August 2023

How one small-town nursing home lost battle to stay open

By Joe Stumpe

MOUNT HOPE — As the coronavirus pandemic decimated many nursing homes in 2020, Mary Schmidt felt pretty good about the situation at the Mount Hope Nursing Center.

“We didn’t get COVID until November (of that year),” Schmidt,

chair of the nonprofit community group that owns the center, remembered last month. “Staff and everybody did a really good job of keeping residents and employees safe.”

The nursing center saw residents die from COVID after that point, although Schmidt said deaths from all causes averaged about the same number as before the pandemic. But the pandemic was taking a toll on the facility in another way. Because of the federal government’s decision to lock down nursing homes, families were reluctant to place their loved ones in the facilities.

“Not many people will say, ‘Let’s go take our loved one to a nursing center where we can’t see them,” Schmidt said. “When we lost people, we weren’t able to fill our beds. That’s our source of income.”

closed.

The Mount Hope home closed in December 2022, one of 24 nursing

See Mount Hope, page 7

Senior psych, health care expands here

By Joe Stumpe

In her job running the Catholic Care Center, Cindy LaFleur knows it hasn’t always been possible to get immediate psychiatric care for residents needing it. Wichita’s only geriatric psychiatric unit, located in Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph on Harry Street, sometimes has a waiting list, which means an elderly person might be admitted to the emergency room instead.

“They could spend days in ER,” LaFleur said.

See Care, page 20

above doesn’t depict a real person. It was generated by asking an artificial intelligence tool called Adobe Firefly to produce an image of a “senior citizen using artificial intelligence.”

Artificial intelligence tools helpful, fun, but not perfect

By David Kamerer

You may not know it, but you’ve probably benefited from some recent advances in artificial intelligence, or AI.

AI powers your Siri and Alexa, those cheerful personal assistants that answer your questions about the weather or who won the big game last night. AI controls self-driving cars and the maps we use to navigate when we take a trip. When you call customer service for your bank or credit card, you may initially speak with an AI model of a human, trained to answer basic questions. And it’s AI that recommends the Netflix movies you’ll want to watch.

AI has been hiding in plain sight, helping make all kinds of technology smarter. But now AI is taking the spotlight, with a wave of new

technologies, called generative AI, that generate content based upon your instructions.

Let’s see what these new tools can do.

The Chatbots: Chat GPT and Google Bard

Chatbots have been built into other applications, like online customer service, for some time. But Chat GPT (CHAT Generative PreTrained Transformer) was the first multipurpose commercial chatbot that end users could control. It made waves when it was introduced by Open AI in late 2022 as a free tool. It quickly garnered more than 100 million signups.

Chatbots mimic conversation through a text window: you ask a

The image

‘There were just too many obstacles’

Volunteers have mowed the Mount Hope Nursing Center property since it

Bunny group hopping — er, hoping — to spread the love

Actually, the group started out as a way for Gedraitis to meet other rabbit owners after getting her daughter one.

“Almost immediately, people wanted to bring rabbits to us,” she said. “We ended up a rescue (organization) because the need is so great in our community.”

According to Gedraitis, the Kansas Humane Society doesn’t have the capacity to rescue rabbits. She knows of no other rabbit rescue groups closer than Kansas City and says she has taken in rabbits from across Kansas and northern Oklahoma.

some in strollers to people who can’t get out to a table. They’ll reach in the stroller. We’ve had people talk to the bunnies that haven’t talked to people in years.”

But Gedraitis said there’s been less demand for the rabbits since the pandemic. She reached out to The Active Age in the hope that friends or relatives of people who might benefit

from bunny therapy would be willing to pay for the service.

“We are scraping to get money to keep in existence,” she said. “We are still getting some calls.”

Bunny TNT became a 501c3 organization in 2019.

Gedraitis, who recently turned 80,

See Bunnies, next page

By Joe Stumpe

Being cute and fluffy makes rabbits a natural as therapy animals, Joyce Gedraitis says. Unfortunately, those same traits don’t stop some people from tiring of them — or their rather prodigious offspring — as pets. Gedraitis, founder of a nonprofit called Bunny TNT (for training, nurturing and therapy), has been trying since 2006 to save unwanted bunnies and use them to comfort people in nursing homes and other settings.

Bunny TNT has about 20 active members. During the 12 months ending in July, they took in 37 rabbits and — after insuring they were heathy, vaccinated and spayed and neutered — were able to adopt out 29 of them.

“They are all house rabbits,” Gedraitis said. “We don’t adopt out for anything else.”

For years, Gedraitis said, Bunny TNT was able to raise a little money for the organization by taking rabbits to nursing homes, special needs facilities and other places that would pay them.

“We’ll put bunnies in front of them to pet, then we just talk about bunnies,” she said. “We’ve also taken

Prairie

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a variety

options from which you can choose. From two or three bedroom Twin Homes with attached garages to one or two bedrooms Patio Homes with carports or our assisted living facility... Your new home is waiting for you!

Joyce and Joan Gedraitis

Bunnies

From previous page

has turned over leadership of Bunny TNT to her daughter, Joan, but still remains a big fan of the creatures, who were domesticated at least as far back as ancient Rome.

She says a well-cared-for rabbit often lives eight to 10 years. “The little ones live longer.”

They range in size from about two to 10 pounds.

Gedraitis said they are trained by “learning what they like and then encouraging them to do it” — for

instance, by placing favorite foods in their cages when it’s time to turn in.

While there are pure breeds, most rabbits taken in by Bunny TNT are mixed.

“People will buy a boy rabbit for a boy and girl rabbit for a girl, and never even think what will happen if they don’t get them fixed.”

What happens — with some of them, at least — is they end up at Bunny TNT.

“Oh my gosh, yes, our house is a bit overcrowded with rabbits,” Gedraitis said. “They seem to find their way here.”

Bunny Bash

Bunny TNT will hold a fundraiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N. Clifton Ave. The $10 admission includes a salad luncheon, raffle and bunnies to pet or adopt.

For more information about Bunny TNT, call (316) 683-1122, email grandmabunny@yahoo.com, or visit bunny-tnt.org.

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Honor Roll of Donors

Never too late to try something new

By Susan Armstrong

When was the last time you did something for the first time? Was it too long ago to remember? Or so significant you will never forget?

I explored this question with a group of friends recently with interesting results. We all agreed “firsts” happen more frequently when we are young. It is only logical that the number of firsttime opportunities would decline as we grow older.

Many of life’s earliest firsts are

Dear Reader

universal, with no relation to our race, sex, religion or culture. For example, we all celebrate a child’s first smile, first step, first words, first day of school.

As we mature, we experience the firsts that change our lives. We shout with joy over our first successful ride on a bicycle or first dive into the deep end of the pool. And who doesn’t remember their first kiss, first dance and first love?

When I asked about memories of a first job, every hand shot into the air. We may not recall our final work paycheck in detail, but we always remember our first. Many could

describe the place they worked, their boss and co-workers, the length of their lunch break and their hourly wage (which was often below $1).

But the biggest response of all came from the question: “How many of you remember your first car?” We might forget where we parked our current vehicle, but we have no trouble describing our first car, along with the details on how we learned to drive and the price of gasoline to fill the tank.

Though we will never again experience these firsts, it is not too late to try something new. What have you always wanted to do? Paint a landscape? Explore a faraway place? Learn to belly dance? Yes, doing something for the first time is risky.

