Commun ty Matters Salina Presbyterian Manor
March 2019
Mary’s Musings By Mary Bridges, chaplain Salina Presbyterian Manor
The seasons of our lives are many and varied. Some are familiar and filled with joy and growth. Some feel cold, barren and filled with overwhelming uncertainty. I believe that a great deal of who we are and what we do depends upon our attitude. I have written and spoken many times about the importance of gratitude in our lives. I have shared with many that I never once imagined that I would be doing what I am doing. This is never where I envisioned myself. Having said this, I am extremely grateful that I am in this place at this time of my life. I have been privileged to learn so much from family, colleagues, our residents and their families. My husband, daughter and I have all dealt with cancer and the uncertainty that it brought to our lives. I have experienced the loss of family and friends every way imaginable. From long-lingering illnesses, sudden deaths from heart attacks, suicide, murder, drownings, and car accidents. I have had a number of wonderful MUSINGS, continued on page 6
From left, Mary Kersey, Kathi Blouch, Shelly Korte, Janet Beemer and Mary McElrafth, all Certified Medication Assistants, make up the transportation team.
Grant provides new campus ride Our community recently received two new vans from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) after applying for them through a grant application. “The vans we have been using have become pretty old and the lifts particularly caused the staff quite a bit of trouble. Mike Rajewski passed on the news about the KDOT grants, and it seemed to be the perfect answer for how we would solve our problem,” said Desi Flerlage, executive director at Salina Presbyterian Manor. The two new vans sit lower to the ground than the current vans, which will make it easier to load and unload from them. They are both side loaders, which will also make them user friendly. “The new vans are, obviously, in much better condition mechanically and looks, so that is a plus. Also, the new vans do not have the hydraulic doors or ramps so we will not have the issues with the hydraulics like we have had in the past, which has taken one of the vans out of commission from time to time. We are very excited about the new vans!” said Amy Thompson, assisted living director. The transportation team, which consists of five assisted living staff members, will use the vans to transport residents to family functions, doctor appointments or the hospital and take labs to the clinics. KDOT, continued on page 5
Salina Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® call for entries underway Salina Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held 1-4 p.m. March 19-20, 2019. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2020 Art is Ageless calendar. Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2014). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by March 8.
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. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Desi Flerlage, executive director Jenni Jones, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Jenni Jones, jjones@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-825-1366 Fax: 785-825-6554 Address: 2601 E. Crawford, Salina, KS 67401-3898 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. SalinaPresbyterianManor.org
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The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through
Local competition winners will join winners from 16 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged at the systemwide level. In addition to the exhibit, Salina Presbyterian Manor will honor local senior artists during a reception at the community from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21. Entry forms and information can be picked up at Salina Presbyterian Manor, 2601 East Crawford, Salina, or by contacting Jenni Jones at 785825-1366 or jjones@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online.
Employee of the Month: Shelly Korte Congratulations to Shelly Korte, Employee of the Month for February. Shelly has worked for Salina Presbyterian Manor for 17 and-a-half years. She has worked as a CMA and a Transportation Aide. She is married to Norbert Korte and has 9 children: Christina, Josh, Jacob, Amy, Deen, Joshua, Caleb, Josiah and Jarrett. In her spare time, she likes to read and spend time with her family.
Community Matters March 2019
its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.
When asked what most people would not know about her she said that she has seven grandchildren— Emily, Elizabeth, Justin, Chyanne, Naomi, Anthony and Marlyne. We are so proud to have Shelly as part of our team. Like us on Facebook
Dining Services Director Keith Brown elevates meal planning to an artform at Salina Presbyterian Manor.
Good enough to eat: Dishing on dining services As we celebrate National Nutrition Month, we’re putting the spotlight on a few members of our dining services team who work tirelessly to provide residents with nutritious and delicious meals every day. Keith Brown, dining services director Keith has worked as the dining services director for three years and is responsible for anything and everything related to food and nutrition on campus. By working with residents and listening to their feedback, Keith plans menus based on their likes and wants. “It’s a continuous job as likes and wants change as we have new residents move in. My goal is to always produce food that our residents and guests can enjoy. We also make sure that our menu offerings are of a wide variety,” said Keith. Like us on Facebook
A few dishes that residents continue to rave about are the homemade fried chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, and meatloaf. “Our steak dinners are by far the most popular event we do,” Keith said. But Keith doesn’t make these dishes alone. “I want to thank my awesome staff. A lot of us have worked together for a while now and have built great relationships. I appreciate their willingness to always build off our mistakes and utilize our strengths to make this a better place. I appreciate the ideas they give in all aspects of our department, from new recipe ideas to new ways of completing various tasks. Without them, it would be much more of a struggle and they deserve all the recognition.”
