Parsons Community Matters November 2014

Commun ty Matters November 2014

Parsons Presbyterian Manor

Find your friend in Jesus

By Pastor Alex Knott

There is a hymn that has been making its way into my consciousness over the last couple of weeks. It popped up on Facebook. It popped up in Bible study preparation. It keeps popping up. And because it won’t leave me alone, I can’t leave it alone. It’s a familiar hymn. It’s one that most church going folk know.

And what it reminds me to do is pray.

This hymn reminds me that I can boldly approach God’s throne of grace with everything that is on my heart.

It reminds me that when I do not do this, I am giving up something wonderful and transformative. Prayer is a conversation with God. It may feel like a one-sided conversation but when we open our hearts, our minds, our eyes and our ears it is not. We pray to God. We pour out our hearts and let God in on our thoughts and our feelings. We build that relationship.

We establish that line of communication. And God speaks in return.

God speaks through the sunrise and the sunset. God speaks through encounters with other people. God speaks through the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. God speaks through the whisper of the wind

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Residents share favorite Thanksgiving memories

Frances Oler: My favorite thing about Thanksgiving was going to my Mom’s house.

I had nine brothers and sisters and all of their children. It was a bunch of people.

My favorite food was, of course, turkey.

Frances Oler

Phyllis Oas: We always went to my mother’s house for Thanksgiving and of course all the family would come. All of us would laugh at my brother-in-law because he would sit at the table and eat until absolutely everything was gone.

Virginia Blevins: My parents owned a local dance hall, and every Thanksgiving all of our family would gather at the dance hall for the meal. We’d spread the food out across the front of the stage. My favorite memory was about my dad. Every year, he would buy 100 pounds of peanuts in the shell and bales of hay. He’d scatter the peanuts all over the floor and cover Phyllis Oas them over with loose hay. The kids would have a ball hunting the peanuts out of the hay.

Marian Shuss: I am most thankful for a good place to stay and to have help any time I need it. My husband’s birthday was Nov. 28, and we celebrated Thanksgiving and his birthday at the same time.

Virginia Blevins

Lifestyle changes hold the key to preventing Alzheimer’s

We now have a prescription that researchers think can delay or prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s not a pill, it’s a list of lifestyle choices. Results from a landmark study announced this summer show that having a healthy lifestyle may be the key. It’s a recipe, or cocktail, of several factors.

“It’s the first time we have been able to give people a kind of recipe for what is useful,” said Maria Carrillo, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association.

More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and it is the sixth

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 Terry Lillie, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Terry at tlillie@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

2 COMMUNITY MATTERS NOVEMBER 2014

leading cause of death in the U.S. Millions more will likely develop dementia as the baby boomers age.

In the study, researchers looked at 1,260 people in Finland from 60 to 77 years old, who were at risk for Alzheimer’s. One group went on a lifestyle improvement program and the other group received general health advice. The results were dramatic.

The lifestyle program included factors that previous studies had shown improve heart function and memory. It included: good nutrition, regular exercise, stimulating activity and building relationships.

The lifestyle participants also received advice on how to manage blood pressure and cholesterol among other cardiovascular risk factors.

After two years, people in the lifestyle program showed a whopping 40 percent improvement in cognitive tests.

Here are some ways to start on your own program to delay dementia: Eat well –When it comes to nutrition and exercise, what is good for the heart is good for the brain. Don’t feel you are deprived; just start by adding fruits and vegetables to your regular diet. Ease out fats and fried foods, and always choose whole grains rather than highly refined bakery products.

Move more – “We shouldn’t just be encouraging people to exercise, we should discourage them from being sedentary,” one researcher said. Some researchers found that moderate activity such as doing chores and walking – not just high-intensity exercise such as jogging, swimming or biking – can protect the thinking process. Taking a walk after dinner three or four nights a week is an excellent habit to develop and a good way to kick-start your exercise program. Always consult your physician before beginning an exercise program.

Brain games – Two excellent ways to train your brain is to flex it and have a purpose. Things you can do on your own

Eating well is part of keeping your mind sharp.

include working a crossword puzzle or jumble, reading, pursuing a hobby, playing a musical instrument or singing. Having a purpose involves brain flexing, as well. For this, you can set goals and follow through or solve a problem, for example.

Social interaction – Social relationships foster support, and this connectedness, as we grow older, is critical to our wellness. When we converse, our brains are busy dealing with the activities of listening, observing and understanding.You can combine some of these activities for added impact, such as playing cards, joining an exercise class, participating in a book club and attending a lecture.

More research in the years to come may eventually prove that the “recipe” prevents Alzheimer’s, but until then, we know most people have a good chance of delaying dementia symptoms if we increase physical activity, eat well, stimulate our brains and interact with others.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and treatments are poor. There are only a few drugs that appear to slow the disease in some people. The best course we have is to try to prevent it.