Donate for chance to win Botanica family membership

Donate at least $50 to The Active Age, and you could win a family membership to Botanica. The Active Age will hold a drawing for a family membership each month for the

next six months from among people on our “Honor Roll” list of donors. This month's winner is Delilah Nitcher.

our website, theactiveage.com; by mail to The Active Age, 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67213; or in person at the same address.

But I believe those small risks enrich our lives.

So tell me, when is the next time you’ll try something for the first time?

By the way, if you enjoy articles like this one and have never donated to support The Active Age, we would appreciate your “first-timer” contribution. One option is to make a donation in the amount of your age. Whatever the amount, we will happily include your name on our donor list (unless you prefer not to be listed). And whether you donate or not, thank you for being a reader.

Susan Armstrong is a board member of The Active Age who writes cozy mysteries under the pen name Anna St. John. Her first book, “Doomed by Blooms,” was published earlier this year.

The Active Age, published the first of each month, is distributed in Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties.

To subscribe, call 316-942-5385, write The Active Age or visit theactiveage. com.

125 S. West St., Ste 105 • Wichita, KS 67213 316-942-5385 • Fax 316-946-9180

www.theactiveage.com

Published by Active Aging Publishing, Inc.

Editor: Joe Stumpe joe@theactiveage.com

Advertising Manager: Teresa Schmied teresa@theactiveage.com

Business Manager: Tammara Fogle tammara@theactiveage.com

Board of Directors

President: Tim Marlar

Secretary: Sharon Van Horn • Treasurer: Diana Wolfe

Board Members:

Susan Armstrong • Mary Corrigan • Al Higdon • Jennifer Lasley Linda Matney • Patti Sullivan • Tiya Tonn

Armstrong

From Page 1

question, and it replies. It’s like doing an online search, but instead of getting pages of possible relevant results, you get one well-written answer.

How does it know what to say?

Open AI — a California-based artificial intelligence research lab — trained Chat GPT on the public internet, using machine learning to help it understand context and relationships across related pages. It has digested mountains of online information, but it does have limitations. It can make mistakes, so you should be wary and check its answers. Indeed, the internet is filled with funny and not-so-funny examples of AI devices not performing as desired. And it doesn’t know anything that happened after it was trained in 2021, so don’t go there looking for last night’s baseball scores.

I typed this question: “Is it better to take Social Security at full retirement age or at age 70?” and it generated a thoughtful, complete and well-written answer. If you did a Google search and synthesized the top five to ten results, you might end up with the same approximate guidance.

I then asked if it’s better to use shortening or butter when making pie crust. Its 233-word reply emphasized the superior flavor of butter but the lighter texture of shortening. This is consistent with my experience. Testing

Chat GPT further, I asked it to tell me a joke. Its reply: Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!

The “chat” part means that the software is aware of the previous interactions. So, in the example above about retirement age, I asked it to regenerate the answer as a limerick. In a flash, it replied:

In choosing Social Security’s sway, Options beckon to come or to stay.

Full retirement or seventy, Decisions can be weighty, Consider your needs and you’ll find your own way!

Chat GPT has also been integrated with the Bing search engine, so you can access its features there without having to create an account. Unfortunately, to use the service, Bing forces you to download and use its Edge browser.

Not to be outdone, Google — another California-based technology company — has released its competing Bard service. And since Google has already indexed most of the web for search, you would expect it to be a leader in AI. Overall, Bard performs much the same as Chat GPT. But there are some differences. Chat GPT is a more capable writer. Bard tends to spit out chunks of information instead of a single, continuous narrative. Bard provides links in its responses, which can be useful if you want more

information. And, like Google’s personal assistant speakers, Bard can be used to help book a vacation or assist with meal planning. Significantly, Bard, like Google, is always up to date, so it can help with news-related questions.

Photo magic with AI

If you’re a photo buff, there are some useful AI-based tools to help you improve your images. These tools can remove or replace backgrounds, smooth your skin or do a range of image adjustments. If you’re a professional, look for the AI plug-in for Adobe Photoshop. To access a limited version for free, visit the Adobe Firefly website.

Another jaw-dropping skill that AI is capable of is the creation of images from text descriptions. DALL-E, another AI tool from Open AI, is a leading solution. I asked DALL-E to generate images from this prompt: “children joyfully play at a splash pad on a hot summer day.” It generated four different versions of this scenario, and then offered to do variations on each.

Ethics, anyone?

These AI tools are both exciting and disturbing. Already, students are using Chat GPT to write essays for their homework assignments –and you don’t have to be a teacher to know that’s wrong. But other questions beckon: who is the author of AI-generated content? Can it be copyrighted? If so, who owns the copyright? After all, AI-generated text

comes from a massive online database, much of which is privately owned by others. As AI becomes more powerful and more widely used in our culture, expect debates and possibly new laws that affect its use.

There have also been warnings from reputable sources that AI, because of its ability to evolve rapidly on its own, poses a threat to society and even the very existence of humankind if left unchecked — the kind of scenario science fiction writers portrayed decades ago. But let’s leave that discussion for another time.

As you use information technology in your daily life, be on the lookout for AI-enhanced tools. And if you’d like to explore some of these technologies, here are some links to help you get started:

Chat GPT and DALL-E, both available at: https://platform.openai. com/apps. Chat GPT is free; DALL-E requires that you purchase credits. A more advanced tool, Chat GTP4, is $20 a month.

Google Bard, free at https://bard. google.com

Adobe Firefly, free at https://firefly. adobe.com

Bing AI-assisted search, free at https://www.bing.com/new

David Kamerer is a longtime Wichita resident and early adopter of technology who teaches at Loyola University in Chicago.

State officials approve Ruffin’s plan to develop casino at former greyhound park

By Daniel Caudill KMUW

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission last month approved a plan by casino magnate Phil Ruffin to develop a historical horse racing facility at the former Wichita Greyhound Park.

The plan will add 1,000 historical horse racing machines at a new casino called the Golden Circle. The devices resemble slot machines and allow people to bet on replays of past horse races.

Ruffin Holdings was the sole remaining applicant after one applicant, Flint Hills Entertainment,

dropped out and another, Boyd Gaming, was disqualified because it also operates the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane.

Phil Ruffin Jr. was at the commission meeting where the plan was selected.

“We’re ecstatic with the news,” he said. “It’s an iconic building – it’s been there since 1989, and there’s a lot of space in there; there’s a lot to do.”

Ruffin Jr. said the plan is to open the new casino in about 14 months.

Other amenities planned for the $84 million facility include a Gilley’s Dance Hall and Saloon, a hotel, an entertainment amphitheater and

For the safety of clients and staff, I do telephone appointments.

multiple dining options.

The Park City Council endorsed Ruffin’s plan and is expected to annex the land north of Wichita where the facility will be developed. Ruffin purchased the land from Sedgwick County in 2018.

R. Scott Beeler, an attorney who headed the application team for Ruffin, said the next step is to obtain a developer’s license to build the facility. The new casino is permitted under the state’s sports betting bill, which went into effect last year.

Mount Hope

From Page 1

homes in Kansas that have shut down since the beginning of the pandemic, according to an April report by McNight’s Long-Term Care News. Another 28 homes delicensed part of their operations, generally citing a lack of available employees as the reason.

For Mount Hope residents, nursing home care is available 20 miles away in Wichita, but the closing was still a jolt to this community of about 780 people in northwest Sedgwick County.

“We were trying to right the ship,” Schmidt said. “There were just too many obstacles.”