Pam Bolte, dining services supervisor In her role as dining services supervisor for the past year, Pam is responsible for ordering the food for the menu, keeping the kitchen running smoothly, and getting room tray tickets ready for residents to fill out. From Pam’s perspective, some of the favorite meals on campus are the beef taco salad, chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes and the baked potato bar. “We work very hard every day to serve top quality meals to the residents and do as much homemade and from scratch as we can,” Pam said. Marcia Ptacek, RDN LD For the past two years, Marcia has DINING, continued on page 5 Salina Presbyterian Manor
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Tai Chi improves physical, mental health one breath at a time In addition to chair aerobics, weight training, treadmills and bicycles, residents are discovering the many benefits of Tai Chi. “Tai Chi improves stability, reduces chronic pain, helps prevent falls, reduces stress, increases oxygen flow, enhances mental capacity and concentration, reduces blood pressure and alleviates arthritis pain,” said Cathy Boos, life enrichment director. The benefits are endless and can be felt almost immediately.
“In the Western world, we usually separate our mind and body. For example, people exercise while watching TV. We were meant to be in touch with our bodies, and when we go away from this union, our bodies don’t function well. Tai Chi works to help the student slow down and take part in the moment. Most people feel better physically and mentally with a simple change in the way they breathe. Concentrating on breath and breathing is also an important part of Tai Chi,” said Leslie Hargis, certified Tai Chi instructor.
Leslie teaches Tai Chi to residents every Thursday at 10 a.m. in the lower level. “The people who attend my class at Salina Presbyterian Manor are a fun group. I’ve enjoyed getting to know some of their backgrounds as well as knowing what physical limitations they may be dealing with. I try to individualize my instruction to reflect what the group is interested in,” said Leslie. Experience the benefits of Tai Chi yourself and join us for a class!
Thank you, generous Angel Appeal donors Established in the 1950s, the Good Samaritan Program provides funding to assist residents who outlive their financial resources through no fault of their own. Since the inception of our mission, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America has ensured thousands of residents of its commitment that they will always have a home. To continue to meet the growing need among seniors in our communities, we invited donors to become an “angel for a day” by making a contribution to the Good Samaritan Program over the Christmas holiday. In exchange for a donation to this program, a bell was placed on our Christmas tree as a reminder of their generosity. The 2018 Angel Appeal raised $5,365 for the Good Samaritan Program in our community! We are honored by the staff and residents who so strongly identify with the heart of Presbyterian Manor’s
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Community Matters March 2019
mission that they give to the fund. Thank you, angels, for donating to the 2018 Angel Appeal! Mr. Arthur W. Adams, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Andrla A-Plus Lawn & Tree Care, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Danforth W. Austin Ms. Valeta Bivins Ms. Hazel Brown Ms. Lori Christensen Ms. Karen Collins Mr. and Mrs. Ed Crawford Mrs. Meghan Diehl Mr. and Mrs. Greg Downs Mr. and Mrs. William R. Dreese Ms. Patricia L. Dutrack Mrs. Pauline L. Eaton Mrs. Carolyn Eland Mrs. Mary Beth Engleman Ms. Kim Fair Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Ferson Ms. Barbara Greenwood Mr. and Mrs. James N. Hock Mr. Joseph Hodges Mrs. Carol Hoff
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Houck Dr. Perry U. Hunsley Mr. and Mrs. John Hunt Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones Mrs. Nancy L. King Mr. William P. Knox Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kriks Rev. and Mrs. Loren Marler Ms. Susan Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Mermis Mr. and Mrs. Dennis C. Oakes Mr. Brian R. Palmer Mr. and Mrs. Mark Reese Mr. and Mrs. Lewis F. Reid Mr. and Mrs. Larry Root Mr. and Mrs. Andrew E. Rueb, Jr. Mr. Jerry V. Schuetz Shannon and Michael Spangler Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Stutterheim Mr. Gilbert and Mrs. Carolyn Urban Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Vince Waddle’s Heating & Cooling, Inc. Mrs. Patricia A. Weber Ms. Denise Weiss Mr. Mark and Mrs. Carolyn Zimmerman Like us on Facebook
March Activities March 5—Ladies Breakfast
March 22—Applebee’s, HC/AL
March 5—Grief & Loss Support Group
March 26—Coffee Club – Ad Astra
March 6—Salina Art Center – Sunflower Biennial Exhibit
March 26—Gina’s Intergenerational Art Class
March 8—Rib Crib – AL/HC Trip
March 26—Cancer Support Group
March 11—Ladies Lunch Club – March 26—Literary Ladies Applebee’s March 28—Bishop Gerald Vincke Mass March 12—Wine & Cheese Birthday Social March 28—Freddy’s – MC trip March 13—Old Chicago – MC Trip
March 31—Salina Symphony, Beethoven & Brahms, Stiefel March 14—Shopping at Walmart Theatre March 18—Travel & Taste – Red ** Activities subject to change Lobster
March 19—21- Art is Ageless March 20—Men’s Breakfast
For information, contact Cathy Boos, life enrichment director, at cboos@pmma.org or 785-8251366, ext.1140.
