Commun ty Matters Clay Center Presbyterian Manor
January 2019
The gift of making Clay Center Presbyterian Manor a video biography honored for achievements Videos of loved ones help preserve memories in a personal way By Debbie Musser
Seymour and Angel Newman light up as they talk about their daughters, Shoshana and Raphaela. “The best thing that ever happened to my life was those two girls,” Seymour said. Angel added, “They both have such good hearts. They’re such good children.”
This snippet is one of many touching moments in a 90-minute video biography, a visually captivating film featuring highlights from an interview with the couple, edited and woven together with family photos, memorabilia and music.
Knowing that her father was ill, the couple’s daughter, Raphaela Stern of Skokie, Ill., hired Susan Saunders, owner of Family Line Video in Chicago, to capture her parents’ story.
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America for reaching goals in fiscal year 2018, July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.
The recognition came through PMMA’s Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 17 locations and two hospices to achieve high levels of resident/patient 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 community has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. Certificates of recognition were given out to communities that reached their goals in one or more category. Clay Center was recognized for reaching goals in independent and assisted living resident satisfaction and meeting occupancy and financial goals.
“This recognition is a visible sign of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA.
“My father was at a great point physically, so I wanted to capture whatever we could,” said Stern. Seymour passed away about two months after the interview.
Bringing history to life
Saunders began planning for her video biography business back in 2006, inspired by a graduate school experience. VIDEO continued on page 2
Bruce Shogren, president and CEO of PMMA, left, and Bill Taylor, chief operating officer, right, present Christian Gilbert, executive director, with a certificate for achieving four of 11 Emerald goals in fiscal year 2018.
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“I just fell in love with it, listening to their stories,” said Saunders. “They clearly enjoyed being asked those questions and the families loved getting the audio transcripts. I wanted them to have a visual experience and wanted it to be personal, including family photos that tell the stories to bring some of this history to life.”
“It was a little slow start, but back then it was hard to find someone who did something similar,” she said. “My goal is for the family to feel like this person is talking directly to them, with their
Photo credit: Adobe Stock
After two years of learning how to film and edit, Saunders hung her shingle out in 2008, when the market crashed.
expressions and personalities. I describe it as a family documentary video.” Saunders offers four packages, ranging from $950 to $3,800. Tripping down memory lane
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.
Christian Gilbert, executive director Heather Germann, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Heather Germann, hgermann@pmma.org.
Telephone: 785-632-5646 Fax: 785-632-5874 Address: 924 Eighth St., Clay Center, KS 67432-2620
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org
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Saunders’ interviews are typically three hours, starting with questions about childhood memories and about parents/grandparents/greatgrandparents.
“A lot of clients say, ‘You won’t get anything out of him’ but that’s not the case; a flood of memories comes out,” she said. “I enjoy watching people come into the room a little nervous and watching them leave tripping down memory lane. ” In her own voice
Another client of Saunders, Barbara Rosin of Highland Park, Ill., decided to create a video biography for her family when she turned 70.
Rosin worked with Saunders to create a video full of selected photos, with her voice in narration and also in song, since she is a singer. “I tried to bring up a lot that my kids didn’t know, including vivid memories of my childhood,” said Rosin. “And I talked
about the joy of their father and I having children.”
Rosin’s children hosted a 70th birthday celebration for her, and she asked them to come to her home for brunch the day after. “I invited them into the den to watch the video on the TV. I gave them each a copy. I think when they’ll enjoy it the most is when I’m not here. That will be a nice thing to remember me by.” A gift for future generations
Allen Bronstein, owner ofYour Life Matters Video in San Francisco, has created more than 60 video biographies for hospice clients. A commercial videographer by trade, he was contacted to create a memorial video for a superior court judge who was also a musician and fisherman.
“Putting that together for the judge’s widow was a wonderful experience for me, and the business started from there,” he said.
“The approach I take is to look for the meaningful events in their lives — the things they had to overcome to be where they are now,” said Bronstein.
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Hamilton Relay offers help for hard of hearing Clay Center Presbyterian Manor hosts free program
Do you have trouble hearing over the telephone? Have you ever wondered if there was something that could help you communicate better with loved ones over the phone?
Hamilton Relay has been providing telecommunications relay services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking since 1991. Their services can help someone with hearing problems communicate more effectively over the phone. You can learn more about the technology behind this service and how it can help those with hearing issues talk on the phone when Cady Macfee, Kansas Outreach Coordinator for Hamilton Relay, visits Clay Center Presbyterian Manor January 10. “Hamilton Relay: What Is It and How
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“What drives me is empathy. My interest is in telling someone’s story in the most truthful manner possible. Whether the person is a poet, housewife or entrepreneur, I’ve endeavored to show how heroic they are, and what they’ve overcome.” Bronstein also sees the importance of video biographies being passed down from one generation to the next.
“These are really ‘video heirlooms’ that allow future generations to see who you are, what you sounded like and the important things in your life,” he said. “And it’s fascinating to see a childhood photo compared to the image of a grandchild. Often you can see the repeat of the genetics in
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Can It HelpYou?” will begin at 2 p.m. January 10 at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, 924 Eighth Street. It is part of Presbyterian Manor’s Just Ask series, a free, ongoing lifelong learning program featuring information from local, regional and national experts on
appearance and also in talents and skills. It’s a way of communicating these things and capturing them so they can be shared.” A life that mattered
One memorable client of Bronstein’s shared the story of her oldest son who was brain damaged. “In the video, she talks about how she helped her son learn how to swallow, walk and become educated; she’s an amazing woman,” he said.
Another of Bronstein’s clients shared a memory of watching the Golden Gate Bridge being built in the 1930s. “I found photos of the bridge being constructed and a newspaper article and put that all together into a story that she narrated.”
topics of interest to older adults and their families.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Marketing Director Heather Germann at 785-632-5646 or email hgermann@pmma.org by January 8. Recalling significant life moments can be an especially meaningful experience. “With a lot of hospice patients, this is life affirming,” Bronstein said. “They’re at the end of their existence, possibly questioning if their life really mattered. I try not to discuss their medical conditions. I’m not there to offer sympathy. I’m there to try and capture who they are and to show them that yes, your life did matter, and here it is.”
There are many video biographers across the country; online research and word-of-mouth referrals are good ways to find someone to create a video biography for your family.
CLAY CENTER PRESBYTERIAN MANOR
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Clay Center Presbyterian Manor 924 Eighth St. Clay Center, KS 67432-2620
Chapel
Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
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Sundays at 4 p.m. In the Healthcare Dining Room
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® call for entries underway
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held February 23, 2019. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2019 Art is Ageless calendar.
Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years (since January 2014). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by February 20.
The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events,
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educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.
Local competition winners will join winners from 16 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged at the systemwide level.
Entry forms and information can be picked up at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, 924 8th St., or by contacting Heather Germann or Kristin Pedigo at 785-632-5646. Go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK