Community Matters Aberdeen Village
November 2015
Sending ‘Angels’ to the Good Samaritan Program Special angels will soon be adorning Christmas trees and holiday displays at every Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica (PMMA) senior living community. The “angels” are paper ornaments that will arrive throughout the holiday season along with gifts to the annual Christmas Angel Appeal, which raises funds for the Good Samaritan Program for Benevolent Care. Donors who make gifts are asked to return paper Angel ornaments along with their gifts. The ornaments pay tribute to donors’ family members or friends and are displayed at PMMA communities designated by the donors. During the past two years, donors to the angel appeals have given more than $90,000 to the Good Samaritan Program. The program assists PMMA residents who have out-lived their financial resources through no fault of their own. Since PMMA began 66 years ago, no residents have been asked to leave because they exhausted their financial resources. If you would like to participate in the Angel Appeal, please email development@pmma.org or call 800-336-8511. CEO, continued on page 4
Music & Memory
Local project in need of volunteers, donations Few things are more personal than our musical tastes. Favorite songs trigger rich memories and influence our moods. That’s why social worker Dan Cohen launched an effort in 2008 to bring individualized music to residents in long-term care. Cohen founded the nonprofit Music & Memory, which provides residents in long-term care with iPod personal music players that are loaded with each recipient’s favorite songs. Rolla Presbyterian Manor received a grant to begin the program, which enabled other PMMA communities to receive the training and become certified at a discount. PMMA communities are taking advantage of the opportunity, and training sessions were held for Aberdeen Village staff
A proud member of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America
MUSIC, continued on page 4
Thanksgiving: It’s all about the Alpha and Omega
By Rev. Dr. Larry Thornton, Aberdeen Village chaplain
Try to read this: “IT’S ALL AOUBT THEE APHLA AND OEAMGA. Aoccdrnig to rseearch at Cmabrigde The Rev. Dr. Uinervristy, it Larry Thornton deosn’t mttaer in what order the ltteers in a wrod aer; the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol mses and you can slitl raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
Community Matters 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. Tim Allin, executive director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, swilley@pmma.org. 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.
2
Community Matters November 2015
istlef but the wrod as a wlohe.”
This little quote points to the fact that as long as the first letter and the last letter in a word are correct, our minds can usually figure out what the word is even when the letters in between are all messed up. Now, isn’t that what grace is all about? As long as we know where we have come from (our alpha) and where we going (our omega), we understand who we are and whose we are. We worry so much about getting each letter in our lives perfect that we forget that God has already forgiven us, even when we mess things up. But even worse, we think that our faith depends on us getting all A’s on the spelling test of life instead of knowing, through faith, that God has already forgiven us. I love this story from Dr. Billy Graham when he was honored for his ministry. He said he was reminded of Albert Einstein who was once traveling from Princeton on a train. When the conductor came by to punch his ticket, Einstein reached into his pocket but could not find it. “That’s okay, Dr. Einstein,” the conductor said, “I know who you are. I’m sure you
have a ticket. Don’t worry about it.” The conductor continued down the aisle. As he was moving to the next car, he turned around and saw Dr. Einstein on his hands and knees looking under the seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and pleaded, “Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are.You don’t need a ticket.” Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I am going!” Dr. Graham closed his remarks by strongly sharing his faith with these words: I want you to remember this:You and I not only know who we are, we also know where we are going! Life without the Lord is like an unsharpened pencil: it has no point. We live well, we age well, and we die well, because the Lord has brought us His wellness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So enjoy this Thanksgiving season as an alpha-and-omega day in the Lord, and forget about how well you did in spelling in school! I am indebted to Richard Bimlet for these thoughts from his book, “Joyfully Aging.” Have a blessed and meaningful Thanksgiving!
Christmas Tree Lane is around the bend Beginning Nov. 30, the halls in the common area stretching across the bridge to independent living will be glowing with the lights and tinsel of nearly 30 Christmas trees. This longstanding tradition of festive fundraising for the Good Samaritan Program, through raffling the trees, is a wonderful way to reach out to the community at large.
The Good Samaritan Program assists residents who have outlived their financial resources through no fault of their own, enabling them to continue living at their Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America community.
Defining hope
Becoming a dementia friendly community is the overall theme to the Nov. 10 continuing education program at Johnson County Community College (JCCC). This all-day conference focuses on the possibilities to strengthen our inclusion of those among us with dementia at all levels of community life. What would an entire community look like if it were dementiafriendly? What would businesses look like? Faith communities? Schools? Parks? Neighborhoods? Every part of our community? The Alzheimer’s Association produces this symposium, held annually at JCCC. Aberdeen Village is the key sponsor.
LIKE
Aberdeen Village ON
Everyone has a story to share The January issue of Community Matters will focus on new beginnings. Do you have a story about a time you decided to start anew? What happened? How did that alter the course of your life? Contact Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey, and your story may be selected to appear in an upcoming Community Matters. Aberdeen Village
3
LEAVE US A COMPLIMENT. GO ONLINE AND SHARE YOUR GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH US. Go to reputation.g5search.com/aberdeen-village and choose one of our preferred online review sites to share your story.
DONATE YOUR VEHICLE Support Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Today by Donating a Vehicle! We’ll pick up at no cost and you get a tax deduction.
4
Just call (844) 490-GIVE for information Community Matters November 2015
Sign up to receive our newsletter by email. Visit AberdeenVillage.com and enter your email address in the subscription box. It’s that easy! MUSIC, continued from page 1
members in July. Aberdeen Village recently received a starter kit with iPods, headphones and iTunes gift cards, and are currently seeking donations for more. Some communities already are reaching out to residents in independent living to help other residents set up their players. In spite of its name, the Music & Memory program isn’t limited to residents in memory care. Once enough players are available, any resident will be welcome to plug in and play the music they love best—whether that’s Beethoven, Count Basie or the Beatles. To assist Aberdeen Village with building up its supply of iPods and iTunes cards, contact Sandy Barnes at 913-213-1686.