The Mount Hope center was opened in the 1970s by the Mount Hope Community Development, Inc. The nonprofit organization also operates the 32-unit Larsen Apartments for people 55 and older adjacent to the nursing home, the Mount Hope Community Center (which also serves as the senior center), a park containing an electronic sign for community announcements and, until a couple years ago, a fitness center.

Schmidt, who joined the group’s board in 2016, said the nursing center “was established so that local families would have a place, like many small communities did at the time, especially rural ones.” Licensed for 40 beds, the facility “stayed pretty busy,” Schmidt said, although it reduced its beds to 35 in recent years to save on the $818-per-bed tax it paid the state.

Schmidt is proud of the way the center’s staff handled themselves during the pandemic.

“There wasn’t anything that was good about it in the sense of health care and care for the elderly, because the government gave us rules that

we had to abide by. Some were good and some — they found out later — probably weren’t the wisest decision.”

As the pandemic subsided, Schmidt said, the facility tried to build back its resident base through advertising and other means, but it found that many potential residents were choosing newer facilities in Wichita, about 20 miles away.

“Everyone who lives in Mount Hope is not necessarily going to go to the Mount Hope Nursing Center,” she said. “In Wichita, there are all kinds of nursing care facilities going up that are big and fancy.”

Some older Mount Hope residents who received medical care in Wichita were encouraged to find a nursing home there, Schmidt said.

“We weren’t only just going up against coming out of COVID, we were up against the money that comes with doctor-owned facilities.”

The Mount Hope center was also reluctant to raise its prices. “We’re a small community. You want to make it affordable,” Schmidt said.

The center had also been fined by the federal government on a regular basis, racking up over $56,000 in penalties during the pandemic, according to records on medicare.gov. The facility had an overall rating of two stars out of a possible five. Its health inspections were rated below average, staffing levels much below average and quality measures much above average.

“They certainly can find ways to fine you,” Schmidt said. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have rules and regulations, but sometimes when you’re in these kind of emergency situations, there has to be a little grace there.”

The nursing home lost more than $500,000 in 2021, according to federal tax forms available at propublica.org.

After initially seeing what looked like “a little light at the end of the

tunnel,” she said, board members decided on Dec. 8, 2022 to close the facility, settling on a two-month plan to relocate residents. Two weeks later, in the midst of below-zero temperatures, the center’s heating system failed. When repairmen couldn’t fix it, the facility evacuated the remaining 31 residents at once. “It was just one of those very freakish things that happen,” Schmidt said, adding that the HVAC system was “probably five years old.”

The board laid off center employees, dividing up responsibilities for things like paying utility bills, maintaining bank accounts, overseeing the apartments and opening mail. Other community volunteers are mowing the property and recently removed some downed tree branches from the park.

“We’re all people who have our own lives,” said Schmidt, who operates a child care center in her home. “Everything we’re doing is done by volunteers in our spare time.”

Meanwhile, assisted by a realtor and attorney, board members have been trying to figure out what to do with the organization’s assets and how to settle its unpaid bills. Schmidt said community reaction to the nursing home closing “wasn’t very good. It was sad. Some people understood and other people didn’t. Some people knew what was going on and others just (believed)

the rumor mill stuff that normally goes on.”

The plan now is for the city of Mount Hope to take over the community center and park. That means there will still be Monday freewill donation lunches, bingo and farmers markets at the center, sewing classes for kids and other events, Schmidt said. A Wichita businessman with experience in senior communities is expected to buy the apartments and nursing home building. “His goal is to bring back some kind of skilled nursing. That’s not going to be something that’s going to happen overnight.”

Schmidt hopes the moves will “kind of make us whole again” but knows the nursing home will be missed.

“It was very difficult for the board to make this decision,” she said. “From a personal standpoint, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

Contact

888-638-1287

All on board for duck craze

By Ted Blankenship

I had no idea what we were missing when Dorothy and I took a cruise down the Mississippi River to New Orleans.

We were content with chefprepared meals, visits to historical places, jazz in the streets of New Orleans and lounging on the deck of our paddle-wheel boat.

We didn’t know that if we had taken an ocean-liner cruise, we could have spent all that energy looking for rubber ducks. People on ocean cruises hide them for others to find and look

August Theatre

By Diana Morton

for ducks others have left for them.

Eve Chen of USA Today writes that it started a few years ago when Texan Ashley Davis bought 50 ducks for his daughter, Abby, who was then 11, to take on their spring break cruise. They hid several ducks each day on the ship for other passengers to find.

Now there are multiple Facebook groups dedicated to duck hiding. A Facebook page called Cruising Ducks has 192,000 members. A company called Ducks in the Window advertises itself as “the world’s largest rubber duck shop” with more than 1,000 styles

of the flexible birds.

The cruise companies tolerate duck hiding as long as they’re in public places onboard. Ducks — rubber or real ones — aren’t allowed in pools, spas, shops or bathrooms. Participants usually tie a tag around the duck’s neck with a message to the finder.

It’s mostly an ocean-going game, but it could work on river cruises. Since these are often shorter, an easier-tofind bird — like a rubber chicken — might be appropriate.

Duck hiders can get creative.

One passenger found a rubber duck with a tiny face mask over its bill. Another duck wore a homemade sombrero and had a miniature guitar on a tiny sling around its neck.

The ducks serve no purpose other than spreading joy to strangers, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.

Contact Ted at tblankenship218@ gmail.com

Kechi Playhouse, 100 E. Kechi Road, Will You Still Love

Me in the Morning?

by Jan Clements and Dennis Spooner. Jeremy and Celia return a week early from their unsuccessful honeymoon to find that both of Jeremy’s partners have accepted his offer to stay in his house while he is away. The only problem is that they have each brought the other’s wife with them. 8 pm Fri–Sat, 2:30 pm Sun, Aug 4-27. Tickets $15-16. 316744-2152

Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley. Fresh Prince of Bel Plaine by

Carol Hughes. Billy has been hired by his Uncle Carl to find out why all the money from his business has been vanishing, with family members among the prime suspects. A new musical comedy revue follows. Dinner 6:15 pm, show begins 7:50 pm. Now-Sept

2. Tickets, dinner & show $26-$30; Show only $20. 316-263-0222

Music Theatre Wichita, Century II Concert Hall, Ragtime. Classic Broadway musical follows the intersecting paths of three families. Patrons must be 5 and older. Aug 16-20. Tickets, call 316-265-3107

Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, cabaret-style theatre, The Last Five Years. An intimate musical about

two New Yorkers who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show’s unconventional structure dictates the two characters only meet once, at their wedding, in the middle of the show. 8pm Fri-Sat, Aug 17-Sept 2. Tickets $20-$30. 316-265-4400

Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling and directed by John Dalton-White. The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon where the outspoken Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to characters tested and ultimately bonded by a tragedy. 8 pm Th-Sat and 2 pm Sun, Now-Aug 6. Tickets $15 or $13 for military/seniors/students. Opening night ticket $11, July 27 only. 316-686-1282

These Kansas towns didn’t stand a ghost of chance

The Active Age

With some 6,000 ghost towns in Kansas to choose from, it’s no wonder that the makers of a 2022 documentary on the state’s faded villages and towns have now produced a second episode.

“Kansas Ghost Towns, Part 2,” will air on PBS Kansas at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 and again at the same time on Sept. 5.

Chris Frank, the videographer, primary editor and host, said the programs grew out of his fascination with how pioneers settled the state, often establishing towns with the hope that they would grow into large cities.

