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Commun ty Matters Topeka Presbyterian Manor

February 2015

Emerald Awards Program honors Presbyterian Manor Topeka Presbyterian Manor received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica for reaching goals in fiscal year 2014, July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014. The recognition came through PMMA’s new Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 18 locations to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards. To receive an emerald, a campus has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. Certificates of recognition were given out to campuses that reached their goals in one or more category. Topeka was recognized for achieving a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. “This recognition is a visible sign of Topeka Presbyterian Manor’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA. HONOR, continued on page 2

Kathy Hurla, left, and Pat Stallbaumer are longtime friends and Presbyterian Manor volunteers whose passion for helping others has stitched them together.

Stitched together Longtime friends sew special memories Kathy Hurla and Pat Stallbaumer’s friendship spans nearly half a century, and their bond has been stitched together more than 30 of those years by special time they spend together every week at Topeka Presbyterian Manor. “We went to church together at St. Aloysius in Meridan. My youngest at the time was in Kindergarten, and all her kids were in school, too,” said Kathy. “We signed up with some kind of neighborhood outreach program to do volunteer work, and they matched up with Presbyterian Manor. We initially started visiting residents who didn’t have any family members, but then once they discovered we were quilters, the sewing group took off from there.” Pat and Kathy have been coming to Presbyterian Manor nearly every Wednesday morning for three decades, and their sewing group has ebbed SEW, continued on page 2

SEW, continued from page 1

and flowed from one to 14 members. “We have a pretty informal group. Residents who are interested in sewing can come join us, and we mostly make lap robes, which are like small quilts. All of our material is donated. We just keep making them, and once everyone here has one, we find others who might need them,” Kathy said. “We’ve donated them to other nursing homes and even to children with special needs. Some members have given them to grandchildren as baby blankets.” Even though Pat and Kathy generously give of their time and talents every week, they feel like the ones who are getting something in return. “We love it and miss it if we can’t be here for some reason,” Kathy said. “We’re all like family. We talk and laugh and reminisce. We even bring a birthday cake, or cookies, or whatever the resident requests to celebrate with them.” We appreciate Pat and Kathy for their dedication and all their contributions over the last 30 years.

From left, PMMA CEO Bruce Shogren, Topeka Presbyterian Manor Health Care Director Christie Patrick, Executive Director Tom Bechtel and PMMA COO Doug Yoder. HONOR, continued from page 1

Stop by for sweet treats February is a month to show others how much they’re loved, and Myrtle Brown has set up a special display at her door to show how much she cares. Stop by to grab a sweet treat and say hello while you’re there!

Community Matters February 2015

Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica is celebrating 65 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri. For information about Topeka Presbyterian Manor, contact Marketing Director Marsha Anderson at 785-272-6510 or manderson@pmma.org.

New community arises from growing senior needs This month, we continue to look back at 65 years of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America with the birth of Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan. This month, we continue our look back at 65 years of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America with the birth of Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan.

the project. Dr. Robert Meneilly steered a committee of local and church leaders in the “Building for Our Future” campaign for Aberdeen Village.

In 1996, Presbyterians in Johnson County were convinced there was a need for a new Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in the Greater Kansas City area, and specifically in Johnson County. At the time, there were no Christian-based nonprofit senior living communities offering the full continuum of care in Johnson County.

The project included a threestory building for 90 independent living apartments, 44 assisted living suites in a twostory building, and a 60-bed health care center with 15 spaces reserved for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

A 37-acre tract of land just east of West 119th Street and Ridgeview Road in Olathe was donated for

Construction began in 1999. Aberdeen Village opened its doors in May 2001 as the 17th campus for Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica.

“Be of Good Cheer” committee members honoring the work of Dr. Bob Meneilly.

Construction is underway on Aberdeen Village.

Coming Up in Community Matters Community Matters will be looking forward to the change in seasons to spring and preparing to celebrate Easter. We’re looking for residents with a story to tell. What’s your favorite March Madness memory? Who’s your favorite baseball team? Why? What’s your favorite baseball memory? What does spring mean to you? What do you remember about spring as a child or adult? What’s your favorite Easter memory? If you have a story to tell, contact Marketing Director Marsha Anderson to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.

and enter your email address in the blue box on the right. It’s that easy! Topeka Presbyterian Manor

Topeka Presbyterian Manor 4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 Return Service Requested

Community Matters February 2015