Parsons Community Matters October 2017

Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor

October 2017

Gracious dining helps residents feel at home

Dining Services Director Ruth Haile has nearly seen it all when it comes to food service.

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS

We will feature Christmas in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story about Christmas, whether a favorite tradition or a memorable holiday celebration, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share the story.

Contact Maegen Pegues, executive director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

“I started working in food service when I was just 14. I worked parttime under my mother, who was the dietary manager at Elm Haven East. I did that until I was 19 and after graduation started working full time. I was 23 when I went to the Coffeyville vo-tech school to earn my dietary manager’s certificate. I took over as dietary manager at Elm Haven East in 1999 when my mother retired. I then took the

GRACIOUS DINING

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It’s that easy.

The residents feel like they just walked into a restaurant.

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Getting over the wall

byWayne Mason, Chaplain, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice

The trio of friends was advancing on the obstacle course and feeling pretty good about how they were doing. Until, lying before them, there was the eight-foot wall they needed to get over. They knew they couldn’t do it individually. Some way, they needed to help each other over the wall. Through a series of pushing, boosting and pulling they were able to make it and finish the course as a team.

How many times do we all face that daunting obstacle which challenges all of

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our abilities? It might be a relocation, a sudden illness, the loss of a friend or a spouse, the ceasing of a bad habit – each obstacle may require the help of someone else.

One obstacle we all have in our lives is the wall of sin. No matter how much good we may do within this world, we will not be able to earn our forgiveness from God. We need help. That help is found in Jesus.

1 John 5:3-5 says: “Loving God means doing what he tells us to do, and really, that isn’t hard at all; for every child of God can obey him, defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting Christ to help him. But who could possibly fight and win this battle except by believing that Jesus is truly the Son of God?”

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 To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact mpegues@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

The obstacles of this world and within our lives can be overcome with the assistance of our loving Savior, Jesus.

Prayer: “Lord God, thank you for not

abandoning us to the consequences of our sin.We accept the forgiveness which is found in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Amen.”

Gracious dining continued from page 1

certified dietary manager’s test in Kansas City in 2007,” said Ruth.

While she’s had a wide variety of experiences, Ruth’s very favorite thing about her job is making a personal connection with residents.

“They get to know me by my first name, and I love that!”

One way Ruth and her team are able to connect so well with residents is by providing a welcoming place to enjoy their meals.

“We offer a more restaurant-style

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W. Wayne Mason, Chaplain

atmosphere when it comes to meals and dining. Our residents get to choose off of a menu, just like the ones you and I would get in a restaurant. If they do not like the special we are having for that meal, this menu is available to them 24/7,” said Ruth. “Our residents also get to decide what time they would like to eat. Gracious dining is about making the resident the customer and treating them like they just walked into your restaurant.”

Get to know: Your physical therapy team Colt Smith

Physical Therapist Colt Smith wasn’t always in the healthcare field. He’d previously worked in sales and served as president of Downtown Parsons Inc. Perhaps this is why he’s so great with people, and patients who’ve come through our Post Acute to Home (PATH®) rehabilitation program call back and request him for continued therapy even after they move out.

Colt Smith speaks with Marian Shuss.

Christopher A. De Jesus

For Christopher, physical therapy is more than just a career – it’s a calling. One that’s taking him halfway around the globe. In 2001, he began his career as an educator in a review center for physical therapy students and was later a supervisor at a private caregiver school.

“I really have a passion for helping younger people reach their goals in life,” said Christopher. “So I took a teaching job at Our Lady of Fatima University from 2004 through 2008. Once my kids were older, I took a job working at

Christopher A. De Jesus and Bob Andrews work on balance.

PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM

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PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM continued from page 3

the Arab Development Institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

In 2012, Christopher once again had an opportunity to further his career – all the way in the United States.

“A friend called and asked if I wanted to try working in the U.S.A. where I could bring my wife and kids. In the meanwhile, I took a job back in the Philippines at La Consolacion

University until I was able to come to the United States in 2014.”

And while Christopher has certainly accomplished many things in his physical therapy career, he’s not done learning yet!

“I’m currently working on acquiring a certification in LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatments), which helps Parkinson’s patients, and I’m

also planning to take the examination to become a board certified geriatric physical therapist next year.”

Kaysha O'Daniel

Kaysha has been at Parsons Presbyterian Manor for nearly a year and has brought a wealth of expertise to the team. She got her associate’s degree in applied science (Physical

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

PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM continued from above

Therapy Assistant) through Labette Community College and has certifications in Complex Disease Management, Dementia 1, and GEM 1, which is a diagnostic tool to help address a dementia patient’s needs. When she’s not at work, you can find Kaysha on the softball field, where she coaches a girls’ 12-and-under team.

Kaysha O’Daniel works on strength building with Dianna Wolf.

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