Topeka Community Matters September 2017

Commun ty Matters Topeka Presbyterian Manor

September 2017

Senior living 101 Wondering if senior living is right for you? Learn what life is really like at Presbyterian Manor Sept. 28.

Meet members of the dining services, maintenance, housekeeping, and activities staff to find out what they do to make every resident feel at home. Find out how peace of mind and security can enhance your quality of life at Topeka Presbyterian Manor.

“Topeka Presbyterian Manor 101” will begin at 2 p.m. Sept. 28 at Topeka Presbyterian Manor, 4712 SW Sixth. It is part of Presbyterian Manor’s Just Ask series, a free, ongoing lifelong learning program featuring information from local, regional and national experts on topics of interest to older adults and their families.

For information about Topeka Presbyterian Manor, contact Marketing Director Chelsea Watgen at 785-272-6510 or cwatgen@ pmma.org.

PATH® helps Margaret Phillips return home When independent living resident Margaret Phillips began having some health challenges, including vertigo, she worried about whether she’d be able to return to the same level of care at Topeka Presbyterian Manor after being in the hospital for a week.

“When I’d stand up, I’d go forward or backward, so walking was very difficult,” said Margaret. “But I came to the PATH® program, and they had machines I could work on to strengthen myself. After being in the hospital so long, I’d lost some strength.”

PATH, or Post Acute to Home, is a program of Topeka Presbyterian Manor that offers rehabilitation services to residents or community members with a goal of returning home. And for Margaret, “home” was back in independent living.

“I was in PATH for about three weeks, and it was so nice because my friends from independent living could come see me. And I can continue with my therapy now, so I keep progressing. Being back home among my friends is great, and the PATH staff was sure nice to me,” said Margaret.

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One of the things Margaret looked forward to was sewing again.

“They have a sewing group here, and I just love to sew. My niece brought me a sewing machine, and I can help with the lap quilts the group volunteers to make. We’ve made almost 500 since a year ago. Some we’ve given to hospice, and some to other care homes, and we’ve even given some to the humane shelter for new puppies to go home with, and to the sheriff’s department to carry for stressful situations,” said Margaret. “It’s so pleasant to get back to my normal way of living.

I would recommend the PATH program to friends and family who need somewhere to recover.”

Tiny, Lucky and Evette from our dining services department are looking sharp in their new chef coats!

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WELCOME

PROJECT Heather Pilkinton, executive director Chelsea Watgen, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Chelsea Watgen, marketing director, at cwatgen@pmma.org.

Life is better when you’re surrounded by friends.

If you know of friends who are interested in the independent living or assisted living lifestyle you enjoy here, providing their names could lead to rewards—for both of you.

Pick up a referral form in the marketing office. *Certain restrictions apply.

For complete details, contact the Marketing Office.

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Community Matters September 2017

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A September of celebrations!

There are many components to managing a successful senior living community, and we celebrate two very important pieces during the month of September. The 10th through the 16th is Assisted Living Week and Housekeeping Week!

Hooray for housekeeping Perhaps the most under-sung heroes of senior living communities are housekeeping departments. These professionals do more than just clean, as Housekeeping and Laundry Supervisor Stacey Backer will tell you.

“Some people think it’s simple; you just go clean. But you have to have a bond with the residents.You’re building trust. It’s a very personal thing, to clean someone’s living area,” said Stacey. “Our team knows that and has built amazing relationships with residents and each other. It’s a great team, and not just housekeeping. When dietary or nursing have a need, we help whenever we can.”

Stacey has been at Topeka Presbyterian Manor for seven years, and she has worked in the field since she was 16.

“My favorite part about my job is taking care of the residents’ needs. There’s a joy in doing the smallest thing or cleaning something so simple. It makes them so happy to have something done that they normally would have done, but can’t any longer. That’s what keeps us all going.”

All about assisted living Director of Assisted Living and Home Health Nancy Riddle has nearly seen it all in her 25 years at Topeka Presbyterian Manor.

“Our longevity of staff is really pretty amazing. One of our aides has been here for more than 40 years!” said Nancy.

“We’re very proud of our assisted living department and the role we play. We have nurses on duty 24 hours a day and provide things residents may not find elsewhere, like diabetic care, an activity program, a weekly chapel and Bible study, and access to physical therapy through Aegis.”

Under Nancy’s leadership, the assisted living team fulfills Presbyterian Manor’s mission and improves residents’ quality of life. “Our staff is dedicated, and we have a family-like, resident-centered environment,” said Nancy. “Our reward is that we enjoy what we’re doing. I just feel like we all do the right thing, even when no one is looking.”

Topeka Presbyterian Manor

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

Share your gratitude...

We will feature gratitude in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story about how gratitude has shaped you, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share the story.

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

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Community Matters September 2017

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