“The question remains — why do some towns thrive, prosper, increase in size and seem to go on forever, while others fade away and die to become ghost towns?” Frank asked.

The 6,000 number comes from the Kansas Historical Society and includes towns that existed on paper only, never advancing beyond an announcement and perhaps a groundbreaking. At the other end of the spectrum are towns that were settled.

There are several scenarios common to ghost towns, Frank said. Some failed in their bid to become a county seat. Others were bypassed by the railroad or their main source of

employment closed.

Some ghost towns still exist, but drastically reduced in size. Examples include Waterloo in Kingman County and Hunnewell and Rome in Sumner County,. Others have disappeared altogether, including the first Park City, which was located five miles west of present-day Valley Center in Sedgwick County.

The original Park City is mainly known for its bitter, unsuccessful battle with Wichita to become the Sedgwick County seat.

In researching the documentaries, Frank discovered that most people who live in or have connections to ghost towns know little about those places’ history. He felt fortunate to interview “the last remaining expert” on the original Park City — Sandra Wiechert, formerly Sandra Swanson of Wichita, who wrote her master’s thesis at Kansas State University in 1965 on it: “Park City: How It Lived and Why It Died.” They visited a building that had been moved from Park City to Sedgwick to become that town’s museum.

Part Two tells how citizens of one Kansas town picked up and moved the whole town, houses and stores,

Succe ful Living at Larksfield Place!

Functional Fitness – Vital to Health & Wellness

Join us Mon., Aug. 14th | 11:00 am

Clark Life Enrichment Center

Functional fitness has always been a central focus in Larksfield’s mission. Fitness classes and personal training have given residents tools to improve their stability and mobility. 70% of residents participate in functional fitness training and are experiencing an increased capacity to perform activities of daily living. Hear from the Director of Health and Promotion, Rodney Smith, and a panel of residents about their findings. Learn about our Functional Fitness Assessment and how your “numbers” tell a story about your health and wellness. RSVP by calling 858.3910.

two miles away to avoid paying bond holders. It worked. Ulysses survives to this day and is the Grant County seat. And it features some former towns along the KansasOklahoma border that boomed in the years leading up to the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in Oklahoma Territory before fading away following the famous land rush.

Altogher, Frank visited 16 ghost towns for the

316.267.1700

Join Us

for Coffee & Conversation

Thursday, August 17th | 9:00 -10:00 am

Larksfield Place

If you are curious about life at Larksfield Place, we invite you to join us for coffee, juice, coffee cake, and great conversation. Bring your curiosity and questions about Larksfield Place.

RSVP by calling Brandi and Tammy at 316.858.3910 today!

7373 E. 29th St. North

larksfield.org scan here for more events!

Home Health Care Program/County-based Aug. 14th, 10:30a.m. at the Center ~ Rhonda Custard ~ Sedgwick County Dept on Aging

August 28 "Update on Wichita Public Schools" Hazel Stabler featuring her traditional Yaqui Objivew Native American Dress ~ RSVP 48 hours in advance if you plan to eat lunch for $5. Program at the Center, starts at 10:30.

Public Hearings for the County Budget, August 2nd at 6 p.m. & August 23rd at 9 a.m. Ruffin Building ~100 N Broadway ~ Auditorium SAVE THE DATE ~ FIESTA ~ Sept. 8th Food, Fun, Features

We have KDHE Coupons for those that are eligible (Ages 60+; income check) FREE, RSVP what date you would like to come. Booklet is $50 worth for use at Farmer's Markets & KSU Extension

Immune Building Strategies & Vaccine Awareness* Dr. Carla Lee, APRN-BC, FNP, CNS 10:30 a.m.~ Next class August 22nd ~ RSVP (FREE packet worth $65 for those completing data form) *Increase

documentary. Mike Oliver handled post production editing and directing.

Manchester was a train station and small settlement located near where the Redbud Trail crosses Rock Road in east Wichita.

Local Author Day back at Advanced Library

Wichita Public Library’s Local Author Day returns Saturday, Aug, 12 at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St. “Wichita has a vibrant writing community and this annual program helps bring their talent to the spotlight,” said Sara Dixon, adult programming manager at Wichita Public Library. “One of Wichita’s hidden gems is its community of talented writers.”

A writer’s panel will take place from 10:30-11:30 a.m. From 2-4 p.m., an author expo featuring dozens of local authors will provide an opportunity for the public to meet authors and purchase their work.

The writers participating in the panel discussion include Sarah Henning (Lawrence), Amy Avery (Kansas City) and Danielle Ramirez, who compiled the "Being Wichita Women" anthology (shown above).

The library is making significant efforts to give local writers space to develop and share their work. The Community Writing Workshop meets

the first Thursday of each month and includes a craft lesson applicable across genres, a writing prompt for fresh writing opportunities and workshop time to receive feedback on writing. The library also participates in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) each November and hosts several programs to support writers during the

Enjoy life knowing our Medicare team is here to help.

month. And recently, the library hosted “Celebrate Writing,” which provided an open mic-like space for writers to share their work in front of an audience.

More information about Local Author Day can be found at wichitalibrary.org.

call 866-597-1681 (TTY 711).

August Briefs

WAM seeks docents

The Wichita Art Museum is seeking volunteers for its docent program. Weekday/daytime availability is required. The primary responsibility is giving tours to K-12 groups. Info and application are available at https:// wam.org/jobs-volunteers/. The application deadline is Aug. 14, and training starts in September.

+55

Resource Guide updating

The Active Age is in the process of updating its annual 55+ Resource Guide, published and distributed each fall. Deadline for ads is Aug. 24, but space is limited. For information, call 316-942-5385.

Monthly caregiver support

A caregiver support group is meeting monthly in downtown Wichita. Conducted by Jessica Huber, a licensed social worker and geriatric mental health specialist with CPAAA, the group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday or the month. Virtual and in-person options are available. To register, contact Huber at Jessica. Huber@sedgwick.gov or call 1-855200-2372.

Habla Espanol?

The Active Age website now features some articles in Spanish on

its website, theactiveage.com. To find them, click on the Sections menu near the top. The translations are made possible through Planeta Venus (planetavenus.online) and the Wichita Journalism Collaborative.

The Active Age also recently launched a digital version of the newspaper that allows readers to increase the size of the type and flip through pages as with the paper version. It is delivered via email. To receive a copy, contact joe@theactiveage.com

Two celebrations

Bonnie Rupe will celebrate her 100th birthday Aug. 22. After earning a Library Science degree from what was then Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia, Bonnie worked her entire career with the Wichita Public Library system before retiring as director of technical services. She will also celebrate her 76th wedding anniversary on Aug. 3rd with her husband, Kenneth. The couple have two children, Carmen of Santa Monica, Ca., and Doug of Wichita.

Bonnie Rupe

Kenya natives make connection with bread

By Amy Geiszler-Jones

Breaking bread together symbolizes sharing and the forging of personal connections. But it was an afternoon of baking bread together that connected two natives of Kenya with members of the Bread Club of Wichita.

David and Lillian Kapten, who came to the United States as college students, were the featured presenters at a recent gathering of the club, which is a nonprofit group that organizes monthly events where bakers of all ages learn to bake, share recipes and make bread. The bread is donated to Children First CEO of Kansas, a social service nonprofit that offers help to low-income families with various

here,” Lillian said, holding up a shallow iron skillet she’d brought from Kenya. The circular-shaped bread is cooked on a stovetop.

Making connections with people is something the Kaptens do regularly.

