Topeka Presbyterian Manor
SEPTEMBER 2019
Topeka Presbyterian Manor’s housekeeping team works hard, and their efforts can be seen throughout the community.
Outstanding staff works hard, smart
The therapy staff at Topeka Presbyterian Manor help residents regain independence after surgery or illness.
Therapy staff an important part of helping residents live life to the fullest
Topeka Presbyterian Manor therapists are often the unsung heroes of care provided to temporary and long-term residents, but their services are essential to helping people regain independence after surgery or illness. Trisha Behr, director of therapy, said her staff provides therapy services to residents in Health Care as well as Assisted Living and Independent Living residents. They also offer free screening services to AL and IL as a wellness service. Therapists are an important part of helping residents maintain their highest level of mobility and function so they can live their life to the Heroes - continued on page 2
International Housekeepers Week falls on Sept. 8-14 this year, and Topeka Presbyterian Manor would like to take the opportunity to thank all housekeeping staff for their outstanding efforts and a job well done. Stacey Backer, housekeeping/ laundry supervisor, said housekeeping’s job is simple: Maintain a clean and safe living environment for residents. But it’s also essential to the health of residents and staff, and it helps the entire community run smoothly. “The other departments function easier and safer when working in a clean environment,” she said. Stacey said it’s important for housekeeping staff to take pride in their work, be willing to learn and communicate well. Her staff has all that in spades. ◆
Topeka Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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Topeka Presbyterian Manor artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners One winning artist in Topeka Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2020 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica). Special thanks to the many individuals and organizations that share resources so that our mission thrives. The names below are donors who gave a gift of $50 or more from February 1 through June 30, 2019. Mrs. Janice L. Adams Mrs. Arliss R. Douglass Ms. LaNelle Frey Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Gillespie Mr. John H. Stauffer Mr. Mike Urban
“Jasper the Peacock,” a sculpture/3-D entry by Dorothy Jeffries, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall. “Stormy Sky,” a painting by Ron Persing, will be featured on the new pull-out postcards in the 2020 calendar. In addition, “A Fuchsia Spring,” a painting by Pauline Knittel, will appear on Art is Ageless greeting cards. Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 16 other PMMA communities. More than 190 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards. Art is Ageless, open exclusively to people age 65 and older, is a copyrighted program of PMMA. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Topeka Presbyterian Manor residents and area seniors. ◆
Top: “Jasper the Peacock,” a sculpture/3-D entry by Dorothy Jeffries, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall. Above: “Stormy Sky,” a painting by Ron Persing, will be featured on the new pull-out postcards in the 2020 calendar.
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TOPEKA Presbyterian Manor
785-272-6510 ◆ Fax: 785-272-0496 4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 TopekaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2019
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Topeka Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizaton.
To submit or suggest articles: cwatgen@PMMA.org Heather Pilkinton, executive director Chelsea Watgen, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Memorial Butterfly Garden a place to reflect on the beauty of life
The Memorial Butterfly Garden at Topeka Presbyterian Manor provides a serene spot for residents and staff to enjoy the beauty of nature while paying tribute to friends and family members.
Kay Jones, a Presbyterian Manor resident for six years, along with her husband Stephan, began thinking about establishing the garden in 2014 at the suggestion of her children, who were building their own butterfly gardens. The focus of the project took on new meaning when fellow resident Joyce Smith passed away in a car accident in 2014. Kay got permission to also make it a memorial garden, where residents can place plaques in honor of friends or family members who have passed. Maintenance staff built the garden in the courtyard near the dining room patio in the spring of 2015, and Kay and her children brought in milkweed, parsley and other butterfly-friendly plants. Since then, a bench has been placed Heroes - continued from page 1
fullest. Trisha said the team at Topeka Manor is exceptional because they take pride in producing real and lasting results and building meaningful relationships with residents, families and staff. “Some of us have been here for many years, and we have a great relationship with the residents,” Trisha said. “They are very open to coming to us when they have a concern or potential need for therapy services.”
The Memorial Butterfly Garden at Topeka Presbyterian Manor provides a serene spot to pay tribute and enjoy the beauty of nature. in the garden for comfort and a concrete path was constructed for ease of access. “People can sit there and read and enjoy being outside for a while,” Kay said, adding that visitors are encouraged to look for caterpillars, chrysalis or other signs of developing butterflies. Residents and staff can also use the area as a place to remember and honor those in their lives who have passed on. For the $10 cost of production, Kay said, a Topeka Trisha said her team’s key to success is also communicating well with each other and community staff. “Everyone has a different level of experience and knows who they can go to with questions,” she said. “We have open communication and everyone on the team knows what is expected of them.” Along with the entire Presbyterian Manor, Trisha would like to say thank you to the therapy staff. “You guys do an amazing job,” she said. “The results show in our residents!” ◆
company will make a plaque that features a loved one’s name, date of passing and image of a butterfly to be placed in the garden. “It doesn’t have to be a resident here,” Kay said. “It can be a family member or anyone. It could be a parent or a child or grandchild. Sometimes having a name there to remember is comfort to a lot of people.” Resident Anne Rhoads has donated several times to make the memorial butterfly garden a reality in honor of her granddaughter Stephanie Anne, a KU graduate who passed away in her early 20s after falling ill. “Giving to support the garden is a loving way to honor our dear Stephanie,” said Anne. “She was very smart. We miss her charm. She was very special, of course.” Anne said she appreciates Kay’s dedication to establishing the garden. “I think that Kay is a marvelous leader,” she said. “She’s just admirable.” For more information on the garden or memorial plaques, contact Kay Jones at 785-817-2775. ◆
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TOPEKA Presbyterian Manor
4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2019