Wichita Presbyterian Manor
JUNE 2020
Mark Ritchey says the day JFK was assassinated was one of the most strange and uncertain days in his life. The Westerly resident went on to become active in the antiwar movement.
Resident Mark Ritchey recalls upheaval of the 1960s
Westerly resident Mark Ritchey vividly remembers historic moments from the 1960s, some of which he observed firsthand.
He was a student of American history at Columbia University in the fall of 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. “We were in a classroom building, waiting for our professor to arrive,” Mark said. “He walked by just as casual as can be and wrote on the chalkboard, ‘No class today. The president has been killed.’” The professor left without saying a word. Mark walked across campus in a daze and lowered a flag to half-staff. “I didn’t know what to do,” Mark said. “One of the main feelings I had was total insecurity.” RITCHEY – continued on page 2
Director of nursing works with her ‘favorite population’ every day “In long-term care, we fall in love with your loved one,” said Susan Cross. “We didn’t know them before, but we do know them now and are honored for the opportunity to be a part of their lives and their family.” Susan joined Wichita Presbyterian Manor in September 2018 as director of nursing. She previously was director of nursing for other senior living communities in the Wichita area. CROSS - continued on page 2
Wichita Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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RITCHEY – continued from page 1
He spent the weekend with the family of his girlfriend, even though they hadn’t been dating long. Columbia canceled classes until after the funeral and held a memorial service on campus.
crowd jeering at a small group of protesters.
attacked protestors.
Mark and his anti-war cohort conducted mini teach-ins in dormitories and organized a strike every spring that shut down the campus.
“We stood there at the intersection chanting, ‘The whole world is watching,’” he said.
Mark doesn’t often think about that time, and never watches documentaries or anniversary specials about the assassination. Recalling it can move him to tears.
“The Vietnam War became more important to me than studying American history,” Mark said. “I learned a great deal about how the world really was.”
After graduation, Mark went on to graduate school at the University of Indiana. Although he had always supported American foreign policy, he joined the antiwar movement on campus after observing a large
He went on to join historic antiwar events such as the 1967 march on the Pentagon. Mark also demonstrated at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, when police brutally
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University of Kansas. She has been married to her husband Rick for 13 years.
She also has experience as a nurse manager and worked in orthopedic and neurological trauma at Via Christi St. Francis. Before entering the health care field, Susan worked as an administrative assistant at Brady Nursery for ten years. She completed the registered nursing program at Pratt Community College and received her bachelor of science in nursing from the
Though she once thought she would spend her career in a hospital setting, Susan has found her niche working in senior living communities. She is passionate about the population she serves. “I’ve found longterm care and skilled rehab settings a good fit for working with my favorite population while utilizing nursing skills,” she said.
Mark was able to avoid the melee.
Vietnam and the struggle to end the war defined Mark’s life. After leaving academia, he earned his teaching certification. He taught math for almost 30 years at Wilbur Middle School in Wichita and served as the president of the teacher’s union. He remains active in local politics and is currently the treasurer for the Wichita branch of the NAACP. “Vietnam is who I am,” Mark said. “It made me.” ◆
The best part of her job is seeing residents thrive and knowing she has a part in making someone’s day a little brighter. She also enjoys it when residents take a direct approach. “I appreciate when a resident speaks honestly and openly to me and expresses their expectations, because that means they’re comfortable and they trust us,” she said. “And that means we’re doing it right.” ◆
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WICHITA Presbyterian Manor
316-942-7456 ◆ Fax: 316-941-3806 4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | June 2020
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: awatson@PMMA.org Amy Watson, life enrichment dir. Courtney Wolfe, executive director Stephanie Bergmann, marketing dir. Cherree Hudspeth, health care sales and marketing
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Satisfaction surveys by Pinnacle Quality Insight As part of Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing customer service initiative, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. Here’s just a sampling of what some respondents shared: “It was definitely our first choice. We did not want to have to move and move again. [Presbyterian] Manor has all of the health care services that we would need. I would tell [people] that we are very happy here.” The graphic highlights some of the survey results. All scores are given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between March 2019 and February 2020, Wichita
Source: Pinnacle Quality Insight (12 month ave. Mar. 2019 - Feb. 2020)
5 4
4.83
4.86
4.89
4.81
Cleanliness
Dignity & Respect
Safety & Security
Recommend to Others
3 2 1
ASSISTED LIVING
INDEPENDENT LIVING
Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in safety and security, showing residents dignity and respect, and cleanliness. In addition, residents and families also reported a high willingness to recommend the community to others.
HEALTH CARE
PATH
We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. ◆
Resident teaches herself how to play piano with help of online videos JoSaille Carmichael has spent the last five years learning how to play piano by following lessons on YouTube.
Music.” Several years ago, she put many of her lessons online, where they have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
Jo is a resident in the assisted living neighborhood at Wichita Presbyterian Manor. She played the piano as a girl, but didn’t continue to play into adulthood.
JoSaille has used the videos to help her re-learn the notes and chords.
Because the teaching method doesn’t require purchasing a lot of sheet music, it works especially well Jo practices on the upright piano in when access to stores is limited and her apartment, even more frequently residents are staying at home. All Jo since COVID-19 limited gatherings. needs to practice is her piano and She follows the YouTube channel of iPad. Jo hopes her story will “strike a chord” with other residents who music teacher Karen Ramirez, who may be a bit bored without group teaches students to play by ear with her book “Playing Music with No activities and visits from family and
During the coronavirus pandemic, assisted living resident JoSaille Carmichael rediscovered her love of the piano. friends. She thinks other residents might find online music lessons will keep them busy and entertained. ◆
Wichita Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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WICHITA Presbyterian Manor
4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 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.
June Dates June 18-24:
National CNA Week June 21:
Father’s Day
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | June 2020
COVID-19 updates continue
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, WichitaPresbyterianManor. org/covid-19. Get the latest information about visitation and restrictions on deliveries and learn more about PMMA’s infection control efforts to contain COVID-19 across the PMMA system. ◆