Commun ty Matters Clay Center Presbyterian Manor
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor honored for achievements
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America 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 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. Clay Center was recognized for achieving a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, meeting marketing and safety goals, and building philanthropic support for the organization’s mission to provide quality
EMERALD AWARD continued on page 3
Still stitching at 102
February 2015
Alma Decker has been a friendly face at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor since 2005, when she and her husband, Ernest, moved in together. He passed away in 2010, and Alma has kept busy since then with a beautiful pastime – making intricately embroidered tea towels.
“Mother started embroidering towels as a teenager,” said Alma’s daughter, Marsha. “Her mother taught her at home, and while she tried to teach us children, we couldn’t do it quite as well as she could. She didn’t start doing it constantly until after daddy became ill. At 102 years old, she still Alma Decker, 102 , still embroiders intricate tea towels. practices her craft, even after breaking her hand a year or so ago. My brother, Gary, got her a magnifying light, which makes the detail work easier to see.”
Alma has two children, daughter Marsha and son Gary, as well as six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
“She mostly made towels to give as gifts, to kids and grandkids,” Marsha said. Alma has six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. “There were two instances recently though where she ended up selling something. She submitted her work to the Art is Ageless program, and one community member saw it displayed and asked if she could buy it. It reminded her of ones her grandmother used to make. Mother was surprised, but obliged.” It wasn’t the first time Alma had been paid for her handiwork however.
Bruce Shogren, PMMA CEO, left, and Doug Yoder, PMMA chief operating officer, right, present Mike Derousseau, executive director with the Emerald Award recognition.
“There was one time when a lady started a quilt to represent each state in the union. For the Kansas area, she wanted a sunflower, etc. She got discouraged and hired someone else to do it. That someone else then hired mother. We teased her that she had to be careful not to take too many coffee breaks while she was quilting, since she was on the clock,” Marsha said. “I never got to see the whole quilt, but judging from mother’s contribution alone, it must have STILL STITCHING continued on page 4
Calling all entries for Art is Ageless
If you’re age 65 or better and would like to demonstrate your artistic abilities or appreciation for the arts, the deadline to enter the Art is Ageless juried competition is approaching.
Entry deadline: March 9 Exhibit: March 14, 2 to 4 p.m. Reception: March 14, 3:30 p.m. Questions: Call Heather Germann at 785-632-5646.
Winning entries from last year's Art is Ageless exhibition show our local artists' talent.
Residents enjoy a little Christmas
®
®
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of
Santa visits Health Care residents at their Christmas party.
501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.
Mike Derousseau, 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
2 COMMUNITY MATTERS FEBRUARY 2015
Randy Halfhide entertains residents and family for the Health Care neighborhood Christmas party.
New community arises from growing senior need
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. 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. A sign announces Aberdeen Village is coming soon. At the time, there were no Christian-based nonprofit senior living communities offering the full continuum of care in Johnson County. A 37-acre tract of land just east of West “Be of Good Cheer” committee members 119th Street and Ridgeview Road in honoring the work of Dr. Bob Meneilly. Olathe was donated
Sweet sounds linger
for the project. Dr. Robert Meneilly steered a committee of local and church leaders in the “Building for Our Future” campaign for Aberdeen Village. The project included a three-story building for 90 independent living apartments, 44 assisted living suites in a two-story building, and a 60-bed health care center with 15 spaces PMMA CEO Bill Ward reserved for seniors with Alzheimer’s speaks at the dedication or other forms of dementia. of Aberdeen Village. Construction began in 1999. Aberdeen Village opened its doors in May 2001 as the 17th campus for Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. Independent Living residents and loved ones enjoyed Tiger Chorale singers at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor Christmas party. Many thanks to the The Tiger Chorale from Clay Center Community High School for the sweet sounds the group blessed us with during our Christmas festivities.
EMERALD AWARD continued from page 1
senior services guided by Christian values. “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. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America is celebrating 65 years of providing quality senior services in Kansas and Missouri. For more information about Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, contact Heather Germann, marketing director, at 785-632-5646 or hgermann@pmma.org.
Tired of paper?
Sign up to get our newsletter by email. Visit ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org and enter your email address in the blue box on the right. CLAY CENTER PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3
Coming up in Community Matters:
Community Matters will be looking forward to the change in seasons to spring and preparing for 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 Heather Germann to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.
Save the date for our annual fundraiser When: April 22 Where: United Methodist Church Family Life Center What: Dinner, chance drawing and silent auction Who: Everyone! Why: The Good Samaritan Fund helps our residents who have outlived their financial resources to remain at Presbyterian Manor.
®
®
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor 924 Eighth St. Clay Center, KS 67432-2620
STILL STITCHING continued from page 1
been stunning. She really enjoyed doing it.”
Alma’s work has won several awards in the Art is Ageless program, including first place and honorable mention, all which took place after she’d turned 100. In addition to her sewing expertise, Marsha adds there’s something else people may not know about her mother.
“She was an identical twin and up until adolescence, nobody could tell her and her sister Alpa apart,” Marsha said. “They were the closest of friends for 96 years until auntie died. They kept the highway warm between Lincoln, where we lived, and Topeka, where she lived.” 4 COMMUNITY MATTERS FEBRUARY 2015
Give a boost by giving a ‘Bravo’
Do you know a Presbyterian Manor employee who went above and beyond to give exceptional service? We bet you know several. Why not give them more than a pat on the back by submitting their names for the Bravo program?
Simply fill out a Bravo card and slip it in the Bravo collection box located near the lobby elevator on the main floor. Family members, guests, co-workers and supervisors are welcome to participate.