Parsons Community Matters October 2018

Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor

Get to know:

Nicohle Bushnell

New administrative assistant Nicohle Bushnell wears many different hats in her new position, and that’s what she loves about it.

“I enjoy that it’s fast paced, and I enjoy all the people I get to work with. I love getting to know the residents, and I like to keep busy,” said Nicohle. “My job entails doing all the secretarial duties, like answering the phones and emails, etc., but I also help put in all of the invoices to the corporate office and handle all of the trust accounts, petty cash, resident cash and all of those things.”

Nicohle has a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science, and has worked in a variety of different positions, even teaching.

Cyber Cafe gets a “thumbs up”

October 2018

In August, we held our first Cyber Cafe event, which is part of our ongoing Just Ask lifelong learning series. We had a wonderful turnout of 23 participants who engaged in the presentation with Jennifer McClanahand, regional marketing director for Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. We anticipate hosting more Cyber Cafe events in the future.

When we opened up the floor for questions, Parsons Presbyterian Manor team members Maegen Pegues, Courtney Stangle and Sloan Dwyer joined Jennifer to help participants with some tips and tricks.

Jennifer McClanahand leads the Senior Cyber Café presentation for 23 people at Presbyterian Manor.

CYBER CAFE

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“A friend told me about this position, and I thought it would suit me well. I try to be an upbeat, positive person.”

Outside of work, Nicohle has two kids and two dogs that keep her busy and is also active in her church.

We’re glad Nicohle joined us, and we’re looking forward to everything she brings to the position.

Jennifer McClanahand, left, and Maegen Pegues, kneeling at right, assist participants with their questions about their smart devices at Parsons’ first Senior Cyber Café event in August.

5 Reasons to Plan Your Funeral Now

No one likes to think about death, but planning ahead for your funeral is smart

By Candy Arrington

Although I didn’t know it at the time, a week after my father received a terminal cancer diagnosis, he asked my cousin to take him to a local mortuary where he made decisions about his burial and paid for his funeral. Following his death five months later, as a grieving only child, I was thankful my father had the foresight to plan ahead, as he had

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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 Sloan Dwyer, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact sdwyer@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.

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always done for other life events. His choice to preplan was a gift that prevented me from making emotional and costly decisions based in grief.

Death is a subject none of us want to confront.Talking about death causes us to face mortality and run head-on into the fact that we will not always be here.

Yet death is inevitable and planning your funeral is a lot like planning for retirement. It requires honest evaluation and sometimes hard decisions, but it’s something that needs to be done.

Here are five reasons to overcome hesitancy and consider planning your funeral now: 1. Rising costs

Each year, funeral costs continue to rise. Planning and paying for your funeral now is a way to avoid those increasing costs. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost for an adult funeral with viewing and burial, including vault, was $8,755 in 2017.

For a funeral with viewing and cremation, the median cost was $6,260.These amounts do not include cemetery costs, monument or marker, pall flowers, obituary or other related expenses, which could raise the cost to between $10,000 and $12,000.

However, consumers have options.

“Charges at all mortuaries are based on operating costs and overhead and are higher in larger metropolitan areas,” said Glenn Miller, manager at J.F. Floyd Mortuary in Spartanburg, S.C. “With a full-service mortuary, there are many options. All of our services are itemized, and families can choose what

to include. Our fees are the same for a funeral at a church or at our chapel as long as it involves our standard five staff members.”

2.The ability to make your own decisions

Most people like to feel in control over decisions that affect their lives, and often that extends to end-of-life decisions.

While no one can predict the time and circumstances of death, many take comfort in knowing they’ve selected the type of burial, location and funeral they want.While many plan to make these decisions eventually, most never actually follow through.

If you approach funeral planning as you would a financial or business decision, you may be able to get beyond those difficult emotions. Many mortuary websites provide preplanning information. Other websites, such as Funeralwise, help calculate costs. Move beyond any superstitious notions that funeral planning hastens death, and take time to investigate.

Be aware that preplanning does not require prepayment.The NFDA provides a Bill of Rights for Funeral Preplanning. Knowing your rights helps you plan wisely and avoid being overcharged.

FUNERAL PLANNING continued on page 4

Sloan’s Spot

Just a little bit . . .

Sloan Dwyer

I feel like I finally reached a point where I know who, what and where to put my energy into. Also, I have learned that being kind in even the smallest ways goes a long way. It is always better to put your daily energy towards all things positive.

I know on a daily basis, I am tested on either being kind to people who are not always kind to me, or just a stranger in passing. We don’t always know what other people are going through, and vice versa. I feel like I try my best to not let that affect how I respond and react to others. I have worked hard on being kind to those who don’t always deserve it. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride or ego and just be kind. I just think we all need to be better about being kind to

one another. It literally takes no effort, and it will make your day better and easier in the long run.

Start your week off with all the kindness that you can spread. Trust me. I know how hard it is, at times, to swallow that bad vibe you could be receiving. Do it and give them back kindness. They, too, might realize the hatefulness is not worth it. Help yourself have better days because it looks good on you!

CYBER CAFE continued

“As my first Just Ask event was wrapping up, I was completely thrilled with the amazing turnout for the day. Jennifer put on a wonderful presentation, and I appreciate other team members helping out for this fun, exciting day. I cannot wait till my next event and to bring in people from the community to join in on such a wonderful learning experience for all,” said Sloan Dwyer, marketing director.

Twenty-three people attended the Senior Cyber Café event at Parsons Presbyterian Manor.

Our Just Ask Lifelong Learning series Learn more: offers topics of interest to the broader parsonspresbyterianmanor.org/lifelong-learning community as well as our residents.

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FUNERAL PLANNING continued

3.To lessen future family conflict

If you’ve ever tried to plan a family reunion or holiday get-together, you know suggestions and opinions abound and conflict.When planning a funeral — factoring in intense emotions, personality conflicts and multiplying by the number of siblings — you potentially have a recipe for a family squabble.

preplanning documents your wishes and ahead, the burden of making rapid, provides a benchmark. costly decisions is eased.

4.To reduce the financial burden

We all hope to leave assets for our children, yet a prolonged stay in a care facility can deplete savings. Remaining assets are often non-liquid, which doesn’t help with the immediate need to pay mortuary or crematorium costs.

Prepaying for your funeral and “Many people are still traditional in their associated costs eliminates or reduces the financial burden on those left faith and type of funeral they want, behind. Most mortuaries provide while their children may not be,” said incremental prepayment options.

Miller. “Children think differently than their parents and often have a more 5. Preplanning is a gift to loved contemporary approach to burial, ones funeral location, music and minister.

Planning ahead documents your wishes.” Planning a funeral is a huge hurdle for grieving family members who may be While you can’t guarantee family physically and emotionally exhausted. If members will abide by your choices, even some planning has been done 4 COMMUNITY MATTERS OCTOBER 2018

Sometimes planning occurs near the end of life, but any information given or selections made are gifts to those who will execute the funeral.

Sherry Cochran’s father made decisions about his funeral while in hospice care, with his wife and six children present.

“My father was a minister, and he openly discussed his funeral,” said Cochran, a retired attorney in Raleigh, N.C. “He chose the hymns, minister, mortuary, cemetery and told us any casket we chose was fine as long as it was plain and didn’t cost much.When your parent is willing to talk about endof-life issues and make decisions, it teaches you how to approach death and provides closure.”