David is the program director of the Breakthrough Clubhouse, which is a social and vocational program that works with people living with severe and persistent mental illnesses. He’s been with Breakthrough, formerly Episcopal Social Services, for 24 years. Lillian is a registered dietician with the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, where she is the chief of nutrition.

Both of the Kaptens, who are Quakers and part of the Luhya tribe, the second-largest tribe in Kenya, came to the United States to study agribusiness. They say they feel a connection with Kansas because of the state’s rural agrarian roots, which is much like where they grew up about 200 miles from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in east Africa.

“It’s a homey environment,” David said of why they’ve stayed and raised their two children in Wichita.

David came to Wichita originally to study at Friends University, where several of his family members attended

but ended up attending Hesston College and Bethel College in North Newton.

Lillian studied agribusiness at the historically black Bay Ridge Christian College in Texas.

“I like food and how it grows, how it’s used and the science behind it,” said Lillian, who later earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Kansas.

When Lillian moved to Kansas for a job, she met David through his brother’s family.

The pair return annually to Kenya, where they still have family and a small farm. David has been working with various organizations in Kenya to bring a Breakthrough Clubhouse program there.

While teaching a group of bakers how to make chapati was a new experience for the Kaptens, the sharing of food is a familiar concept to the couple.

“In the African culture, you cook for whoever wants to show up, so you always have excess food,” Lillian said. Bread Club members made more than 200 loaves of chapati for distribution to Children First families under the guidance of Lillian, who explained that the process of

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Photo by Amy Geiszler- Jones

David and Lillian Kapten introduce members of the Bread Club of Wichita to chapati, a flatbread popular in their native Kenya.

rolling out the dough, rolling it into a cinnamon roll-like shape and then rolling it out again helps create layers in the thin bread.

She noted that while it’s often made to be eaten with a curry or a stew, it can also be a quick snack.

“I like to have it with my tea.”

Win gift certificate

Got a favorite international recipe you’d like to share? Send it to us and we’ll enter you in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to The Spice Merchant. Send recipes to: The Active Age, 125 S. West St., Suite 105, 67213; or email joe@theactiveage. com

Chapati

3 cups all-purpose flour (can use whole wheat flour for half), plus more as needed for kneading

3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for brushing bread

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cups warm milk or water

Put flour in a mixing bowl. Add oil to the flour and rub it in to the flour. Stir in salt and sugar. Add egg and water or milk slowly to flour as you knead mixture. Turn it onto a floured surface and knead while adding flour as necessary to reduce stickiness. When dough is ready, it will be a little sticky but soft and bouncy; form into a ball. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes.

When ready to cook, divide the dough into four pieces. Using a rolling pin, roll out one ball into a large, flat rectangle. Brush lightly with oil. Cut each rectangle into four strips. Roll up each strip as you would a cinnamon roll. Flour the surface and roll out each into a flat circle.

Heat the skillet over medium heat. Lay the dough in the skillet and watch for bubbles, then flip and lightly oil the surface of the dough. Repeat until both sides are browned and slightly charred in spots. Wrap chapatis in foil to keep moist. Makes 16 chapatis. Note: Shredded onions or carrots can be added while making the dough.

Check out our 10 new Lifelong Learning courses for this fall!

The courses are FREE* for Kansas residents 60+ years old, if enrolled by September 13, 2023. All courses will be o ered in-person or online; registration is required. In-person classes will be held at 1-3 pm at the Wichita State University Metropolitan Complex located at 5015 E. 29th St. North. Students who select the online option will receive a link via email each week to view the class on their own device. Students can choose to watch the link live during the class time or can watch the recording at their convenience.

Fall 2023 Courses

Movie Musicals: Escapism or Reality Check? | Tuesdays, Aug. 8, 15, 22 & 29

Developing Countries: Challenges and Implications for the U.S. | Thursdays, Aug. 10, 17, 24 & 31

Name That Rock! An Introduction to Rocks, Minerals and Their Identification | Fridays, Aug. 11, 18 & Sept. 1, 8

Wichita's Neighborhoods | Mondays, Aug. 28, Sept. 11, 25 & Oct. 2

The Life and Work of Vincent van Gogh | Wednesdays, Sept. 6, 13, 27 & Oct. 4

Remember the Ladies | Tuesdays, Sept. 12, 19, 26 & Oct. 3

Native Americans Advocating for Native Americans | Mondays, Oct. 9, 23, 30 & Nov. 13

William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe | Tuesdays, Oct. 10, 24, 31 & Nov. 14

How to Know You Know | Wednesdays, Oct. 18, 25, Nov. 1 & 15

Finding Fossils: An Introduction to Paleontology and Earth's Geologic History | Fridays, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, 17 & Dec. 1

You think this summer is hot? Well, back in the ’50s …

By Niki Lewis Shepherd

During these weeks of severe heat and drought when it is easy to complain and feel justified in doing so, I think of my growing-up years. They were the dry ’50s. The location, a western Kansas cattle ranch.

Each day ended with a prayer for rain. My favorite game was mirage, where my siblings and I would crawl the sandy road like lost cowboys on

Guest Column

the desert crying, “Water! Water!” and pretend to see the shimmer of the mirage always just ahead.

But in the midst of this despair was my grandmother’s flower garden. She planted zinnias in rows like a crop of corn. Four o’clocks bloomed by the washhouse wall each afternoon. And

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flags (her term for iris) edged the sidewalk leading to the front door.

By the back porch, white spirea arched over the foundation in a cool fan. Yucca, dug from the pasture, marked the front step and pushed their stalks skyward. Cherished geraniums withstood the brutal Kansas sun and wind and were saved and overwintered by a frosty window in her bedroom.

Years after the house stood vacant, most of these flowers and shrubs reappeared each summer, a tribute to a strong country woman.

This year in my own garden, zinnias in pots are a rainbow of color — enough bouquets to decorate every room. Black swallowtail butterflies lay eggs on the Florence fennel, and in what seems like an instant, the brightgreen-striped caterpillars appear, growing fatter by the hour.

Live-forever, a sedum given to me by a friend 40 years ago, reappears in a terraced bed after being crowded out by more moisture-loving plants. Flocks of goldfinch perch atop and sway the purple coneflower heads, choosing those that are dry and ripe with seed. Geraniums spill from pots by my front door. I pinch a leaf, and the pungent odor calls forth my grandmother’s face. And on a day when the air is so hot it sears your lungs, a surprise lily appears, a pink promise in the dry brown earth. These hardy plants and memories of a time of drought remind me that the forever-present cycle of life ebbs and flows. We must all ride these waves and not let them batter us.

Niki Lewis Shepherd is the author of The Wintering, a novel set in western Kansas in the 1880’s.

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Senior centers play important role

By Monica Cissell

Senior centers are known for the education, wellness and recreation programming they offer adults 55 and older. But they may not be as well-known for the connections and support they provide. According to the Administration for Community Living, an agency of the federal government, community centers are a focal point for the delivery of many senior-related services and play an important role in helping older adults stay active and informed. For example, during the pandemic, senior centers used online programming and check-in calls to stay connected with members, provide information about COVID-19 and coordinate food and vaccines and other resources. Senior centers date back to the 1940s, with their number growing rapidly after passage of the Older Americans Act in 1965. A list of centers located in The Active Age’s distribution area can be found on page 17 of this month’s issue.

