MuleshoeAreaMedicalCenterservingareaseniors
ByTeresaYoung SpecialtotheMuleshoeJournal
Havingahospitalfacilityinyourcityisan amenitymanytakeforgranted.Butwhenan emergencyhappensoryourfamilymemberisin need,itbecomescrucial.Muleshoearearesidents canresteasierknowingtheMuleshoeAreaMedicalCenteristheretoprovidethecaretheyneed closetohome.
AccordingtoadministratorDennisFleenor, whohasworkedatMAMCforsevenyears,the hospitalisa25-bedcriticalaccesshospital,with aLevelIVtraumacenter,inpatientcare,physical therapyandswingbedservices.Whilethefacilitydoesnotoffersurgicalormaternityservices, theysupportpatientsthroughacuteandchronic medicalconditionsaswellasstrokes,heartattacks,farmordairyaccidentsamongotherissues.
Whenitcomestosupportingareaseniors, thefacilityiswellequipped,andtheswingbed servicesareparticularlyuseful.
“Swingbedisskillednursingcareatahospitallevel.It’satransitionfromthehospital,preparingthemtogohomeanditkeepsthemfroma nursinghome,”notedFleenor.“Alotoftimesafter ahiporkneesurgerytheyneedalittlemoretime torecoverbeforegoinghome.Theygetalittle moreindividualattentioninswingbedwithspecializedcarethatreallyhelpsthem.”
Fleenorsaidseniorsrepresentalargeportionoftheclientele,bothatthehospitalandits auxiliaryMedicalClinicofMuleshoewhichsees 600patientseachmonthandoffersroutineclinic servicesaswellaschroniccaremanagement andwellness.Tocareforthispopulationwell,the
hospitalemploys75individuals,whichincludes medicaldirectorDr.CharlesAddingtonandafew rotatingERphysicians.
Theretirementoflongtimelocalphysician Dr.BrucePurdy,whoserved44yearsinMuleshoe, leftquiteavacancythatFleenorsaidhe’sstill tryingtofill.Therearefourandahalfadvanced practicepractitionersatthefacilitytocarefor patients,whichFleenorsaidcomefromallaround theareaandasfarasEasternNewMexicoaswell. DuringtheheightoftheCOVIDpandemic,he saidthehospitaladministered6,000vaccinesand distributedanother25,000toareacitiesincluding Friona,Dimmitt,Morton,LevellandandLittlefield.
Ontheoutpatientside,theMAMCofferslaboratory,radiologyandphysicaltherapyservices. Thisincludesa16-sliceCTscannerthatprovides physicianswithfasterdiagnosticinformationand patientswithlessradiationexposure.
It’stheirreputationforgreatcarethatkeeps patientscomingback,andsomedrivingfurther thanexpectedforservices.Retiredinsurance agentandlifelongMuleshoeresidentKenneth Henryisamongthecrowd.
“Itmeansalottometohavethehospital here.WhenIwasakid,wedidn’tgotothedoctor much.Wehadgreatdoctorsforyears,”saidHenry, whosewifeDarlenehadarecentstayfollowinga stroke.“Shespent10daysinLubbock,thencame here.Shewasinthehospitalforamonthand couldn’tbalanceorwalkwell.Theyhelpedher withphysicaltherapyandgotherwalkingevery day,andshewasabletogohome.Theyreally helpedher.
Henrysaidhefeltateaseifheneededto leavehersidebecauseheknewDarlenewasin goodhands.
“Thenursestherewereverynice,andthey werethereforhertogetbetterandgohome,”he said.“Theydidasupergoodjob.Theytookgood careofherandtheygotherbackgoing.”
HelpingfriendsandneighborsliketheHenrysiswhatspursFleenorandhisemployeesto serve.AndthePreferredManagementgroupthat handlesoperationsatthefacilityiscommittedto improvementswheneverpossibletokeepcareat thehighestpossiblelevels.
Fleenorsaidroofworkisunderwayatthe hospital,andrecentinsurancesettlementsareallowingforupdatestothestuccodamagedinthe May2022hailstorm.Thecompanyisalsotearing downthenursinghomeattachedtothehospital thathasnotbeeninoperationfor20-plusyears.
ButthebiggestchallengebeforeFleenor isfillingthatvacantphysician’sspot,whichhe likenstofindingarainbowunicorn.Hewantsthe hospital’straditionofcaringforneighborsand investingintheareatocontinue,andheknows noteverydoctorouttherehasthatmindset.
“Wewanttofindtherightpersonthatwants tocomebepartofthecommunitythatisreally requiredforthisarea,”hesaid.“I’mlookingforthe rightprovidertocomehere.”
MAMChasbeenundertheoversightofthe MuleshoeAreaHospitalDistrictsince1989,and thedistrictgovernanceisbyafive-memberboard ofdirectors.Thefacilityfirstopenedinthelate 1930sorearly1940s,withmajoradditionscominginthe1970sandabriefclosureinthe1980s. PreferredManagementwascontractedin2015to handledailyoperations.
