Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
December 2018
Devotion By Bill Bowles, resident chaplain Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
Have you noticed over time We are living together In our new community of Persons with the feeling we Are in a new state, town or neighborhood, or finding We have new people who have moved into our world? Very probably our experiences Will differ somewhat. We may be helping new Friends feel welcome and at Home just as we have Been welcomed before to A new community. If we think, “This is a new town or city for us, I hope this will be a good experience” and before we realize, this is proving to be true. Remembering new names, sharing different life experiences, hearing from new friends about challenging struggles, fulfilling experiences and successes may prove both encouraging and enriching to our courage and hopes for living! Once total strangers we now may DEVOTION, continued on page 2
Peggy Good hangs an ornament in memory of her father Wayne Rector in 2017.
Holiday traditions through the years Throughout the years, the holidays have always been a huge part of the culture at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor. The community started many traditions when it opened its doors in 1978, which continue today. Then other traditions were added in later years. Connie Bruner, housekeeping supervisor, began her career in 1984, and reflects that Presbyterian Manor family has always hosted a holiday dinner. “That tradition hasn’t changed. We have always invited families to join the residents for a special dinner between Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Each year, residents look forward to the holiday dinner and enjoy inviting their loved ones to experience this special occasion. The dining services and activities departments begin planning for this event months in advance to ensure that residents and their guests have a fantastic experience. The team serves about 350 meals that evening. In addition, on Thanksgiving and Christmas days, the dining services team serves traditional meals to those residents and families who choose to dine at the Presbyterian Manor. TRADITIONS, continued on page 4
DEVOTION, continued from page 1
find new inspiring friends! From our long experiences We may have similar Stories and life fulfillments To share with our new Friends. Yes some New neighbors and Acquaintances may be Easier to understand and Encourage. Of course Other may choose to Size us up at a different Pace then it takes for Us. Often patience and Time opens new doors And windows to new
Friends. Often times reading our New & older testament Scriptures filled with Experiences of fulfillment And struggles will Often give us clues Of meeting, accepting, Welcoming, befriending, and “Being there for others” when
They seem to need Encouragement and Friendship. Sometimes in reading and Observing Jesus, our Savior’s actions and caring For others may help Us in our friendship With others in their Times of need!
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Sarah Griggs, executive director Sean Page, marketing director Lori Peters, activities director
To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact spage@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-442-8700 Fax: 620-442-8224 Address: 1711 N. Fourth, Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters December 2018
Capturing the beauty Marjorie Swaim has been painting and drawing for many years. When she first started this form of artwork, her inspiration usually came from her farm or the world around her. This piece, “Morning Fog,” is a likeness of a dock in Appalachia, Fla., that Marjorie and her husband, Steve, visit while on vacation. Marjorie likes to watch the sun set and rise from this beautiful location, and it oftentimes presents opportunities for capturing the beauty of the water and the fog rolling in. Like us on Facebook
‘Newcomer’ Sheila Riedl looks back at 19-year career For nearly two decades, Sheila Riedl has been handling the community’s bookkeeping as accounting assistant. While at most organizations that’s a tenure that would grant her a certain level of seniority, at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, it means she’s just getting started. “Nineteen years sounds like a lot, but when you look at employees who have been here 30 years... now that’s longevity,” said Sheila. Despite her status as a relative “newcomer” to the community’s staff, that doesn’t mean Sheila hasn’t seen her share of change. “We continue to improve the appearance of the building and grounds to be attractive, inviting and homelike. Our residents, their family and friends, and our staff deserve a comfortable place to live, visit and work,” said Sheila. Even though she has spent her entire career in the accounting department, her job itself bears little resemblance to the one she started in 1990.
“As far as work processes, there’s hardly anything that I do now that is exactly the same as when I started,” said Sheila. “Computer systems are different, Medicare and Medicaid is different—I like the saying ‘the only thing constant is change.’” Maybe the biggest change Sheila has seen in the past 19 years has taken place in the community’s culture. What was once very scheduled and regimented has become much more free-flowing and individualized to meet the needs of the residents. “We’ve evolved not only to provide a better service but because the next generation requires it,” said Sheila. “They want to do what they want, when they want.” It’s that focus on—and interaction with—the community’s residents that motivates Sheila to get up and come into work each and every day. “The parts I enjoy the most about my job are not any of my job duties, it’s the parties, the recognitions for people, visiting with residents, helping them find a website on the
computer and knowing they’re comfortable to come to my office and ask me questions,” said Sheila. When asked for her opinion as to why the community enjoys such longevity among its staff, Sheila had a simple answer. “I think it’s because we choose the right people—people who want to be here to take care of the residents,” said Sheila. “It’s not about the money. We’re here because we want to take care of our residents.”
Happy December birthday! Rosemary Almassy
Ella Hutchinson
Louise Baird
Beverly Keller
Gene Brinkman
Carol Mitchell
Wilda Buffo
Lavona Morrison
Ralph Testerman
Beulah Cales
George Sherwood
Nolan Wineinger
Hazel Crumley
Norma Snyder
Harley Wood
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Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor 1711 N. Fourth Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 Return Service Requested
TRADITIONS, continued from page 1
Christmas trees are another tradition at Presbyterian Manor. We decorate most of the shared spaces and also have 15 Christmas trees to decorate. Each of the trees are decorated differently with the guidance of residents and staff living and working in certain areas. “I am sure that the number of trees has increased over the years,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director. “Just since I started in 2000, we have added at least six areas with decorations and/or trees. Each is beautiful and unique. We want to make sure that no matter where you reside, and where families gather during the holiday season, that there is the holiday spirit present.” Our community hosts a celebration
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Community Matters December 2018
of life each year. At the beginning of the holiday season, the Presbyterian Manor family invites families to celebrate the lives of those we have lost in the past year. “At the beginning of the celebration, the tree in the chapel is undecorated, but at the end of the celebration, it is the most beautiful tree in our community,” said Sarah. Jo Carolyn Chambers, former director of social services, created the vision of the celebration of life approximately 20 years ago. “We started [the celebration] as a way to remember and honor those that we served and loved, as well as the impact they made in each of our lives,” Jo Carolyn says. “Many residents become like family, and having the celebration
of life provides that special time of reflection and gratitude for the way that our lives were touched. For the families, the celebration of life allows them a chance to reflect and remember, and share with caregivers.” The celebration of life tree remains lit at the front of the chapel for the entire holiday season. It is not unusual for individuals to stop in during the day simply to look at the ornaments on the tree. The first ornaments used were gold stars each with a name of a resident who had passed. Today, we use ornaments with pictures of each resident. If you ask the Presbyterian Manor family, the celebration of life tree is the most precious tree in our community. Like us on Facebook