Funding for the centers varies. Funding from county Departments on Aging is one source. Some municipalities fund senior centers, providing space and staff (see table, above right). In 2022 and 2023, the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging used Older Americans Act COVID to fund renovations and technology upgrades in senior centers. Grants are available but are hard to obtain and often short-term and may require grant writing expertise that’s not

always available. The success of senior centers continues to be contingent on a well-rounded and sustainable mix of funding. The accompanying table shows funding sources for area senior centers.

If you’re familiar with a local senior center, reach out and ask how you can support it. Consider volunteering to write grant applications or manage a grant-funded project. Consider helping with fundraising.

If you’re interested in becoming an advocate for older adults, email info-sc@cpaaa.org to be added to our advocacy list and kept up to date on local, state and federal issues.

Monica Cissell is director of communications and services for CPAAA. Call 855-200-2372 if you have questions about available resources or to learn more about your options.

NOTE:The Active Age is printing regularly scheduled senior center activities as space permits. Please email Joe at joe@theactiveage.com to have your center’s activities listed.

SedgwiCk County Senior CenterS Calendar of eventS

BEL AIRE

7651 E Central Park Ave

744-2700, ext 304

www.belaireks.org

BENTLEY/EAGLE

504 W Sterling, 796-0027

CHENEY

516 Main, 542-3721

CLEARWATER

921 E Janet, 584-2332

DERBY

611 N Mulberry Rd, 788-0223

www.derbyks.com

DOWNTOWN

200 S Walnut, 267-0197 www.seniorservicesofwichita.org

EDGEMOOR

5815 E 9th, 688-9392

ANDOVER

GARDEN PLAIN

1006 N Main, 535-1155

GODDARD 120 N Main, 794-2441

HAYSVILLE 160 E Karla, 529-5903

KECHI

Kechi City Building, 744-0217, 744-1271

LA FAMILIA 841 W 21st, 267-1700

LINWOOD

1901 S Kansas, 263-3703

Mon, Wed, Fri: 8 am Hip Hikers Walking

Mon-Fri: 9 am Stronger Seniors

Mon-Fri: 11:30 am Friendship Lunch

Tue, Thu: 8:30 am Pickleball

MCADAMS GOLDEN AGE

1329 E 16th, 337-9222

MT HOPE 105 S Ohio, 667-8956

MULVANE 632 E Mulvane, 777-4813

NORTHEAST 2121 E 21st, 269-4444

Mon, Wed, Fri: 9:30 am WellRep Exercise

Mon-Fri: 11:30 am Friendship Meals

Mon, Wed, Fri: 12:30 pm Strength & Stability Exercise

OAKLAWN

2937 Oaklawn Dr, 524-7545

ORCHARD PARK 4808 W 9th, 942-2293

PARK CITY

6100 N Hydraulic, 744-1199

Vally Center Community Center 314 E Clay, 755-7350

Butler County Senior CenterS

410 Lioba Dr, 733-4441 www.andoverks.com

AUGUSTA

640 Osage, 775-1189

Mon, Wed, Fri: 11 am Exercise

Mon-Fri: 11:30 am Lunch

Mon-Fri: 12:30 pm Games

Mon, Thu: 1:30 pm Line Dancing

BENTON

Lion’s Community Bldg, S Main St

CASSODAY

Cassoday Senior Center

133 S. Washington, 620-735-4538

DOUGLASS

124 W 4th, 746-3227

EL DORADO 210 E 2nd, 321-0142

Senior wedneSdayS

August 2

10:30 am Wichita Art Museum

1400 W. Museum Blvd., $2 admission. Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass.

1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures

835 E. 1st St. The Moccasin Speaks with Ken Spurgeon.

August 9

10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 266-8213, $4 Hoo Knew?

1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 261-8500, Free. A Time to Heal: The Piatt St. Plane Crash and its Aftermath.

August 16

10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 N. Fairmount. Info unavailable

1:30 pm Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E 29th St N. Exploring Monarch Butterflies

August 23

10 am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. Becoming Modern in Wichita: The Built Environment by Dean Bradley.

1:30 pm Mid American All-Indian museum. 650 N Seneca (316) 3503340, $2 + tax admission; free for MAAIM members. Info unavailable

August 30

10am The Kansas African American Museum, 601 N Water. $3. Info unavailable.

1:30 pm Old Cowtown Museum. 1865 Museum Blvd $2 + tax; bers. Info unavailable

danCeS

Augusta Sr Center, 640 Osage. . Info: 755-1189

Derby Sr Center, 611 Mulberry. 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7pm-9:30 pm.

El Dorado Jam & Dance, Senior Center, 210 E. 2nd.

Goldenrod Golden Age, 1340 S Pattie.

Dances every Wednesday 7pm-9:30pm.

Linwood Golden Age, 1901 S Kansas. Every

Saturday 7pm-9:30pm. Call Jim 316-945-9451

Minisa Golden Age, 704 W 13th. Info

617-2560. Every Thursday 7pm9:30pm. Call Rita 316-364-1702

Mulvane, 101 E. Main (Pix Community Center

Second Tuesday of every month at 7-9 pm.

Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S. Clifton.

Contra Dance1st Saturday of each month.

7pm-9pm. Call Amanda at 316-361-6863.

Orchard Park Golden Age, 4808 W 9th. Every Friday 7pm-9:30pm. Call Casey 316-706-7464 Park City Sr Center, 6100 N Hydraulic. 1st and 3rd Saturday 7-9:30 p.m. Info: 755-1060. Line Dance every Wednesday 2:30pm. Call Madison 316-744-1199. Square dance 2nd & 4th Sunday 6pm-8:30 pm.

Prairie Wind Dancers: Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N Clifton. Joyce, 683-1122.

Village Steppers Square Dance, Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton. Westside Steppers Square Dance, 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, 6-8:30 p.m., West Heights United Methodist (entrance "D"), 745 N. Westlink Ave. Info: Sheldon Lawrence (316) 648-7590.

LEON

112 S Main, 745-9200 or 742-9905

ROSE HILL 207 E Silknitter, 776-0170

TOWANDA 317 Main, 776-8999

Open 10:30 am-5 pm Mon, Wed, Fri

WHITEWATER Legion Hall, 108 E Topeka

Harvey County

BURRTON

124 N Burrton, 620-463-3225

HALSTEAD 523 Poplar, 835-2283

HESSTON

Randall & Main, 620-327-5099 www.hesstonseniorcenter.com

GRAND CENTRAL 122 E 6th, Newton, 283-2222 www.grandcentralseniorcenter.com

SEDGWICK 107 W. Fifth, 772-0393

tranSportation

Sedgwick County

Sedgwick Co Transportation, 660-5150 or 1-800-367-7298. Information: 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri; closed most holidays. www. sedgwickcounty.org/aging.

Butler County Transit

Weekday transportation in El Dorado, Augusta and Andover. Rides to Wichita on Wed, Thu. Information: Augusta, 775-0500; El Dorado, 322-4321; toll free, 1-800-2793655. 48-hr notice required.

Harvey County

Transportation reservations or information: 316-284-6802 or 1-866-6806802. Round-trip: $8 Newton (wheelchair only), $12 Harvey County, $20 outside Harvey County. AVI to Newton: Tue, 12:304:30 pm from Burrton, Sedgwick, Halstead, Hesston, Walton.

www.theactiveage.com

NOTE: AGING PROJECTS, INC. PLANNED TO MAKE FRIENDSHIP MEALS AVAILABLE THROUGH PICK UP AND DELIVERY IF NECESSARY. FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEAL SITE OR CALL 316-686-0074

Friendship Meals

Aging Projects serves a hot, nutritious meal weekdays for persons 60 and older in Sedgwick, Harvey and Butler counties. Reservations are necessary. For locations and reservations, call 316-686-0074

WEEK OF AUGUST 1

Tue: Roast Pork, sweet potatoes, applesauce, wheat roll w/ margarine.

