Parsons Community Matters October 2016

Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:

Everyone has a story to tell We will focus on celebrations and family traditions in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. What traditions are important to your holiday celebrations? What are your memories of Christmas? What recipes did you only make for these special holidays?

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.

Centenarians celebrated at Parsons Presbyterian Manor

Centenarians for 2016 include: Laura Gann (105) Doris Brenner (101) Woodrow Burnett (100) Helen Carter (100) on 10/24/2016 Laura Pedlar (101)

October 2016

Laura Gann, at 105, is our most experienced centenarian!

Every birthday should be a celebration, but especially one as monumental as a 100th birthday...and then some! Several residents at the Presbyterian Manor have turned or will turn 100 this year, including our “most experienced” resident, Laura Gann.

Laura celebrated her 105th birthday on September 3. She married Lawrence Gann on May 30, 1930. They lived in Arkansas City until 1998 when they moved to Parsons to be near their daughter, Joyce.

Laura was employed by the Joe V. Samford Insurance Agency and Lawrence was a welder for the APCO Pipeline. To their union were born four children: Kenny (Shirley) Grose; Carolyn (Bud) Stacy; Janyce (Joe) Chaney; and Joyce, (Bob) Rhodes. To them were added nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Lawrence died May 16, 2004. Laura lived alone until 2011, when she moved to Assisted Living at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor. At 105, Laura continues to be active both mentally and physically. She enjoys the social activities at Presbyterian Manor as well as reading and doing jigsaw puzzles.

We invite friends to send a birthday note to any or all of the above named to 3501 Dirr, Parsons, Ks. 67357 to help celebrate their milestone birthdays.

When do we stop counting birthdays?

Wayne Mason, Chaplain, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice

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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 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

When children are born, we count their ages in days, weeks and months.

“He is 6 months old.” When children get a little older and are able to count their own ages, they include the portions of years. “I’m 3 ½.”

As adolescents age they begin to look toward specific goals. “I’m almost 13.” In other words, look out world I will soon be a teenager.

Another one of those special markers is: “I’m about to turn 16.” The interpretation is: “FREEDOM! Give me the car keys.” Additional markers include: 18 – “I’m a legal adult.” 21 – “I can legally buy any vice I want to.”

Pride of age begins to slow down after that. Many will cringe when they hit the decades. “I’m getting old. I just turned 30.” Or, I like this one. “I’m having the 1st anniversary of my 29th birthday.”

By the time we hit 40, we are cringing more about the gray hairs

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that are showing up and the waistline that is out of control. By 40, I know many people who no longer share their ages.

Look ahead another 30 years and you will see people restoring their pride of age. “I’m 70 years old, and I have the grandchildren to prove it. Do you want to see their pictures?”

I’m looking forward to the day when birthdays are no longer counted. When is that day? It is the day we begin to live for eternity. No more death. No more sorrow. No more birthdays. Lots of joy and lots of love.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for the promise

of eternal life through Jesus. We look forward to that time without measure and that time without sin and its consequences. Amen.”

The importance of listening to the person with dementia We need to hear well before the voice is silenced by the disease

By Mike Good People with Alzheimer’s or other dementia are an invaluable part of our society. Millions of them are brilliant, wise and actively advocating for their rights and needs.

As my friend with Alzheimer’s, David Kramer said, “It’s not something that necessarily makes us idiots.” No it doesn’t, but unfortunately the vast majority of people don’t understand the disease, and therefore, don’t know how to listen to the person with dementia.

Just like anyone else with unique challenges and special needs, people with dementia need to be able to communicate their needs, wants and fears without being judged.

Paying attention — or else

Our government officials and medical professionals must stop, listen and make changes based on what the people with dementia are telling us.

Otherwise this epidemic is going to continue to alienate millions of families who are affected by dementia.

People with dementia know what is needed to help them fight back against

this cruel disease. They understand how communities should be educated and adapted to let them remain included and engaged.

Some people with dementia justifiably argue that their civil rights have been taken because they have been ostracized from society. Despite feeling this way, they continue to advocate for themselves and for the 21,000 new cases every day around the world.

The Best Friends Dementia Bill of Rights states that the person with dementia has the right to be an advocate for oneself and for others.

Many continue to advocate only to be ignored. Despite their daily, if not hourly, challenges, these advocates put on a brave face that leaves observers thinking there’s nothing wrong with them, and therefore, don’t need to be listened to.

By the time symptoms become readily apparent to everyone, the disease will be quieting their “voice” as it ultimately steals their ability to form words and communicate verbally. They will be left unable to advocate for their own basic needs, wants and fears.

‘Dementia alphabet soup’

It will be left to their friends and family members to advocate for them as these new, untrained caregivers learn to listen more with their eyes than their ears, by observing non-verbal cues.

Understanding dementia alphabet soup takes patience and empathy, but it is critical to maintaining connection.

No matter what a person’s abilities are, it’s important to remember that nobody knows the disease better than they do. While we may not easily understand what they are communicating, we must learn to listen with our eyes, ears and hearts, no matter what stage of the disease they are in.

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are not going away anytime soon. If we as a society continue to ignore the voices of those with dementia, we’ll miss out on an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people. Together, however, we can learn to speak Alzheimer’s.

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Your voice, your vote

The 2016 Presidential Election is right around the corner on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Your voice matters and we want to help you exercise your right to vote!

“As Social Services Director, I have assisted many residents in getting advance or absentee ballots. That is how the majority of our residents vote.

If a resident chooses to go out to vote, we will provide transportation to their voting location, which may depend on

if they still use their previous home address or use the Presbyterian Manor address. We are also looking at collaborating with the city of Parsons to see about using our [campus] as a polling location with the new election coming in November. This would really be exciting!” said Babette Collins.

For more information about voting, contact Babette at 620-421-1450 or bcollins@pmma.org.

Make sure you use your right to vote this November.

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

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