New decade, new locations, new services

This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life.

The 1980s brought growth in independent living options on many Presbyterian Manor campuses. New duplexes and apartments were constructed in Parsons, Lawrence, Wichita and Salina. It also brought construction of two new campuses and health care additions at the Wichita and Rolla campuses.

By early 1980, the United Presbyterian Foundation of Kansas’ joint project with the Manhattan Retirement Foundation was open. PMMA continued to provide management services for the new Meadowlark Hills until July 1, 1981.

Salina Presbyterian Manor opened its doors in February 1980, and work started on additional apartments almost immediately.

In addition to the expansion of the physical plant, two important programs of PMMA began in 1980. Residents, staff and advisory board members were invited to submit art and poetry for potential inclusion in the inaugural Art is Ageless calendar.

A donor’s $10,000 gift established the Education Fund for PMMA employees, residents and trustees. The first scholarships were given in 1981. Those funds served as seed for today’s Employee Education Assistance Grants.

Consideration of additional campuses continued through the 1980s as well. Efforts to raise funds for a Presbyterian Manor

The official ribbon cutting and dedication at Salina Presbyterian Manor was April 13, 1980.

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through the trees. It is our job to tune in for that voice which we recognize above all others.

Sometimes we must strain to hear it but it is there. Through whispers and shouts and even silence, God speaks. That is what makes prayer a conversation. When we pray, we are aligning our hearts with the heart of God. And when we pray, we find comfort, help and salvation.

What hymn triggered all of this in my heart? I’ll give you a

Many people attended the April 13, 1980, dedication of Salina Presbyterian Manor.

at Hays were not successful, and after thorough study, the board authorized sale of the property in June 1980. The next year, a group of citizens in Emporia petitioned for construction of a campus in that community, and a period of study and fundraising began. Additional campuses in Missouri also were considered in Jefferson City and Springfield.

The PMMA board voted to sell Mid-Continent Presbyterian Manor, a campus formerly operated by the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church of the United States.

Residents of the campus, located in Kansas City, Mo., were given the option of moving to the Kansas City, Kan., campus. The sale was completed in 1983.

New services and new needs also were explored. With the support of the Synod of Mid-America, PMMA worked to establish a campus for severely physically handicapped adults in Hutchinson. Home health care for residents living independently on PMMA campuses was started in 1984. Piloted in Salina, the service was expanded to other campuses before the end of the year. few lines: “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.” (“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph M. Scriven and Charles C. Converse.)

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National Alzheimer’s Screening Day

Join us Nov. 18 if you or a loved one would like to be professionally screened for potential Alzheimer’s disease. The screening is done in private and only takes 15 minutes.

We do not diagnose, rather, this is a screening to see if an individual may benefit from additional testing. Our findings are given to participants and sent to their primary care physician if desired.

Tired of paper?

Celebrating 40 years of Parsons Presbyterian Manor

We’ve been a part of the Parsons community for 40 years, and we’re celebrating our official anniversary in November. Please join us for these events:

Art is Ageless exhibit – Nov. 14-20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open house – Nov. 14 1-2:30 p.m. Refreshments, historical exhibits and employee service recognition 2:30 p.m. - Dedication ceremony in Jesse Gehman Chapel 3:30 p.m. - Tree-planting and time capsule placement 4:30 p.m. - Balloon release Employees designed a special T-shirt for the event. Each employee will receive one to wear to help promote the festivities.

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TIME CHANGE Nov. 2 Be sure and set your clocks back 1 hour.

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

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A December full of fun and fundraising

Oatmeal Festival Our annual Good Samaritan fundraiser, the Oatmeal Festival, will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4.This celebration is hosted in conjunction with the local Presbyterian Church. After the Parsons Christmas parade we will be serving soup and homemade oatmeal bread with oatmeal desserts.Tickets are $6 and can be purchased from Terry Lillie.

Resident Christmas Party Join us Thursday, Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m. for a wonderful holiday meal and music. A special visitor in red (who goes by Santa) will make an appearance to give each resident a gift. Family 4 COMMUNITY MATTERS NOVEMBER 2014

and friends are invited. Call Shelley at 620-421-1450 for reservations.

Food Drive Beginning the week of Thanksgiving, we will collect canned goods and monetary donations for the Labette County Emergency Assistance Center. Residents, employees and guests are encouraged to donate. Our goal is to gather 750 items.

Over the course of the last three years we have donated more than 2,000 items and $800 to local charities such as the Safe Haven homeless shelter and our own Good Samaritan Program.

Santa (who bears a striking resemblance to Blaine Poe) enjoys a visit with Joyce Tanner at last year's party.