Wichita Presbyterian Manor
SEPTEMBER 2020
Wichita Presbyterian Manor taking gradual steps to reopen campus, activities With a focus on safety, we are taking gradual steps to resume activities and open our campus. We’ve also become accustomed to discovering creative ways to help our residents remain connected with their family and friends.
Westerly residents are thankful donors “You can’t out-give the Lord,” said Claudia Mann. It’s a lesson she and her husband Jay have learned over the course of their marriage. In October, the Westerly residents will have been tithing as a married couple for 75 years. “Both of us were born into giving families,” Claudia explained.
During a July wedding ceremony, someone carried an iPad down the aisle in place of a Wichita Presbyterian Manor resident, who attended the ceremony in her apartment via Zoom. As a member of the processional, she wore a corsage and ate cake Courtney Wolfe that arrived by delivery. After the reception, the newly married couple visited the campus so they could take a wedding photo together, even though the resident had to stand nine feet away. Her family and the Presbyterian Manor staff worked together to make sure she was included in an event she could not attend due to COVID-19 restrictions. It’s just one example of how staff has worked alongside residents and their families to support resident needs during this time. “We’ve had some staffing challenges throughout the process, and I am always amazed at how the staff show up for our residents,” said Courtney Wolfe, executive director. “We don’t hear them saying no, we don’t hear grumbling. Everybody is so positive. I’ve been almost moved
Claudia began to form the habit as a child, when she would walk to church with a penny secured in a handkerchief. Though she was tempted to spend her bounty on a sucker, the penny always wound up, as intended, in the offering plate. Last year, the Manns decided to give closer to their home of three years. The couple are donors to Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s Good Samaritan Program, which benefits residents who have outlived their financial resources. In this community, an average of 15 residents benefit from the program, said Sarah Oenning, vice president of giving for PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America). DONORS - continued on page 5
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Nurse spotlight: Abbey Schaeffer Abbey Schaeffer was the valedictorian of the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University in 2018, when she graduated from the Bachelor of Skilled Nursing program with a 4.0 GPA.
gets to know the residents “pretty well,” she said. As a consequence, her coworkers often ask for her opinion.
The registered nurse made all A’s despite the fact that she attended class and studied while also working two jobs: one as a pharmacy technician, and another as a certified nursing aide at Wichita Presbyterian Manor.
“I like the fact that we can put a smile on their face and make their day a little brighter,” she said.
Even now, she’s not sure how she managed it. “I drank a lot of coffee,” Abbey joked. After graduation, she worked at another senior living community in Wichita before returning to Presbyterian Manor. “I really wanted to be an RN here, but there weren’t any openings,” Abbey said. “I jumped at the chance to come back.” She started as a case manager before being promoted to the position of multiple data set coordinator. In this role, Abbey oversees patients’ medical assessments and care plans. Because her job is all about gathering information, she
Her favorite part of her job is interacting with and getting to know the residents.
The past few months have been an “intense and challenging time,” Abbey said. But she has relished the extra time she has spent with residents since the pandemic hit and families have been unable to visit in person. She has also helped facilitate video chats and window visits with residents’ loved ones. Abbey is a third-generation nurse: both her grandmothers and her mom have worked in the field. Her husband Brandon also is a registered nurse. The couple has been married a year and four months and have three pets: Heidi the chiweenie, Bailey the Goldendoodle, and Destry the cat. Their favorite thing to do together is travel, and they have enjoyed trips to Disney World and a cruise
Abbey Schaeffer to Cozumel. Abbey also enjoys hiking nature trails. She loves to sing and has a special talent: “My friends call me the human jukebox, because I know every song and the lyrics to every song,” she said. ◆
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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 | September 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.
Residents took a ‘just do it’ approach to raising large family Jack and Louise Hall raised 12 children by putting one foot in front of the other.
“You do daily what you have to do,” Louise said. When at least two children were in diapers at once, that included six to seven loads of laundry a day. “I think I wore out three washing machines, on which Jack replaced parts many times,” she laughed. Her days were busy, but never boring. “Every day was a new day,” she said. “Something new was always happening.” There are other advantages to having a large family, Jack and Louise say. As the older children matured, they helped the younger ones with basic tasks. “And they always had someone to play with,” Louise said. The children remain close, though only five still live in the Wichita area. Jack and Louise also have 26 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and one
great-great-grandchild.
