Community Matters Aberdeen Village
February 2015
Aberdeen Village honored for achievements Aberdeen Village received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica for reaching goals in fiscal year 2014, July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014. The recognition came through PMMA’s new Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 18 locations to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards. To receive an emerald, a campus has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. Certificates of recognition were given out to campuses that reached their goals in one or more category. Aberdeen Village, located in Olathe, Kan., was recognized for achieving a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and meeting marketing goals. “This recognition is a visible sign of Aberdeen Village’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, CEO. HONOR, continued on page 3 CEO, continued on page 4
74 years strong
Couple celebrates Valentine’s Day anniversary It’s not often you find a couple married more than 50 years, let alone 74. But that’s exactly how many years of marriage Bob and Mary Jane Anderson will celebrate on Valentine’s Day. Their love began after a simple encounter at church. She just happened to be a greeter on the Sunday he chose to visit. They were married at Central Presbyterian Church in Kansas City and went on to have four children, eight grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. Bob served 49 years on the board of College of the Ozarks, is a member of the Allied Food Club, and is a soloist in his church choir and the Shriner’s Chanters. Mary Jane taught Sunday school, was president of the parent teacher organization and worked with American Field Service. The family hosted foreign exchange students from Argentina and Sweden. Bob and Mary Jane have always enjoyed Valentine’s Day and its special meaning to them. For 28 years, they celebrated their love with a trip to Sanibel Island to strengthen their bond. Their advice for young couples? “Always say ‘Yes, ma’am,” advises Bob, and Mary Jane adds, “Communication is key.” Congratulations, Bob and Mary Jane!
A proud member of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America
Toast to a healthy heart
Chaplain’s message
On Feb. 10, join us from 2 to 4 p.m. for “Aberdeen Village: Your Passport to Good Heart Health.” This will be an opportunity for residents and guests to learn about good heart health while enjoying wines from around the globe.
The greatest of these By Rev. Dr. Larry L. Thornton, Aberdeen Village chaplain
February is here again and our thoughts turn to... Valentine’s Day and love! Esther Howland produced the first commercial American Valentine in the 1840s. Today over one billion Valentine cards are sent in America every year — second in numbers only to Christmas cards. We would not think of letting Valentine’s Day go by The Rev. Dr. Larry without finding a way to express and give love to those we love. As Saint Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 13. If I Thornton have not love, I am nothing... the greatest of these is love. Love is the most powerful force in our world. To be loved and to love is the only thing that gives meaning and hope to all of life. What does that look like? I love the words of a poem by Emmet Fox that was given to me by Ginny Graham, one of our Aberdeen Village residents. Ginny’s pastor husband, Warren, used these words in a card to express thanks to people in his congregations. There is no difficulty that enough LOVE will not conquer.
Community Matters
There is no disease that enough LOVE will not heal.
is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org.
There is no door that enough LOVE will not open.
Tim Allin, executive director
There is no wall that enough LOVE will not throw down.
To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, swilley@pmma.org.
There is no sin that enough LOVE will not redeem.
Telephone: 913-599-6100 Fax: 913-599-3810 Address: 17500 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061-9524 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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There is no gulf that enough LOVE will not bridge.
Community Matters February 2015
If only we could LOVE enough... We would be the happiest and most powerful beings in the world. Paul’s word for love in the Greek language is agape. It is a unique word and concept. It depicts a selfless love that cares and sacrifices for others... the way God loves us! Listen to the words in Job 10:10, “You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.” God wanted you, and God loves you. Believe it, and then trust it! We love because God first loved us. Let this poem be a guide and a challenge: If only we could LOVE enough. Then we would be the happiest and most powerful beings in the world! May God help us to LOVE others as God loves us! Happy Valentine’s Day!
5 tips for a purpose-filled retirement By Ed Merck for Next Avenue
Here are five tips that will ease your passage into a purpose-filled later life: 1. Identify activities that provide you with a sense of purpose. There is no objective reality when it comes to defining what we find personally meaningful. Some of us feel purposeful when we experience a sense of direction, others when we’re engaged in nurturing and still others when we are immersed in nature. The key is to know what works for you.
HONOR, continued from page 1
Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica is celebrating 65 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri. For more information about Aberdeen Village, contact Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey at 913-599-6100 or swilley@pmma.org.
2. Create a brief statement that ties together the interests that provide you with a sense of purpose. Keep the phrase simple but comprehensive enough to answer the question: How do you want to invest limited life energy? For example, “Envision my life as a ministry.” 3. Strengthen your inner landscape. Learning to live your purpose is essentially a spiritual exercise, and thus an “inside” job. Contemplative activities such as meditation are a real winner in fostering this oftendormant skill set of inner reflection. Join a community of meditators. Or if movement is more your thing, try yoga or Tai Chi. 4. Explore what it means to create. The act of creating is the unfolding of who we are in the world,. It can take the form of art, music, writing, cooking, conversation or even just sitting quietly. Copyright© 2014 Next Avenue, a division of Twin Cities Public Television Inc. Aberdeen Village
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New community arises from growing senior needs This month, we continue to look back at 65 years of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America with the birth of Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan. This month, we continue our look back at 65 years of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America with the birth of Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan.
the project. Dr. Robert Meneilly steered a committee of local and church leaders in the “Building for Our Future” campaign for Aberdeen Village.
In 1996, Presbyterians in Johnson County were convinced there was a need for a new Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in the Greater Kansas City area, and specifically in Johnson County. At the time, there were no Christian-based nonprofit senior living communities offering the full continuum of care in Johnson County.
The project included a threestory building for 90 independent living apartments, 44 assisted living suites in a twostory building, and a 60-bed health care center with 15 spaces reserved for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
A 37-acre tract of land just east of West 119th Street and Ridgeview Road in Olathe was donated for
Construction began in 1999. Aberdeen Village opened its doors in May 2001 as the 17th campus for Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica.
“Be of Good Cheer” committee members honoring the work of Dr. Bob Meneilly.
Construction is underway on Aberdeen Village.
Coming Up in Community Matters Community Matters will be looking forward to the change in seasons to spring and preparing to celebrate Easter. We’re looking for residents with a story to tell. What’s your favorite March Madness memory? Who’s your favorite baseball team? Why? What’s your favorite baseball memory? What does spring mean to you? What do you remember about spring as a child or adult? What’s your favorite Easter memory? If you have a story to tell, contact Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.
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Community Matters February 2015
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