Wed: Tatertot casserole, mixed vegetables, pears, wheat bread w/ margarine.

Thu: Breaded chicken patty on bun, three bean salad, tropical fruit crisp.

Fri:Turkey pasta salad, cauli-brocc raisin salad, cantalope slice, garlic cheddar biscuit.

WEEK OF AUGUST 7

Mon: Southwest chicken bake, mixed vegetable, pineapple, garlic toast.

Tue: Oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/ creamy gravy, sliced peaches, wheat roll w/ margarine.

Wed: Sloopy joe on bun, corn relish salad, mixed fruit.

Thu: Turkey & Broccoli pie, tomato salad, pears, breadstick, chef's choice birthday cake.

Fri: Fish sandwich on bun w/tartar sauce, cucumber salad, apricots.

WEEK OF AUGUST 14

Mon: Creamed chicken over biscuit, peas & carrots, pear crisp.

Tue: Beef cutlet in gravy, baked potatoes, apricots, wheat roll w/ margarine.

Wed: Glazed chicken mixed vegetables, ambrosia fruit salad, wheat bread w/ margarine.

Thu: Cheeseburger, potato salad, cinnamon apples.

Fri: Chef salad w/ turkey, cantalope slice, garlic cheddar biscuit.

WEEK OF AUGUST 21

Mon: Roast Turkey, glazed carrots, pineapple, wheat roll w/ margarine.

Tue: Swedish steak, cream peas & potatoes, peach crisp, wheat bread w/ margarine .

Wed: Beef stroganoff, mixed vegetables, applesauce, garlic toast.

Thu: Breaded pork patty on bun, tomato & cuke salad, apricots.

Fri: Fish sticks, mac & cheese, coleslaw w/ carrots, fresh orange.

WEEK OF AUGUST 28

Mon: Scalloped potatoes & ham, green beans, pears, breadstick.

Tue: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes w/ creamy gravy,. apricots, wheat roll w/ margarine.

Wed: Creamy Turkey & veg casserole, parslied carrots, pineapple, wheat bread w/ margarine.

Thu: Chicken taco salad, Mexican rice, tropical fruit.

* Milk is served with all meals. Meals fall within the following ranges: Calories 650-750; protein 25 grams or higher; fat 20 to 30 percent of calories; calcium 400 mg or higher; sodium 1,000 grams or less; fiber 9 grams or higher.

FUNDING MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT, KDADS AND CENTRAL PLAINS

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F BATHING SPECIALIST F

F CEMETERY PROPERTY FOR SALE F

Lakeview Cemetery, Single plot. $3,200 OBO. Seller pays transfer fee. 316-640-4591

Resthaven, Garden of Freedom, 1 Plot, $3,000 plus transfer fee. 405-751-8801.

White Chapel, Garden of Gethsemane, 2 plots w/ vaults, side by side. $3,200 plus transfer fee OBO. 913-558-0486

2 plots, 7-8 in Lakeview Cemetery- Holy Rosary Section. $4,500. No Fees. 316-519-5474

1 plot Old Mission. $2,800. Buyer pays transfer fee of $299. 316-461-9355.

Lakeview. Apostle’s Garden. Lot 8 spaces 3&4. Near chapel. $3,000 both. Seller pays fee.316-655-8644

4 plots in Resthaven in Rose Garden. Section 62 lots C1,C2,C3 & C4. 1 marker, 2 vaults, 2x-opening/ closing. $22,000 for all or will sell separately. Transfer fee included. Call 316-992-1931.

2 burial spaces and 1 vault at Resthaven. One sealing vault, one opening and closing and one bronze makrer. Located in the Garden of Christus. Selling both spaces and the vault for $11,000. 240338-9743.

Garden of the Praying Hands, Resthaven, Lot 38D, Space 2, $4,000. 785-478-4015

White Chapel. Sermon on the mount. 4 plots, $1,500 each plus transfer fees. Call 316-371-4454.

3 lots in Arcadia C Wichita Park Cemetery. $800 each OBO. Buyer pays transfer fees. 316-729-9456.

FOOT CARE IN YOUR HOME

Cheryl Rosine ~ The Foot Lady ICMT RN

• 316-312-2025 •

Benjamin Jones ~ CNAICR

• 316-932-8524•

$40 : In-home, Sedgwick & surrounding counties

Diabetic, thick toe nails, ingrown & callous care

Foot Care in home. Home visit $40.00 Call Francine at 316-943-4360. Leave a message.

Downsizing?

Don't have an Auction, or Estate Sale. We Buy Entire Estates. Call Kelly 316-283-8536. Furniture Warehouse 200 Main Newton, KS

Dave’s Improvements

General Contractor Lic #7904

Roofing, Siding, Doors, Gutters, Windows, Storm damage repair, Senior Discount. 316-312-2177

Molina Electric - Wichita Lic #1364 Comm. or Residential wiring. Service calls. New electric service. Troubleshooting. Cell 316-461-2199.

Handyman RX- We have a remedy for almost all of your “fix-it” jobs! Light carpentry including deck and fence repair, indoor misc. repairs and installations, lawn mowing “LG or SM”, Yard & Garage clean-up, mulching, hauling miscellaneous,hauling dirt, sand, and rock/gravel upto 3.5 tons. What you need done I can probably handle. Call for HELP!

Brian 316-217-0882. Free Estimates

Cowboy Construction

Remodeling, siding, decks, fences, windows, doors and more. 20 years locally owned. Free estimates. Senior discounts.

Todd Wenzel 316-393-4488

Derby, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Wichita

Exterior & Interior. House painting, siding, decks, fences. Build, repair and stain.

(SEE REVIEWS)- KC KIMBALL DERBY KS ANGI Free Estimates. Be Blessed. Thank you 316-250-2265 or 316-789-9639

MOBILE GLASS REPAIR

Windows * Patio * Doors

Windows won’t stay up, Crank Outs, Patio Rollers and Lock Latches, Morris Glass & Service, 316-946-0745

EKELER & SWEETS DIRTY HANDS CO.

Camera Installations • Faucet Installations

Paint • Drywall • Home Maintenance

Caulking

Need help on your electric scooter, power or lift chair, stair or platform lift or hand controls? Call Howard Distribution at 316-648-1694. Howard is a certified service center and dealer for Best Bath walk-in tubs, Bruno, EMC, Golden Tech, Pace Saver, Pride and Ricon. Working for you since 1987.

'Let us Help you- Medical Loan Closet!' Call 316-779-8989

Downsizing / Moving / Fall Cleaning

We buy everything from individual items to whole estates. House cleanout service also available. Give us a call to learn more about all the services we provide Bud Palmer Auction 316.838.4141 BudPalmerAuction.com

F TREE SERVICE F

Felipe Tree Service

Evergreen trimming. Tree removal. Brush hauling. Splitting. Deadwooding. Free estimates. 12 years experience. 316-807-4419

Bruce’s Tree Service Complete Tree Trimming & Removal Gutter Cleaning and Leaf Rake Trees * Shrubs* Hedgerows * Evergreens Senior Discounts. Insured. Over 30 years exp. ALL FARM & RURAL AREAS Firewood Call 316-207-8047

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TREE BOSS

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Robert Rodriguez Owner/ Operator 316-806-9592

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Care

From Page 1

To meet that need, the Catholic Care Center last month opened St. Veronica Senior Behavioral Health Hospital, a 20-bed senior behavioral health hospital located on its campus at 45th and Woodlawn in Bel Aire. The facility is designed to be a short-term care program for seniors experiencing behavioral health challenges associated with depression, grief, anxiety, dementia and other issues.