“I never really gave it a thought whether we would have children or not — it’s just something you expected to do back then,” Louise said. Now, the couple sees family planning as a deeply personal decision. “I hear young people who say they don’t want to bring children into the world,” Jack said. “Maybe they’re right. But people said that in the 50s and 60s, too.” Louise says she thinks raising a large family is harder now, as parents feel pressure to outfit each child in new clothing and give them their own rooms. “You can do with a lot less than what everybody thinks they need,” she said. Louise worked for the machinists’ union before the birth of their first child. She took a 20-year hiatus to raise children, then she worked for the union another 20 years before
Jack and Louise Hall she retired. Jack spent most of his career supporting research and development at Vulcan Chemical. The couple moved into one of Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s independent living duplexes four and a half years ago. “I made good money, but we kept having kids every once in a while,” Jack said. “We made ends meet back then. But we came out pretty well. We’re very fortunate to be where we are, and we thank the good Lord for it.” ◆
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to tears on many occasions by the ways in which our employees have responded during this pandemic.” As the community gradually loosens restrictions, staff are working together as a team to determine the best and safest course of action. Each director takes ideas back to their employees in order to get feedback about how best to implement a change within their areas. “Even outside of COVID, we always take the team approach and involve as many people in the decision making process as possible,” Courtney said. “I like to think that I’ve thought of everything, but I know I haven’t.” In order to keep residents up to date, she delivers a “state of the community” address every week that is broadcast on Presbyterian Manor’s in-house television channel. The broadcasts help her keep everyone up to date on the latest. “The changes for us come fast and furious,” Courtney said. “And sometimes it feels like we have barely educated or communicated the first change before we’re changing again.” Staff has done a remarkable job of adapting and implementing new protocols, she said. And they have pitched in to do many tasks outside their regular job description, such as helping residents with the small tasks of daily life and assisting with dining. “My specific role may not be delivering meals, but I can do that,” Courtney said. “We’ve all got to chip in wherever we can and make
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it happen.” Though Presbyterian Manor is slowly reopening, things don’t look quite the same. The beauty shop reopened and is allowing appointments one at a time. Only hair services are being offered as the community catches up with perms, cuts and colors. Communal dining has resumed, too. “It’s different from how it was before,” Courtney said. “Coming to the dining room used to be a social experience. Now they are seated one per table, which can still feel isolating.” She is also seeing different levels of readiness among residents. “For every call I get from someone saying, ‘Please reopen it soon,’ I also get a call that says, ‘Please don’t,’” Courtney said. “So, there are mixed opinions on how we should be moving forward. But our residents have been extremely supportive of our efforts, despite the hardships.” Some residents are waiting to join in on small group activities, such as chapel services. Groups are currently limited to 10 people or less, and participants still need to
COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2020
wear a mask and remain six feet from one another. Those who aren’t ready for groups can still participate in exercise classes, which are either broadcast on the in-house TV channel or led from the courtyard while residents follow along from patios or balconies. Everyone is looking forward to allowing socially distanced outside visits, but at the same time staff is considering how to negotiate the challenges that will come along with that step. For example, memory care residents may not understand the need to remain six feet apart from their families. “We strive to be extremely preventative, and we always err on the side of caution,” Courtney said. “I remember the very first window visit we did. We were all standing behind the resident almost with tears streaming down our faces because it was an opportunity for a resident who was really struggling to connect,” she said. “It reminded us that we’re doing the right thing. We protected the resident, but still gave them the opportunity to see their loved one. So, our team is really excited for family members to re-engage.” ◆
Remembering our 50th anniversary In 1970, Wichita Presbyterian Manor opened its doors. We’re looking back on community history all year as part of our 50th anniversary celebration. Did you know Westwinds used to be called the “Congregate”? Its
dining room has been redecorated a few times over the years. The décor once included wallpaper with a peony and ivy design paired with carpet in a holly leaves and berries motif. Some of our staff and residents called it the “Christmas
carpet.” Another interesting décor choice were the partially carpeted walls in the health care neighborhood. Rooms there once had large half doors, which might have reminded you of horse stables. ◆
In 2014, Presbyterian Manor staff planted a tree for Arbor Day. Six years later, it’s fully established and thriving on our campus.
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Presbyterian Manor.
the Great Depression.
“This program ensures that each of our residents have a home for the rest of their lives,” Sarah said. “It goes to the heart of our mission to offer quality care to everyone we serve.”
“We love being here, and we’re so thankful,” Claudia said.
The Manns met as college students and married the following year. They lived in Garden City, Kan., for 25 years, where Jay taught agriculture and served in the Army Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. After their three sons were all in school, Claudia taught reading. They have six grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.
The program includes the discounting of fees and payment of some expenses for residents who have exhausted their assets through no fault of their own. The Manns are motivated to give because of their experience with
Claudia and Jay have been blessed to give throughout their lives, and they also shared their home often, including with two foster children whom they raised from the ages of 5 and 12. Claudia said that when she and Jay grew up, if “nobody cared and nobody shared,” people wouldn’t get the help they needed. Both families struggled to get by during
“We’ve had a wonderful life,” Claudia said. “And whatever we have had, we’ve shared it.” ◆
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.
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. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2020