about the gifts you get or receive. There is so much involved with the true meaning of Christmas. I love nothing more than to spread holiday cheer. I cherish the memories and traditions I’ve had over the years with my family. These memories will

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High Performing designation. This decision reflects expert opinion on the importance of staffing in quality of care, as well as the availability since April 2018 of more accurate data on nurse staffing levels in each community or center.

More than 4,300 nursing homes received CMS’ top rating of five stars, while just 1,844 nursing homes earned the top Overall rating issued by U.S. News, according to the U.S. News website.

This is fifth time since 2011 that Parsons has appeared on the U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Homes list.

forever stay with me, and I plan to carry them on for years.

Let’s try this holiday season to remember why we celebrate Christmas. Why is it that we get to circle around the tree and open gifts? Why do we always get new PJs on Christmas Eve? Why is it that I can’t wait for my grandma’s sugar cookies? There are many reasons why we all love Christmas.

We all know the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear! I hope you all have a magical Christmas and cherish the memories for years to come.

All Medicare- and Medicaid-certified health care centers were evaluated by U.S. News. To be eligible for an overall rating, a center must have received an overall star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in July 2018 and a staffing star rating in either April or July 2018.

To learn more about the U.S. News and World Report rating system, visit their FAQ page: health.usnews.com/health-news/best-nursinghomes/articles/faq-how-we-rate-nursing-homes.

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Presbyterian Manor 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220

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