NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
IN THIS ISSUE Compassion, Humility and a Deep Sense of Service....................1-3, 10-13 Charitable Giving Starts at Home............................ 4 Transitioning Through the Continuum of Compassion........ 5 Foundation News.................... 6-9
FALL 2017
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
Benevolence
ABOUT THE COVER Benevolence is more than what we do—it is key to who we are. Every day, our team members throughout the Network give their hands and their hearts to serve every individual with compassion, dignity and respect. As a faith-based nonprofit organization, we believe that our generosity and kindness are the most powerful resources we have to make a difference in the lives of our residents and their families and in our communities. It is part of what being person-centered is all about.
A
t Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, we are guided by a unique calling that is focused on older adults and making aging easier.® This calling is at the heart of our mission. While our mission conveys what we do and guides our everyday work, our values statement highlights what we believe in and how we will behave. Benevolence is one of the key words in our values statement, and it is the focus of this issue of heartlines. Benevolence is a very rich and powerful word. By definition, benevolence means the quality of being well. Benevolence indicates a disposition to do good in regard to others, and to act with genuine compassion and kind considerations of the needs and desires of others. Simply put, it’s about kindness and charity. As a non-profit with a 90-year heritage of benevolence, our charitable works and charitable giving are part of who we are. Benevolence is evident in our programs and our people. In this issue, you will learn more about how we support a variety of vulnerable populations – from persons with disabilities and residents in our care communities who outlive their resources to older adults on fixed, low incomes who deserve affordable housing. You’ll also find “Random Acts of Kindness” sprinkled throughout this issue that highlight the every day good deeds that are being done to generate a smile and bring moments of joy and purpose to someone’s day. These stories unite our Network – our residents and patients as well as family members, volunteers and team members – and demonstrate the heart that we have for one another and all that we do. Paul Winkler
BENEVOLENCE: GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Getting more than you give
T
he words volunteer and kindness are synonymous. A kind word, a moment of song or a quick chat – all are selfless acts that our volunteers across Presbyterian SeniorCare Network provide for our residents. Volunteers play such an important role across our Network by serving as a vital extension of our staff. By engaging with our residents in enrichment programs, volunteers contribute to a high quality of life and help free staff members up to concentrate on resident care. Volunteers not only help to provide purpose to daily life for our residents, but we often find our volunteers also benefit from their time on campus – like Marilan Caito. Read Marilan’s story of how kindness shown to her mother-in law inspired her to give back to our organization. And how giving back created special bonds and a heart filled with joy. “For five years, I visited my mother-in-law, Alice, three times a week at The Willows, the skilled nursing community at the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Oakmont campus. A major stroke had left her unable to walk or speak and in need of full-time skilled nursing services. I watched first-hand the compassionate care she received during a very difficult time for my family. I saw how hard the staff worked and how
Soothing the soul and engaging residents with water features appreciative they were for any extra helping hands. I always knew that when I retired I wanted to repay the kindness shown to Alice.” As the Development Director at a private school for children with special needs for 30 years, I also built lifelong relationships with many of our most loyal and generous donors. They happened to be seniors and I loved their stories, their wisdom and their amazing life experiences. Together those two factors brought me to the Hanna HealthCare Center at the Longwood at Oakmont campus where I having been volunteering every Wednesday for the past year. My one-on-one visits with a small group of ladies bring me such joy. They have become part of my family and I think I have become part of theirs. We laugh and cry together, share family and travel stories and even talk about end of life issues that are difficult for them to share with their own children. Though one of my dear ladies passed recently at age 103, she inspired me to be a better person. I will forever remember her grace and gentleness in the face of so many challenges; and that smile that lit up the room. So when friends and family ask, “How can you volunteer there? Isn’t it too emotional? Too sad? Too hard?” I answer – “are you kidding, it’s the best day of my week!”
President and CEO The MISSION STATEMENT conveys our organization’s purpose and what we do: Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is committed to enriching the aging experience through person-centered service and living options. The VALUES STATEMENT works in tandem with the mission and highlights what we believe in and how we will behave: Grounded in Christ-like values of benevolence and love of neighbor, we pursue excellence, innovation and collaboration to ensure individuals live well and team members have meaningful work.
LAST YEAR, VOLUNTEERS
GAVE OVER
37,000
HOURS TO OUR RESIDENTS
Marilan (middle) poses with two of the residents she visits with every Wednesday, Marion (left) and Ester (right).
J
eff McKinley uses his own personal time to build water features that compete with the likes of the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Jeff, director of maintenance and environmental services at Elmwood Gardens, brings over 35 years of talent in plumbing and construction. His creations come out of the goodness of his heart and not only bring vibrancy to the community, but help engage our residents. Jeff’s water features, a total of three, are each a focal point around campus, in large part because Elmwood Gardens in Erie is in a city setting and there are not a lot of green spaces. The features incorporate lighting, waterfalls, water jets and beautiful landscaping. The features help to create a connection to the outdoors, and provide a source of relaxation for our residents. As Jeff says, “the water features are soothing and I like to have things like that around me, so why wouldn’t I want the same for our residents?” Kelly Briody, administrator at Elmwood Gardens, says “This project was all Jeff’s idea and an excellent example of his character and commitment to our person-centered culture. As a result of the remodeling of the dining room in our skilled nursing neighborhood, we were able to make a previously obstructed group of windows a focal point in the room. The original plan was to plant some greenery outside the window to give the residents a more pleasing view than the fence at
the edge of the property. But Jeff came to me proposing that he do a water feature to give the residents something they would truly enjoy looking at on a daily basis. From construction to completion the residents loved the projects!” Kelly noticed that not only did Jeff exhibit kindness and thoughtfulness in his work, but the residents reciprocated his actions. She says, “On particularly hot days the residents would ask the team to take water out to him, their concern was quite endearing.” Once Jeff was done with his regular work for the day, he would steal away an hour or two here and there to build the features; he also worked many Saturdays to get the features up and running. Kelly says, “Now that the water features are complete, it is wonderful to witness the residents enjoying the relaxing water wall during the day hours, and then again at night when it is lit up. Jeff’s commitment to our residents and improving their daily lives is an example of what is at the heart of the Elmwood Gardens team.” Jeff enjoys building the water features for the residents to enjoy. He says, “I often receive thanks for the wonderful views. While I have not been able to confirm this, I did hear that some of the residents were fighting over who was going to sit by the window to watch the fountains! Talk about a sense of satisfaction out of your work!”