Sterling June 2017 Community Matters

Commun ty Matters Sterling Presbyterian Manor

COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:

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We will be featuring employees who have continued their education with Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica’s help in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about an employee you know is continuing their education, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share your story.

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

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June 2017

Recognition a phenomenal success

Michael Rajewski introduces scholarship recipients Cindy Moore and Betsy Geddes.

Thank you to all of the donors and volunteers who attended our recent donor recognition at Studio 96 in downtown Sterling. Miss Kansas Kendall Schoenekase was the keynote speaker, and she shared a wonderful message about her life and how she became Miss Kansas.

She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BSN. She was called to be a nurse after two grandparents were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer when she was in high school. Nurses offered care and comfort not only to her grandparents but to the family. It was at that time she knew she wanted to touch lives and help people.

Scholarship opportunities led Kendall to compete in the Miss Johnson County and Miss Kansas competitions. She dreams of getting her doctorate in nursing, and she has been accepted at Belmont University.

We also talked about her platform, “Stay Alive: Don’t Text and Drive.” She has traveled all over the state and partnered with several organizations to share this important message with Kansas’ youth.

Executive Director Mike Rajewski introduced scholarship recipients Betsy Geddes and Cindy Moore. Each shared her story about the impact education assistance funds have had on their careers.

Bruce Shogren, president and CEO of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, shared his heartfelt gratitude with volunteers and donors. “Without them, Recognition continued on page 2

Recognition continued from page

our mission would not be fulfilled and have a meaningful impact on so many lives.”

Lastly, Sarah Oenning, director of development, thanked the donors for the impact their gifts have on the local community. On average, 24 seniors living at Sterling Presbyterian Manor continue to receive care and services in part because of the generosity of the community. Miss Kansas even took the time to visit with several residents at Presbyterian Manor while she was in Sterling.

Thank you to our special leadership volunteers for your service on the Community Advisory Council.

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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

Our featured guest was Miss Kansas Kendall Schoenekase. Kennedy Grizzle, the 9-yearold niece of Donna Grizzle, formed a friendship with Miss Kansas.

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Art brings hope and healing after accident damages vision

It happened more than 30 years ago, but it’s something that affected Alden resident Linda Skinner every day since.

“I was with my daughter and a friend, putting things in a pickup, when the topper blew up and hit me in the head, causing a concussion and damaging both of my eyes. It took doctors a while to figure out what was going on with my eyes. Eventually, they sent me up to the junior college to see if some art therapy might help strengthen my eyes. I had extreme eye fatigue, within a few seconds, rather than in a few minutes.

And my eyes were switching dominance, causing dizziness and difficulty doing daily tasks. So I took drawing and painting classes, and noticed that when I wasn’t doing them regularly, my eyes would get worse. Through this process, we also discovered that I’m partially color blind, so I took color therapy classes, too,” said Linda.

While her artistic journey started differently than most, the pleasure, peace and health benefits are similar to what a lot of artists experience.

“My paintings don’t have that much depth, and my instructors have told me I paint more in the Japanese style because of my color blindness. I’m actually better at drawing but don’t like it as much. My art teacher worked with my eye doctor and we discovered that pink glasses

bring in some colors I don’t see, and that helps. I also have a prism in my glasses that holds my eyes in place, or one swings up and one swings down.”

In spite of all the challenges with her vision she’s endured, Linda continues to find joy through art, and recently won an award for “best amateur painting” Sterling Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless program.

“I was so shocked when I actually won something! I enjoy art.

It heals something inside me. Playing with it just for yourself does a lot of good, even if nobody else sees it. I do enjoy the Art is Ageless program. I’ve been doing it since 2014, after seeing a flyer at the Manor. I was bringing my mom there for physical therapy.”

Linda lives with her mother, who just turned 99, and enjoys spending time with her family, which includes a son and daughter, four granddaughters and two great grandsons. Her grandchildren enjoy painting with her occasionally, and a creative streak runs in her family.

“One of my grandmothers used to do art for Hallmark Cards. She would do a painting and send it in. If they accepted it for one of their cards, they sent her money for it.

And my mom’s grandfather did a lot of art, and corresponded with people around the world.”

Congratulations to Linda, and all participants, on their Art is Ageless endeavors!

“Art keeps me going. It’s the joy of being able to participate. I love talking to the other artists to see what they’re doing.”

STERLING PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3

Founder's Day Festivities

Residents and staff were treated to a taco and potato bar to celebrate Founder's Day, marking Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America's 68 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri.

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

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Return Service Requested

To honor our nursing assistants, our residents gave our CNAs and CMAs superlatives — special terms of endearment that describe a unique aspect about each person.

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Ashley Britton: Home Grown Kylee Cornelius: Most Lovable Marva Dykhuizen: Night Owl Laticia Fierro: Keeps the Best Company Robbin Green: Most Efficient Bonnie Henak: Most Serious Jaiden Hess: Most Down to Earth Barbara Hoskinson: Most Accommodating Kisha James: Most Likely to Save a Kitten Heather Labertew: Best Sense of Humor Mikaela Mayes: Best Hair

Jeanine McClain: Energizer Bunny Dani McNeal: Most Personalities Lisa Meyer: MVP Leslie Moore: Stinkiest Feet Madison Morgan: Brand New Jessica Myers: Best Kept Secret Flor Olivares: Best Saturday Night Dancer Kassie Pyburn: Ms. Smartie Pants Nancy Vance: Works like a Horse Hannah Vogt: Sweetie Pie Sherry Whitehead- Mother Teresa