Parsons Community Matters March 2017

Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:

Staying FIT?

Everyone knows fitness is important. How have you taken steps to be fit? What’s your regular fitness routine? If you’ve started a fitness routine late in life, what advice would you have for others?

How do you think you benefit from regular exercise?

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.

A lifelong love of art

March 2017

Not everyone who enters Parsons Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless competition has been interested in art their entire lives. Some don’t take up an interest until after their children are grown or until retirement. This is not the case with Parsons resident Janice Miller.

“I’ve always loved art and design. Right out of high school, I took art classes at the junior college. I’ve taken classes on and off Artist Janice Miller has won many awards for her through the years, most artwork. Her drawing "3 Pink Ladies," which Janice recently a watercolor holds here, is featured in the 2017 Art is Ageless class taught by Joan Allen calendar. at Labette Community College, and also a jewelry class. I love it all,” said Janice.

Janice’s interest in art extends beyond a hobby, however. She’s an interior decorator by trade and sells window coverings from her home.

“I’m also pretty handy with a sewing machine.”

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Janice is planning on entering several items in this year’s Art is Ageless competition, including a watercolor and a tablecloth.

“My mother died 18 years ago, but she and I started a project together that I’m finally going to finish. I broke my foot last year, so I finally took the time to sit down and get it done. It’s a tablecloth made using what’s called ‘yo-yos,’ a technique where you make small circular pieces of cloth and sew them together.You can do all kinds of things with them.”

Love of art continued on page 4

A light in the darkness W. Wayne Mason, Chaplain, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice

I was only about 10 years old when I went to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. I don’t remember a lot about that trip except that there was a lot of desert leading up to it.

Our family took the tour of the cavern and experienced darkness in a way that I have never forgotten. We had been walking quite a ways into the cavern when our tour guide stopped us. He told us to grab hold of the handrail, and he then turned off the lights. I could not see my hand in front of my face. I could not detect any shapes of

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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.

individuals in our tour group. I blinked a few times to make sure my eyes were open. I felt isolated and alone. Then, our guide turned on one small pen light and it made all the difference in the world. I could see people around me and my own hand which was unseen just a few seconds before.

That experience was more than 50 years ago. There have been times since then when I have experienced darkness within my life. I have felt the loss of a loved one through death, and the insecurity of a lost job while still having a family to feed. I have felt the brokenness of damaged and strained relationships, and the loneliness of a dream destroyed.

Darkness has surrounded me, and I have reached out to find a handrail just to steady myself and feel connected to something unmoving. I was frozen in the darkness.

But then, in the simplest of actions a small ray of hope would emerge. It might be in the form of words spoken saying, “I’m here with you.” Or, “I believe in you.” It might be found in a simple hug, or the touch of a hand and a smile, or a shared tear. Some way, a small light begins to shine in my darkness and I have hope.

Have you experienced that darkness in your life? Who shined a light to help you find your way out of the darkness?

John described Jesus this way: “Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:4-5)

Prayer: “LORD, lead me out of my

darkness, so I may enjoy your light. Make me a light for others in their times of darkness. Amen.”

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.

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2 COMMUNITY MATTERS MARCH 2017

Celebrating social workers March is National Social Work Month, an “opportunity for social workers across the country to turn the spotlight on the profession and highlight the important contributions they make to society. Our nation’s more than 600,000 social workers have amazing tenacity and talent.� (from naswmc.org) Not only do we celebrate the many wonderful things social workers do in our nation, we also celebrate our very own Babette Collins’ three-year anniversary at Parsons Presbyterian Manor on March 3. “I’ve been a social worker for more than 24 years, and up until I came to Presbyterian Manor, had mostly worked with children and families,� said Babette. “But when this position came open, I knew I was ready for a change and was thrilled for the opportunity to work with the elderly population. I love helping people!�

Babette received her social work degree from Pittsburg State University

Social worker Babette Collins visits with a Presbyterian Manor resident.

and is licensed through the state of Kansas, which requires 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

While her day-to-day duties are always changing, her routine duties include: • Assessments and cognitive assessments • Social history collection • Handling of daily concerns and complaints • Care plan coordination “People are surprised when they find out how much it takes to become, and continue to be, a social worker. People understand the social part, but not the work part. It’s sometimes difficult, but

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very rewarding,� said Babette.

When Babette isn’t busy helping Presbyterian Manor residents and family, you can find her reading, enjoying movies, or spending time with family.

“Babette always makes time to listen to our residents and always follows up with their concerns, and is hardly ever in a bad mood,� said Ruth Haile, dining services director.

We celebrate Babette’s unique role in helping our residents live a better life, and all of the wonderful social workers who are there for those who need them most.

“As a social worker in a nursing home you have to be able to wear many hats, and Babette does for our residents,� said Michelle Lever, Health Services Director. “She has always been receptive to new information and always willing to do what it takes to make our facility the best home for them. She creates a good working relationship with residents and their family members and makes herself available as a contact for them to be able to reach out to. Babette has always been willing to help out with transportation as well.�

PARSONS PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3

Since the beginning of time, creative expression has brought joy to both its creators and those who experience their art. The Art is Ageless® program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork and reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity.

Some have resumed art after putting it aside for a career, others have been creating beautiful pieces throughout their lives, and others never picked up a brush until after they retired, but all are now expressing themselves through art.

Entry deadline is March 10.

Come and view artwork by area seniors and children at our Art is Ageless reception throughout the exhibit March 14 - 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and plan to join us at 6 p.m. March 16 when we recognize the winners of our local competition.

For more information about Art is Ageless, visit www.ArtisAgeless.org.

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continued from page 1

Janice sees potential and takes an interest in nearly any creative pursuit, and this passion recently resulted in artistic accolades. The piece she entered in last year’s Art is Ageless competition, titled “3 Pink Ladies” won a coveted place in the 2017 Art is Ageless Calendar. The calendar features the best of the best from 17 Presbyterian Manors of Mid America campuses in Kansas and Missouri.

“I always encourage people to try their hand at making art, no matter their age.

They would be really surprised at what they can do. I think anyone can do anything if they set their mind to it,” said Janice. “And I would highly encourage people to take an art class, like the one I take from Joan Allen. She’s really good and very encouraging and has a wealth of knowledge.You’ll meet new people and have a great time!”