HarmonElliottComplexissafe, affordableoptionforseniors
ByTeresaYoung SpecialtotheMuleshoeJournal
Havingasafeandhealthyplacetocallhomeissomethingmanytake forgranted.Butwhenoneenterstheirsenioryearsoraredisabledandon afixedincome,thatbecomesevenmorevaluable.
ForMuleshoeresidents,theHarmonElliottSeniorComplexprovides thatsolution,witha52-unitpropertyreservedsolelyfortheelderlyor disabled,mostlysingleindividuals,allofwhomqualifyaslow-income.
“Wehavethreedifferentpropertyprogramshere:HUD,TDH(Texas DepartmentofHousing)andUSDA,”explainedRaquelKirven,property managersince2010andalongtimeMuleshoeresident.“Theyeachhave differentincomelimitsandguidelines.Thereisonlyoneapplication,but eachresidentmayqualifydifferently.”
Thecomplexistheonlyoneofitskindwithdifferentqualifyingprogram, whichmeanstheapartmentpopulationisdiverse.Kirvennotedthateach programalsohasautilityallowancetohelpseniorswithadditionalsavings,andthereisastandingwaitlistbecausethepropertyissopopular.
Theunitsallhavecentralheatingandairconditioning,electricand gas,withthecitycoveringtheirwater.Theunitsareespeciallyequipped withemergencycallcordsinthebathroomandbedroomtoaddabitof peaceofmindforresidents.
TheElliottComplexwasbuiltin1980,withadditionalunitsadded in1982byHUD.Afteralocalgroupstartedtheprocesstoturnanolder apartmentcomplexintohousingformigrantworkers,theydecidedto alsodevelopseniorapartmentsforresidents.Thecomplexwaschartered undertheCityofMuleshoeasanonprofitandisrunbyaBoardofDirectors.
Thecomplexhasasmallstaff,withKirvenleadingthechargewith helpfromasecretaryandtwomaintenanceworkers.Shenotedthatunits comefurnishedwithastoveandrefrigeratortomakeiteasierforseniors. Thequietenvironmentandregularpassesbylawenforcementaddtothe appeal,alongwiththecommunityresidentsbuildwhilecaringforeach other.
“Alotofpeoplemoveinwhentheybecomewidowedortheirhome becomestoomuchtohandle,”saysKirven.“Wetakecareofallthelawn care,andwe’refortunatethattheelderlyliketotakecareoftheirhomes sowecankeepitnice.”
Kirvensaidsheenjoysgettingtoknowtheresidentsandseeingthem bond,andsheconsidersitanhonorto“provideasafehomeforthemin someoftheirmostvulnerabletimes.”
“Itmeansalottometohavethishere.Comingfromafamilyof10, justknowingthatalotoftheseelderlyhaveasafeandhealthyenvironmenttolivebythemselvesisrewarding,”saidKirven.“Tomethisisdoing God’swork,takingcareofwidowsandorphans.”
Greatpart-timejobsforretirees
Manyadultsnearingretirementagecountdownthedaysuntiltheycan bidadieutothedailytasksofcommutingandworkingsotheycanenjoy muchmoretimeforrecreation,travelorwhateveristheyaspiretodo.
Asenticingasunendingfreetimemayseem,someretireesfinditisnot idealtobeentirelyfreefromtheresponsibilityofworking.Ascurrentseniors canattest,inflationcandriveupthecostsofliving,meaningthatseniors whowereonceabletoaffordacertainretirementlifestylemaynolonger enjoythathard-earnedluxury.Here’salookatsomepart-timepositions thatcouldbeagoodfitforolderadultsre-enteringtheworkforce.
Retailsalesassociate
Workinginretailopensseniorsuptoawidearrayofresponsibilitiesand scenarios.Jobsmayincludegreetingcustomers,makingsales,puttingout inventory,andhelpingcustomersselectmerchandise.Beingpersonableand havinggoodcustomerserviceskillsarenecessarytraitstohavewhenworkinginretail.
Customerservicerepresentative
Acustomerservicerepresentativeistaskedwithhelpingcustomers solveproblemsandensuringcustomersatisfaction.Heorshemayworkain atraditionalofficeorstorelocation,oranswercallsandresolveissuesfrom home.
Schoolpositions
Retireesmaywanttoconsiderjobsworkinginschoolsorinrelated capacities.Drivingaschoolbusisanoptionifpeoplearewillingtoundergo thepropertrainingandlicensingtooperatethistypeofvehicle.
Receptionist
Receptionistsgreetpatientsorcustomersinofficesettings.Accordingto AARP,theyarethewelcomingfacesoforganizations.Answeringphonesand lightclericalworkalsomayberequiredofreceptionists.
Seniorshavemanydifferentoptionsiftheydecidetheywanttoreturnto theworkforceinapart-timecapacity.
