Parsons June 2017

Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:

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We will be featuring employees who have continued their education with Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica’s help in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about an employee you know is continuing their education, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share your story.

If you’ve got a story to share, contact Sharla Hopper, marketing director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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June 2017

High honors from PATH® patient and physician

It’s safe to say Dr. F. Allen Moorhead knows a thing or two about quality medical care. After all, he’s the fourth generation physician to serve patients at the Neodesha Rural Health Clinic. He’s dedicated his life to giving quality, patient-centered care to his patients. So when he gives Parsons Presbyterian Manor his seal of approval, it’s quite the honor.

“I’ve been in nursing homes of all kinds for 44 years. I can tell you the staff here is courteous, helpful, and the Dr. F. Allen Moorhead chose Parsons Presbyterian accommodations are Manor PATH rehabilitation program after he experienced a serious fall. cleaner than anywhere I’ve been,” said Dr. Moorhead.

“The rooms are nice, clean and comfortable. The maintenance people are great and take care of things. And there’s no odor!You wouldn’t know it’s a nursing home. The people here treat others like they’d want to be treated.

They do it for everyone.”

While Dr. Moorhead was familiar with Parsons Presbyterian Manor before, the aftermath of an injury last fall brought him through our doors as a patient in our Post-Acute to Home® (PATH) rehabilitation program.

Now that he’s seen firsthand just how well patients and residents are cared for here, he’s singing our praises even more.

“I fell behind my garage, and things went downhill from there. I developed

PATH continued on page 4

Who Am I?

Wayne Mason, Chaplain, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice

If you were to ask your closest friends to describe who you are, what would they say? More than that, what would they tell you that other people say about you? Not many of us would take the risk of asking someone to honestly describe us to our face.

I marvel at the fact that Jesus did ask those questions. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) The answer was amazing. They started telling him that people thought of him as equal to the Hall of Fame individuals ®

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from Jewish history. They rattled off the names of John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. The people saw in him the highest, most honorable character.

Then Jesus put on the spot the most outspoken of all the disciples, Peter. “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Peter gives a profound answer to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Back to the original question – how would your closest, most honorable friends describe you? Would they say that you are the most trustworthy, the most honest, the most compassionate, the most Godly person that they have ever met? Would they say that they would place their lives in your hands and trust you to never fail them?

W. Wayne Mason, Chaplain

How would your friends describe you?

Prayer: Lord God, help us to reflect your highest qualities within our lives.When others see us, may they also see Jesus living inside us. Amen.

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 Sharla Hopper, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact shopper@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

Par sonns Presbyterian Manorr’s Post-Acute ost Acute T To o ® Homee (PATH ) program isn’t juust about getting you home – it’s about getting you baack to your life.

Call 620-717-4030 to oday to schedule your per sonal appointment ment and tour.

ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

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Reluctant role model If you search for the definition of humble, you might find a photo and description of Human Resources Director Courtney Stangle. While she is hesitant to be in the spotlight, she’s certainly deserving of recognition.

“Courtney is a role model for our direct care staff, or anyone really, to continue their education,” said Marketing Director Sharla Hopper.

“Courtney has recently returned to school, and last month she was awarded a ‘LiveYour Dream’ scholarship from the Soroptimists.”

In fact, if it hadn’t been for Sharla’s encouragement and insistence, Courtney wouldn’t have even applied for the scholarship.

“Up to this point, I hadn’t applied for any scholarships. It’s all been student loans,” said Courtney. “I don’t like to take handouts. I always assume someone else out there needs it worse.

Sharla encouraged me to apply for this. She said if I didn’t, she would fill it out for me. I’m very glad she encouraged me.”

After learning Courtney’s story, it isn’t hard to understand why Sharla considered her more than worthy of this scholarship.

“I dropped out of high school my junior year and went back and got my GED. From there, I worked fast food, at a bank, and then got a job at Labette Health for seven years. While there, I got a promotion into the HR department,” said Courtney. “Then I had my twin girls in November of 2007. At that point in my life, I realized that I needed to go back to school and better myself and get more of an education. But life was busy.

Human Resources Director Courtney Stangle with Sharla Hopper.

“Then my husband, Jeremy, passed away in October 2015 after we had our third child. There was no hesitating after that. I had to make a better life for me and my three girls and achieve as much job security as I could. In May of 2016, I applied to DeVry University.

Their classes are all online, and it’s convenient.”

Even when others offer admiration for her strength and determination, Courtney doesn’t see herself as a role model.

“I’ve been told I’m a role model, but I struggle with that mentality. Someone told me I’m an awesome person. But I don’t feel like I did anything in the situation differently than anyone else would. This is what God gave me. I have to keep going forward. A boulder fell in the road, but we still have to find a way,” said Courtney.

Courtney certainly is finding her way

at PMMA and is glad she’s building her career here.

“I thoroughly enjoy my job here. I have my sights set on eventually achieving my administrator’s license, and staying within the PMMA corporation. I’m very happy where I am, but would like to advance.”

When she’s not at work or taking classes, you can find Courtney spending time with her girls. She enjoys coaching whatever athletic pursuits they participate in.

“It doesn’t matter what sport season it is, I’m coaching everything. I’m very involved with them, and I try to get out and live life a little when I have time,” said Courtney. “No matter what life throws at you, there’s always a way to learn and build up from that. I would encourage anyone who’s interested to go back to school.

Eventually you’ll get there.”

PARSONS PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3

PATH

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an abcess in my knee, which progressed to sepsis, or a blood infection. I was taken to Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. It happened to be the knee that had recently had a replacement, so they had to remove my artificial knee and put in a spacer until I was healed. I was sent into renal failure from the antibiotics, and they weren’t sure they could bring me back. I had 24 dialysis treatments, and when I was finally released from the

hospital, I was a total wreck,” said Dr. Moorhead.

Dr. Moorhead went from enjoying his career and working full time in the clinic seeing patients to being completely incapacitated. He couldn’t walk, feed himself, or be independent.

Initially, he was sent to another rehabilitation program in Parsons, but didn’t start seeing progress until he came to our PATH program.

“I wouldn’t be in the condition I am

now if it wasn’t for the rehab program here, Aegis. Their physical and occupational therapy has been top notch,” said Dr. Moorhead. “I’ve regained so many abilities. I hope to return to my medical practice soon.

This is as close to being a perfect nursing home or assisted living community as I’ve ever been in 44 years. And that’s the honest truth.”

Another important factor in Dr. Moorhead’s journey to healing is

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

Like Parsons Presbyterian Manor

PATH

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something many might not consider when choosing where to live or recover: food.

“This is the only nursing home or hospital where the food is as good as it is. At the hospital, I was 225 going in and 185 coming out. The best part of my meals there was the bottle of Ensure! Not here, though,” said Dr. Moorhead. “When you’re feeding people seven days a week, three times a day, that’s 21 meals. And

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they’re all good. My wife’s a great cook, but even that’s hard to achieve for someone cooking at home! I’ve never had any bad meals here.”

We’re glad Dr. Moorhead has been pleased with his recovery here, and we’re grateful for his continued recommendations to patients and community members.

“I’ve recommended that people bring their families here. And I’m not saying this just to say it. And I’m familiar with

the staff here. I’ve known Michelle Lever (health services director) for 25 years, and I’ve known (restorative nurse) Dixie Taylor since she was a girl. I’ve really enjoyed my time here, but am ready to get back home with my wife, Audrina, and back to my medical practice. For a lot of these people here though, this is their home forever. And I can’t think of how this place could be any better for them. It’s wonderful.”