Sterling Community Matters February 2016

Commun ty Matters Sterling Presbyterian Manor

Sterling starts own healthy initiatives

“Biggest Loser” competitions are all the rage these days in relation to weight loss. While the local wellness center offers a similar competition, many of the Sterling Presbyterian Manor employees do not live in Sterling, making it difficult to go to both weigh-ins and pay for a membership fee to be a part of their competition.

Sterling Presbyterian Manor Health Services Director Betsy Geddes and Activity Director Jon Van Veldhuizen decided they wanted to offer a lowcost option to encourage their co-workers to eat healthy, be active and lose weight.

“We wanted to remove financial barriers to staff competing,” Van Veldhuizen said. “We wanted to make those participating excited and give them something to strive for (apart from being healthier) so we decided to go with a $5.00 fee to participate.”

Staff are competing in pairs and the winning team and winning individual win a cash prize. To keep things fair, the winners will be based on percentage of their beginning weight lost. Additional funds are added each week to the “pot” as participants pay for gaining weight or declining to weigh-in for a particular week.

“Early signs show to this program being a success and I am sure we will do this again, [Jon] and I are talking

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February 2016

100 reasons to celebrate

We’re pleased to announce the newest members of the 100 club!

Miss Clarice Phillips turned 100 on Monday, December 28, 2015. She was joined by family and friends to celebrate her special day!

Gerald Proffitt celebrated his 100th on January 5. He had a big celebration which gathered more than 200 family and friends.

Clarice Phillips joined the elite group of 100 year olds on December 28, 2015.

Gerald Proffitt turned 100 on January 5, 2016.

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Delicious change comes to Sterling Presbyterian Manor On TV, billboards, magazines, and everywhere in between, the topic is inescapable. And while we all share this common need, we don’t all share the same tastes.

Some like more spice, others like more sweet, and here at Presbyterian Manor, most of the residents agreed a change was needed in the food offerings available.

Food.

“We did a resident survey earlier in the year, and unfortunately, food scored low with both residents and

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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Sterling Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of

501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Mike Rajewski, executive director Cindy Moore, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact cmoore@pmma.org.

Telephone: 620-278-3651 Fax: 620-278-3581 Address: 204 W. Washington, Sterling, KS 67579-1614 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

SterlingPresbyterianManor.org

2 COMMUNITY MATTERS FEBRUARY 2016

employees. But that’s why we do surveys. We genuinely want to know areas where we can improve,” said Karen Smith, QA Nurse. “We started a process improvement team (PIT) in August, and our first couple of meetings were very well attended by residents and employees. We generated a good list of opportunities for improvement, and had input from all areas.”

From that initial meeting, some menu items were eliminated completely, and more options were added to the “always available” menu that’s offered daily as an alternative to that day’s options. There were also tweaks made to the salad bar, like more fresh fruit options instead of canned.

“Once we established the Fall and Winter menu with the help of the team, we had meetings each week for the first four weeks to review what we had and how it was received. We even took photos of each day’s food to refresh our memories. As the menu rolled out, we got very helpful feedback right away,” said Karen.

Another way residents give feedback

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is through comment cards, which are available on each table in the dining area.

“We get both good and bad feedback, which is helpful.

Lately, comments have really dropped off, which we see as a good sign that the new menu options are well received. We also have asked for resident recipes, especially from those in the independent living cottages, who still enjoy cooking for themselves,” said Karen.

While Karen has only been at Presbyterian Manor a year in March, she’s proud of the positive impact this process has made on the residents already.

“Food is often one of their last life choices they have. It’s about quality of life, especially if they’re offered things to eat they don’t like. We heard they wanted more homemade things, and less ‘just heat it up’ food, so that’s what we’ve done. We’ll have another menu rollout in the Spring, and we’ll go through this process again. It’s a pleasure being able to work with residents to ensure their dining desires are met to their satisfaction.”

about introducing a smoking cessation program next,” Geddes said.

These are things not at all foreign to Jon Van Veldhuizen; his graduate degree is in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and he has even taught an undergraduate class on the topic of Worksite Health Promotion. “[Worksite Health Promotion] is something that can make a difference at the workplace in so many ways,”Van Veldhuizen said. “And I really hope this program’s success will lead to other opportunities.”

Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® call for entries underway

Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held March 21-25, 2016.

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 2017 Art is Ageless calendar. from talented seniors,” said Cindy The Art is Ageless® Program Moore, marketing director. “We’re encourages Sterling Presbyterian Manor expecting this to be another great year residents and other area seniors to for creativity and variety of works on express their creativity through its exhibit.” annual competition, as well as art Local competition winners will join classes, musical and dramatic events, winners 17 other Presbyterian educational opportunities and current Manors of Mid-America communities events discussions throughout the year. to be judged at the systemwide level.

Having a creative outlet benefits the mind, body and spirit.

“The exhibit and competition always draw a wide array of impressive artwork

Entry forms and information can be picked up at Sterling Presbyterian Manor, 204 W. Washington, Sterling, or by contacting Moore at 620-278-

The arts are alive in Sterling

You don’t have to be an “artist” to enjoy art.

“When I am leading an art-related activity, I hear all kinds of reasons not to participate. Most frequently I hear ‘I am not an artist,' but my request is that they at least try,” Activity Director Jon Van Veldhuizen remarked. “While I generally offer activities based on the interest of our residents, it is nice to have a curveball now and again.”

Over the past year the Sterling Presbyterian Manor residents have participated in various art projects:

3651 or cmoore@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online.

Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2011). 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 3 p.m. March 18, 2016.

painting birdhouses, painting ornaments, painting pumpkins, making tile coasters, sand art, and even molding with clay. Oil painting has also been popular, with Maintenance Supervisor Roger Riggs sharing his passion and talent with the residents several times throughout the year.Yes, the arts are alive at the Sterling Presbyterian Manor. If you find yourself needing a change at least try some art.

STERLING PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3

Fond, festive memories

While a new year has begun and we're looking forward to all that it brings, we remember festive memories of the holidays just a few short months ago.

Some call holiday sweaters festive, while others call them “ugly.” Whatever your taste, it sure is fun to pull them out of the closet and show them off every December. We had our own “Ugly Sweater” contest, and it came in close between Donna Grizzle and Laticia Fierro as the finalists.

Laticia pulled ahead for the win.The evening also consisted of a pot luck dinner, door prizes and a white elephant gift exchange. The Christmas committee did a great job of organizing and planning a nice time for the employees.

(SEE PHOTOS BELOW)

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:

Everyone has a story to tell

It’s time to celebrate volunteerism. How have you answered the call to be a volunteer? How have volunteers helped you in a time of need? Why do you think volunteers are so important? How have you benefited from being a volunteer?

If you’ve got a story to share about volunteering, contact Cindy Moore and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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Sterling Presbyterian Manor 204 W. Washington Sterling, KS 67579-1614

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