KDOT, continued from page 1
“They do an amazing job getting our residents to and from appointments and picking up the new admissions for our PATH program from the hospitals,” said Amy. “They are all so friendly. They get to spend time with the residents outside of Presbyterian Manor, so they get to build a great trust relationship with the residents. They are all appreciated by the residents and staff. They are really excited to use the new vans.” “These vans mean we can continue to provide all of our residents with any transportation needs they may have safely and comfortably,” said Desi. “These vans mean staff can load and unload wheelchairs more quickly without causing additional strain to their own bodies, and since they were received through a grant, they mean that we get to spend the money we saved in other ways to help us continually improve the quality of care we provide.”
DINING, continued from page 3
made weekly visits to our community as a consultant dietitian where she assesses and monitors the nutritional needs of residents, assists in developing menus, completes sanitation and safety inspections, educates staff and assists the dining services director in maintaining compliance with all state and federal guidelines. While her career spans more than 30 years, she has spent the past 11 years providing consulting Like us on Facebook
services at several long-term care and assisted living communities throughout the state.
eating provides the best quality of life.” Do you have feedback for the dining services team? Share it!
“My goal first and foremost is to meet the residents’ nutritional needs and to always listen to the resident’s “We appreciate all the feedback, good and bad. With the information voice,” said Marcia. we get, we truly take it to heart and From a nutritional standpoint, make decisions based off the input. Marcia advises that, “the best diet We are always learning and building includes variety and moderations off our strengths and weaknesses and what is sustainable for the long to make the experience better term.You must be mindful of your for anyone who eats in our dining body and decide what lifestyle of rooms,” said Keith. Salina Presbyterian Manor
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MUSINGS, continued from page 1
Hospice
educational experiences that have taught me much, and I have several good resources that I think are most helpful as they look at this season of their lives and decisions they need to have in place for the next transitions of their lives.
Competence
I am going to begin offering a series of “Caring Conversations” using materials from The Unbroken Circle and Caring Conversations. These could be individual conversations with you and your family, or I could do group conversations. We think of these conversations as taking place primarily with older people, and it is important to have these conversations, but in reality, they are for everyone because illness can strike anyone at any age. In our conversations, we will spend time reflecting, exploring quality of life and basic health care decisions, defining terminology, and understanding which documents and decisions should be in place. For some, this process can be very difficult. I believe that if we are well informed then we can make the decisions. I think there is no greater gift that you can give to your loved ones than a clear understanding of your wishes. Check the box if you know what these are: Durable Power of Attorney Living Will Do Not Resuscitate Advance Directives Palliative Care
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Community Matters March 2019
If you were unable to check all the boxes, then perhaps “Caring Conversations” would be a good opportunity for you. If you’d like to set up a time for us to talk, you can reach me by phone, 785-825-1366 ext. 1153, or email mbridges@ pmma.org. I believe these well-known words from Ecclesiastes sum up life pretty well. Life continuously changes. Some changes we cannot stop from happening. Nevertheless, some can be better if we are better prepared for them. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. —Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
In Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction, we have partnered with Pinnacle Quality Insight. This company will periodically contact the people we serve via telephone to conduct an interview regarding their impression of our service. We use this feedback as a tool to continually improve our quality of care and enhance our relationships. When you are contacted to participate in the survey, they will always identify themselves specifically as being with Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. We greatly value your opinions and encourage you to be frank and honest when contacted.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
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