SEPTEMBER 2020
State of the community By Sarah Griggs, executive director
There have been many challenges over the last several months—some big, some small. However, I am so proud of my team when facing each and every one of them.
The true and living God By Bill Bowles, chaplain
An excerpt of Acts 14:11-17, from the New International Version: “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
A couple of the biggest challenges came in the very beginning when CMS issued their guidelines in mid-March. My team approached each challenge by thinking outside the box, asking themselves what they can do to stay in compliance with CMS, but also help residents and families adapt to the new situation along with having the best quality of life as possible. Restricting visitation was probably the most impactful to our residents and families. Several residents and family members were used to daily and weekly visits that had to cease with no advance warning. With this challenge, we needed to increase our psychosocial support for not only our residents, but our families as well. We embraced adapting to different forms of communication. With the addition of iPads throughout the departments, all staff have been empowered to establish communication between residents and their loved ones at any time. Window visits have also been popular amongst all levels of care. In addition, we have been blessed to discover in healthcare, that we have the perfect set up for “fence visits.” Families and residents have been able to visit outside within certain guidelines that have allowed them to still see and speak to each other, while remaining safe. My team has also increased written communication updates via email to family members. As an example, we opened the beauty salon at the end of July. We tried to snap quick pics of the residents as they finished their services and sent those pics to families via email or text.
“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.’” CHAPLAIN - continued on page 2
GRIGGS - continued on page 2 Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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GRIGGS - continued from page 1
My team approached communal dining and activities in the same way. Small social distancing group dining and activities by floor or hallways has kept residents active and connected. While this has been a difficult adjustment for everyone, my team has remained positive. There have been numerous times that I have seen the staff continue to place the resident’s safety first. They are going above and beyond, always thinking of the safety of the residents and co-workers. CHAPLAIN - continued from page 1
Key ideas: • The Gospel of turning • A created universe
In many ways, the Presbyterian Manor team is a family to each other as well as the residents. With any family unit, there is a core value that keeps the family strong and united during challenging times. Over the last several months, that is what we have seen. This family has circled the wagons to protect the family. Everyone is ready to re-open, however the biggest challenge that I see is overcoming the “fear.” Everyone wants to get back to normal, or at least a new normal, but there is this underlying “fear.” Our approach is to take it one-step
More than anything, the thing we are all looking forward to most when our community reopens is seeing our residents reunite with their loved ones! ◆
• Our providential god
Prayer:
Action step:
Lord, I know you are expecting me, as a creative caretaker, to treat this earth today in a responsible manner. ◆
look closer on a familiar route you travel, seeking to be more aware of Gods creative works in nature.
August birthdays Doris Brentlinger Joe Cary Cecilia Nelson Shirley Morris
COVID-19 updates continue As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor. org/covid-19. ◆
ARKANSAS CITY Presbyterian Manor 620-442-8700 ◆ Fax: 620-442-8224 1711 N. Fourth St. Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org
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at a time to help both residents and staff feel comfortable. The reopening plan is extensive and there are many pieces to it. When the leadership team reviewed the plan, we decided to take a slow approach and only “re-open” a few things at a time. By slowly easing into the different pieces, both residents and staff have been able to adjust easier to either readapting to a routine that has not been in place for several months or a “new normal.”
COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2020
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.
To submit or suggest articles: sgriggs@PMMA.org Sarah Griggs, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
New hairdressers adding joy and style to Presbyterian Manor The beauty shop on campus may not be the hangout it was before the pandemic, but the doors are open and there are two new hairdressers providing friendly conversation and fresh new hair styles. “It’s one person in, one person out, so it’s more one on one rather than having several in the salon to interact with each other. The other hairdresser and I rotate days since we can’t be there at the same time, too,” said Sally Goosey, hairdresser. Sally and Wanda Musson both had their first day in the beauty shop in late July, but it’s not the first time they’ve worked together. When they’re not working in our community’s salon, the two work at Sandy’s Beauty Shop in Ark City where they’re been working together for around 12 years.
“I always liked doing hair when I was in high school. I got into it, really liked it and did it ever since,” said Wanda.
Sally’s interest in being a hairdresser came a little later. “My sister-in-law wanted to go to beauty school and didn’t want to go by herself. I had already graduated with my associate degree and didn’t have a job. I thought, ‘I’m not doing anything else,’ so I went to beauty school with her.” Both women had the same reason for working in our beauty shop: the residents. “I love seniors. They have a special place in my heart. I’m happy they can get their hair done. They’re so excited and just love it,” said Wanda.
Wanda added, “We’ve been friends for a long time.”
Sally added, “I enjoy the ladies and hearing the stories they tell. They are all so excited to see us. The staff are so nice and very considerate. When I walk in, you just feel like you’re part of the group. They make you feel very welcome and at ease.”
Wanda has also been a hairdresser for a long time—50 years!
Welcome to the team, Wanda and Sally! ◆
“We met at Sandy’s Beauty Shop, but I had heard Wanda’s name for years,” said Sally.
Wanda Musson and her husband Jim
From left: Jessice Goosey, Bernice Rush, Amanda Dorrell and Sally Goosey
Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor scores zero deficiencies on infection control surveys Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor received zero deficiencies, or a perfect score, on its focused infection control surveys for health care and assisted living conducted June 23 and July 9.
The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) conducts nursing home surveys in Kansas on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The state agency also sets licensing requirements and quality standards for adult care homes, which includes assisted living SURVEYS - continued on page 4
Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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ARKANSAS CITY Presbyterian Manor
1711 N. Fourth St. Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
SURVEYS - continued from page 3
surveyors to complete the surveys by July 31, 2020.
communities, and conducts adult care home surveys.
“I am so proud of the Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor team. The assisted living focused infection Every day, our employees live out our mission to provide quality control survey is one of more senior services guided by Christian than 160 state licensed adult care values,” said Sarah Griggs, executive home and home plus inspections completed as ordered by the Kansas director. “These surveys are proof of the hard work our employees Legislature in early June. All adult have put in throughout the care homes in Kansas will have a focused infection control survey by COVID-19 pandemic.” September 30, 2020. Annual surveys for both nursing The health care survey is one of more than 320 nursing home infection control surveys completed so far in Kansas at the direction of CMS. The federal agency, which oversees licensing and quality measures for nursing homes, announced in March that priority would be given to focused infection control surveys and required state
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homes and adult care homes were delayed in an effort to ensure nursing homes and adult care homes were prepared to respond to the threat of disease caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Surveyors home-in on a facility’s adherence to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and CMS guidance for infection control
COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2020
practices to prevent disease at the community. The focused infection control surveys examine the facility’s policies and emergency preparedness related to a pandemic or outbreak. Communities are assessed on staff and resident education on hand hygiene and coughing/sneezing etiquette, cleaning, screening of employees and residents, effective transmission-based precautions, proper use/discarding of personal protective equipment and signage at entrances and resident rooms. Senior living communities are surveyed annually by their licensing agencies for compliance of regulations established by KDADS and CMS. By meeting this standard, senior living communities are able to renew their licenses and continue to provide care. ◆