“The goal is to stabilize an individual, to review what is happening to see what is causing behavioral changes,” LaFleur said. After that, the hope is to return patients to their homes or other previous living situation or find a more appropriate home setting if necessary.

St. Veronica’s opening is part of an expansion in senior health care that’s taken place here recently and seems likely to continue given the increasing number of people living longer. Those developments include:

• Corterra of Wichita, a 24-room senior behavioral hospital that opened last month at K-96 and Ridge Road in northwest Wichita.

• ChenMed Dedicated Senior Medical Center which opened in April at 13th and Grove to primarily serve people 65 and older who have certain Medicare Advantage plans.

• Ascension Via Christi’s decision to have three of its emergency rooms — at St. Teresa in northwest Wichita, St. Francis in central Wichita and its emergency clinic in Wellington — accredited as geriatric emergency departments over the past several years.

“I think there’s just a lot of momentum knowing that the aging population is growing, with the boomer population growing leaps and bounds in the next few years,” LaFleur said. “People are gearing up for how to best serve that population.”

ChenMed has announced plans for two more clinics in Wichita, and Eric Hatten, CEO of Corterra, envisions similar facilities “up and down (Interstate) 35.”

Hatten, who previously worked for Via Christ Villages senior living communities, said he saw the same type of issues with acute geriatric psychiatry care as LaFleur.

“These people are sitting in emergency rooms for days on end,” he said. “What’s that experience like?”

According to the Pan American

I am a Caregiver

855-200-2372

Health Organization, at least one in four older adults experiences some mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or dementia. Due to population aging, the number of seniors with mental disorders is expected to double by 2030. Depression is the most common mental health problem in older people.

Both LaFleur and Hatten said they’ve been inundated with inquiries in the months leading up to their opening, indicating the facilities are likely to remain busy. “We’re excited about having another partner in the market because the need is so great,” Hatten said of St. Veronica. He expects Corterra to serve 400 to 500 patients a year.

Asked what distinguishes a senior behavioral hospital from one serving the general population, LaFleur said the space is designed for older patients and the medical staff are specifically trained in geriatric medicine. St. Veronica was created from an existing space on the campus that had been used for long-term care. LaFleur said it’s part of Catholic Care’s long-term plan to replace semi-private rooms with private rooms and showers.

“That’s to enhance the human dignity of life and quality of life as

they’re aging.”

The hospital will serve Catholic Care residents as well as those of other senior communities. LaFleur said she hopes that knowledge gained through St. Veronica can be used in the center’s memory care, assisted living and longterm care settings.

ChenMed is a private Floridabased company with about 125 clinics in 15 states and is known for locating centers in underserved neighborhoods. It previously plans for additional clinics in the Parklane Shopping Center at Lincoln and Oliver and New Leaf Plaza at 21st and Amidon.

To qualify for the geriatric ER accreditation, Ascension Via Christi bought walkers, canes and wheelchairs specifically for its emergency rooms, but most efforts were focused on staff training and the implementation of more than two dozen “best practices” for senior care, according to a news release. Because many older patients come in with injuries from falls, the ER staff is trained to look for what can be done to keep them safe once they leave the hospital. Ascension now also has a geriatric team and protocols in place at its Level 1 Trauma Center, located at St. Francis.

Wichita Foot & Ankle Wound Center, LLC

Wichita Foot & Ankle Wound Center, LLC

Wichita Foot & Ankle Wound Center, LLC

Wichita Foot & Ankle Wound Center, LLC

Christopher Surtman, DPM

Christopher Surtman, DPM

Christopher Surtman, DPM 316.652.5251 office call for an appt. 316-652-9913 fax

316.652.5251 office 316.652.9913 fax

316.652.5251 office 316.652.9913 fax

Christopher Surtman, DPM 316.652.5251 office call for an appt. 316-652-9913 fax

Podiatric Services & Wound Care

Call for an appt - we are now scheduling appt for Fridays

Call for an appt - we are now scheduling appt for Fridays

Podiatric Services & Wound Care

Heel Pain, Arch Pain, Corns & Callouses, Fungal & Ingrown Nails, Ulcers Try our NEW LIGHT ORTHOTICS, wear them home

Podiatric Services & Wound Care

Podiatric Services & Wound Care

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220 Hillside, Suite B

220 Hillside, Suite B

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(located behind the Neurology Center of Wichita)

(located behind the Neurology Center of Wichita)

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(located behind the Neurology Center of Wichita)

(located behind the Neurology Center of Wichita)

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My husband can’t drive anymore, I take him where he needs to go.

Pop-up newsroom concept comes to library

The Wichita Journalism Collaborative has launched a pop-up newsroom called News Connect at the Advanced Learning Center Library.

The collaborative, which includes The Active Age and 10 other media outlets and community partners, hopes News Connect will give members of the public an opportunity to interact with local journalists. In that way, they can contribute to the stories that shape our community.

The pop-up newsroom is active every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On some Thursdays, there will

be scheduled programming such as listening sessions on housing challenges facing our community, discussion of election issues and talking with city officials. Other weeks, the newsroom will be an open workspace where you can ask questions, suggest story ideas, voice your opinion and more.

Housing input sought

On Aug. 17, collaborative members are inviting members of the public to bring us their thoughts and suggestions on housing issues facing the city, including homelessness, the

shortage of affordable housing and nuisance properties. But other topics are welcome, too.

The pop-up newsroom is located in the Rolland Eakins TEC-Novation

Room on the first floor of the library, which his located at 711 W. Second St.

To stay informed about scheduled events during News Connect, follow the Wichita Journalism Collaborative on Facebook

Something SPECIAL for that old family recipe.

August quiz: Give us some directions, please?

By Nancy Wheeler

Identify these items that have one of the four cardinal directions (North, South, East or West) in their title.

1. Separated by the demilitarized zone, this country’s capital is Seoul, home to almost ten million people.

2. This breed of dog hails from Scotland and is closely related to the Cairn Terrier.

3. John Steinbeck regarded this ambitious novel as his magnum opus; it was turned into a movie in 1955.

4. Founded in 1602, this mighty company brought porcelain, spices and

exotica to Europe and was the first business entity to link the East and the West.

5. This organization, founded in 1949, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states—29 European and two North American.

6. The Honor Code from this U.S. Military Academy says that a “Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”

7. This television show follows the misadventures of four irreverent gradeschoolers in a quiet, dysfunctional Colorado town.

8. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this 1959 movie starred Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.

9. One-third of the world’s maritime shipping passes through this body of water, which includes the deep-water seaport of Hong Kong.

10. Featuring the songs “Tonight” and “Somewhere,” this 1957 musical by Leonard Bernstein explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks.

11. Since 1935, at least sixty-four

climbers have died attempting to climb this area of the Eiger, a mountain in Switzerland.

Answers:

1. South Korea

2. West Highland White

3. "East of Eden"

4. Dutch East India Company

5. North Atlantic Treaty Organization

6. West Point

7. "South Park"

8. "North by Northwest"

9. South China Sea

10. "West Side Story"

11. The North Face

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