Engaginghobbiesforseniors
Thevalueofhobbiesisundeniable.A2014studypublishedintheJournalofOccupationalandOrganizationalPsychologyfoundthatemployees whoengagedincreativehobbiesoutsideofworkweremorecreativeon workprojectsandhadabetterattitudeonthejob,whileaseparatestudy publishedinPsychosomaticMedicinein2009reportedthatindividuals whoengagedin enjoyableleisure activitieshadlower bloodpressure andasmallerwaist circumference. Themyriad benefitsofhobbies isgoodnewsfor seniors,manyof whomhaveample timeforleisure activities.Whether seniorsareretired orstillworking butfreefromthe responsibilitiesofparenting,thefollowingaresomefunandengaginghobbiestofillthatfreetime.
•Cooking:Yearsspenthustlingandbustlingthroughthedailygrind ofpersonalandprofessionalobligationsmighthaveforcedindividualsto embracecookingthatemphasizedconvenienceoverculinaryskill.Nowthat there’smoretimetoembraceone’sinnerEmeril,seniorscanlooktocookingclassesortaketheself-taughtrouteandpurchaseanewcookbookfilled withdeliciousrecipes.Awell-cookedhomemademealcanprovideasense ofaccomplishmentandaffordsseniorsanopportunitytocontroltheingredientsinthefoodstheyeat,whichcanbeimportantforindividualswith health-relateddietaryrestrictions.
•Writing:Manysuccessfulindividualshavepennedtheirmemoirsafter long,notablecareersandlives.Whileindividualsneedn’tfollowsuitwiththe goalofmakingtheirmemoirspublic,writingcanbeagreatwayforseniors todocumenttheirownlivesandthelivesoftheirfamilies.Interestingenealogyhasrisenconsiderablyinrecentyears,aseasilyaccessiblewebsiteslike Ancestry.comand23andMe.comhavemadeiteasierthaneverforindividualstolearnwheretheycamefrom.Seniorscancontextualizetheinformationprovidedbygenealogywebsitesbywritingabouttheirpersonalexperiencesandsharingwhattheyknowaboutthelivesoftheirparents,siblings, grandparents,andotherfamilymembers.
•Gardening:Seniorslookingforhobbiesthatgetthemoutinthe greatoutdoorsneedlooknofurtherthantheirownbackyards.Gardening canbenefitthebodyinmyriadways.AccordingtotheMayoClinicHealth System,gardeningcanburnasmanycaloriesasworkingoutinthegym.In addition,theMCHSnotesthatindividualswhogrowtheirownfruitsand vegetablesaremorelikelytoincludethosefoodsintheirowndiets,thus savingthemmoneyatthegrocerystoreandalsoincreasingtheirintakeof nutrient-richfoods.
•Swimming:Swimmingisanidealexerciseforseniors,asit’slow-impact butstillagreatwaytoutilizetheentirebody.A2007studypublishedinthe journalQualityofLifeResearchfoundthatwater-basedexerciseimproves olderadults’qualityoflifeanddecreasesdisability.Aseparatestudypublishedin2008inTheJournalofSportsMedicineandPhysicalFitnessfound thatwater-basedexercisecanimproveorhelptomaintainbonehealthin post-menopausalwomen.
Thesearejustafewofthemanyhobbiesseniorscanpursueastheylook forpositiveandfunwaystospendtheirfreetime.
BaileyCountyCourthouse
TheHarmonElliottSeniorCitizensComplexislocatedat901W.Ave.K&809W.Ave.KinMuleshoe, Texas.(52unitsavailable)
TheHarmonElliottSeniorCitizensComplexisacomplexthatwasbuiltforelderlyand/ordisabled persons.
Therearesomeutilitiesthatareincludedintherent.Allapartmentshavewasher/dryerconnections, andcentralheatandair.Maintenanceisavailable24hoursaday.
Mission: Wearecommittedtoprovideasafe,decent,sanitaryandaffordablehousingtoqualified applicantsinaneffectiveandefficientmanner
Overview: TheMuleshoeHousingAuthoritywasorganizedin1975.Itisanon-profitorganization designedtoprovidehousingtoqualifiedapplicants.
TheMuleshoeHousingAuthorityshallnotdiscriminateordenytoanyfamily,becauseofrace, age,color,sex,creedornationalorigin,theopportunitytoapplyforhousing,nordenyanyeligible applicanttheopportunitytoleaseorrentanyapartmentsuitabletoitsneeds.
CarloynJohnson,BoardMember;SteveFriskup,BoardMember.
MuleshoeHousingAuthorityEmployees: ExecutiveDirector,RaquelKirven Maintenance;RashadKirven.
CarloynJohnson,BoardMember:SteveFriskup.DirectorEjecutivo;RaquelKirven
DirectorEjecutivo;RaquelKirven MantenimientoRashadKirven.
