Salina Community Matters July 2020

Salina Presbyterian Manor

JULY 2020

Congratulations to Salina-area graduates Salina Presbyterian Manor has several employees who graduated this spring.

It has been a challenging time to both work in a senior living community and complete a course of study, but each of these graduates persevered.

Independent living resident Don Lloyd chats with his wife Joann via FaceTime. Because Joann currently lives in the health care neighborhood, the couple has learned to use technology to communicate.

Staff use technology to keep residents virtually connected with friends, loved ones

“We knew moving into precautions from COVID that we were going to have to maintain connections with the outside world, with family,” said Lacey Burhle, activities director for Salina Presbyterian Manor. “We learned by doing.”

Staff members have employed a variety of video applications, including FaceTime, Zoom and Google Duo.

“We would like to thank them for their time and care provided to our residents and wish them well in their future endeavors,” said Stephanie Goetz, director of nursing.

High school graduates Mariah Clark Jordan Lerma Harlee Long Faith Rice

LPN graduate Alaura Hemphill ◆

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In addition to Lacey and her four activities assistants, social services staff have also played a key role in using technology to keep residents connected to their loved ones.

Lacey said the goal is to ensure each resident connects with family at least once a week.

“I know it’s not the same as face-toface,” she said. “But it’s something.”

Staff members receive many emails with requests to connect from family members, but Lacey and her colleagues will also pick up the phone when needed.

“It goes both ways,” she said.

Video chats have become such an essential part of resident life that Presbyterian Manor upgraded its

hardware.

iPads and FaceTime.

“IT was wonderful and got us all new iPads,” Lacey said. Now all four activities assistants have an iPad that runs the latest software.

Although staff is available to help residents with technology needs, Lacey said many are doing just fine on their own.

Most video chats replace what would have been a regular visit with a resident. Sometimes, the occasion is more special.

“Our independent living residents have done great with attending church services on Zoom,” she said.

Recently, one resident attended a great-grandchild’s first birthday party via Zoom.

One couple living in two different areas have also used video chats to stay connected.

Don Lloyd is an independent living resident, and his wife Joann currently lives in the health care neighborhood. Though they can’t visit in person, the couple has been able to see each other thanks to

Lacey said responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has taught her a lot about the importance of connection.

“Everyone in health care has learned how important those connections are,” she said. “We’ve also learned that we have a lot of love to share, too.

“When family is not able to be here, we’re just going to love a little bit harder.” ◆

COVID-19 updates continue

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, SalinaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. Get the latest information about visitation and restrictions on deliveries and learn more about PMMA’s infection control efforts to contain COVID-19 across the PMMA system. ◆

Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

SALINA Presbyterian Manor 785-825-1366 ◆ Fax: 785-825-6554 2601 E. Crawford Salina, KS 67401-3898 SalinaPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2020

Community Matters

is published monthly for residents and friends of Salina Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: mmccoy@PMMA.org Christian Gilbert, executive director Melissa McCoy, marketing director

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Mary’s Musings

By Mary Bridges, chaplain

The first time I saw a mask was in the Mecca Theatre in Russell, Kan., where westerns screened every Saturday. That is where I met my first masked man, the Lone Ranger.

The Lone Ranger first appeared in 1933, as the subject of a radio show. It spawned a series of books, movies, a TV show and comic books.

The Lone Ranger followed a strict moral code, which I have excerpted below: I believe: That to have a friend, a man must be one.

That all men are created equal.

That everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

Film critic Leonard Maltin wrote that the Lone Ranger’s appeal “is something deeper than just good guy/bad guy. It’s something about the goodness and the righting of wrongs, helping people selflessly —all that plus the William Tell Overture.”

Lone Ranger historian Dave Holland believes the legendary champion of justice “may be more relevant than ever today because our society so desperately needs the showing of good over evil.”

In my research into pandemics, I have read a lot about the Spanish flu and the polio epidemic. During the Spanish flu, citizens were ordered to wear masks. Schools, theaters and businesses shuttered.

Hand washing was emphasized as was keeping your hands away from your mouth, eyes and nose.

The polio epidemic began in 1916, and outbreaks usually happened in the summer. The most serious cases occurred in the 1940s and 1950. I remember how frightening it was when I was 10 and needed to have surgery. Doctors didn’t perform surgery during polio season, as no one knew how it was transmitted or what caused it. There was no known cure or vaccine.

Posters from this era reminded people to wash their hands and to avoid groups of people. Movie theaters were closed and meetings were canceled. Children were warned not to drink from water fountains and to avoid parks, swimming pools and beaches.

Social distancing is what people chose to do without official enforcement. Again, officials

emphasized hand washing and not touching one’s face. Pictures from this time show that some people wore masks.

Two things that struck me about this epidemic. First, a headline that proclaimed, “Pulling Together as a Nation.” That certainly cannot be said today. The second thing was when Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine for polio, he refused to apply for a patent for it. He said this vaccine belongs to everyone.

I am trying to understand how a simple mask has become so controversial during our current pandemic. Personally, I like how Rabbi Michael Knoph explains masks in “The Jewish Forward:” “Jewish tradition expresses its commitment to the supreme importance of human life through MUSINGS - continued on page 4

Salina Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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SALINA Presbyterian Manor

2601 E. Crawford Salina, KS 67401-3898 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided

by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.

MUSINGS - continued from page 3

laws related to the preservation and protection of life. This class of commandments is known as shmirat ha-nefesh; or literally, protecting life.

It comes from Deuteronomy 4:9 which teaches, ‘Be cautious with yourself and seriously guard your life.’

Rabbinic tradition understood this verse to mean that we are not

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2020

allowed to knowingly endanger our lives or engage in behaviors that would likely result in disease or death.

How do we get back to seeing the wearing of a mask as an act of love?

And we are similarly obligated to take steps to protect others’ lives.”

Perhaps we once more need to listen for those spine-tingling words, and “a fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty ‘Hi-Ho, Silver!’ … The Lone Ranger rides again!”

Rabbi Knoph says Jews ought to regard actions that help prevent us and others from contracting or communicating the coronavirus, such as washing our hands, wearing masks or remaining home as mitzvoth or sacred obligations.

Perhaps we need to return “to those thrilling days of yesteryear.”

Or as Rabbi Knoph says, “Wearing a mask is an act of love.” ◆