Commun ty Matters Topeka Presbyterian Manor
July 2016
Start painting ... at any age! By Heidi Raschke for Next Avenue
Megan Jackson is the kind of person people describe as an old soul. “It’s hard for me to really connect in my own age group, and that’s always been the case,” says the painter who created an untitled work selected for publication by Next Avenue (see page 4). “I’ve always had older friends.” Before Jackson created this work of painting and collage, she wasn’t familiar with the terms “artful aging” or “creative aging” — which refer to the practice of engaging older adults in participatory, professionally run arts programs with a focus on social engagement and skills mastery. But she knew many people who were living it. “Anyone — anyone — can be an artist.You hear people all the time say, ‘Oh, I don’t have any artistic talent,’ which is not true,” Jackson says. “You just have to do it whether you think you have talent or not, you have to get out there and try it.” Jackson offers two tips on how you, too, can let go of the pressure and get started doing art: ART, continued on page 4
Chef Carrie Lewellen creates menus incorporating fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Carrie’s in the kitchen ‘I truly love to feed people good food’ If you haven’t yet had a chance to meet one of the newest staff members at Topeka Presbyterian Manor, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced her talents first-hand. Chef Carrie Lewellen came on board just over three months ago and has been cooking up new ways to tempt your taste buds ever since. “I truly just love to feed people good food,” said Carrie. That’s why she meets weekly with residents to get their feedback on meals she’s prepared, meals they’d like to try and meals they don’t ever wish to have again. “I get to come up with my own menu every week which I really enjoy doing.” CARRIE, continued on page 2