Commun ty Matters Clay Center Presbyterian Manor
COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:
March 2016
Susie Swanson builds relationships
In March, we celebrate National Social Worker’s Month, especially the efforts of our very own social worker here at Presbyterian Manor, Susie Swanson.
Everyone has a story to tell
Everyone knows fitness is important. How have you taken steps to be fit? What’s your regular fitness routine? If you’ve started a fitness routine late in life, what advice would you have for others? How do you think you benefit from regular exercise? If you’ve got a story to share about getting or staying fit, contact Heather Germann, marketing director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Susie Swanson does double duty as a social worker and as a state representative.
“I have been a social worker since 1970 and have worked at the Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center for 10 years. In that role, I talk with new residents and do yearly visits on the anniversary of the resident coming to the Manor. I also work with residents who may be experiencing issues with aging and transitioning from home to an adult living facility,” said Susie.
Social workers often encounter clients during an emotional time in their lives, and their caring expertise can make all the difference.
“Often, older adults lose spouses or other family or friends, and I talk with residents who are experiencing those normal life events to help them talk about their grief and recall memories of their loved ones. Often I have known their loved ones as well. I have learned so much from them and treasure those relationships,” said Susie. While every Presbyterian Manor has a social worker available for residents, Susie has another title that makes her unique, State Representative.
“I was elected to the State Legislature in 2014 and am serving my second year in Topeka. Since my husband, Vern, was the State Representative for
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SWANSON cont. from page 1 eight years prior to my election to the same position, I was aware of many aspects of the job,” said Susie. There were a few surprises, however.
Vespers
3/6 Pastor Lynch 3/13 Pastor Clay 3/20 Pastor Graham 3/27 Father Weber
“One surprise was the lack of time during the work day to return calls and emails and read material left by interest groups related to various issues,” said Susie. “My day during session flies by. The Kansas Legislature is a citizen legislature and we are in session for 90 days under normal circumstances.”
Chapel
3/1 Father Weber 3/8 Pastor Graham 3/15 Pastor Stewart 3/22 Pastor Lynch 3/29 Pastor Schoneweis
So how does Susie juggle it all?
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Community Matters
Congratulations and best wishes to Nurse Aide Joan McClintock on her retirement, after having served more than 30 years at Presbyterian Manor. She began her career at Salina Presbyterian Manor, and the last part here at Clay Center. She will be missed!
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.
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
ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org
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Susie’s dedication to the health and well-being of the residents are what keep her going as a social worker, and her service and dedication to not only Presbyterian Manor, but the entire community, are especially appreciated during this time of year.
Fond Farewell
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Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
“Since I am a Social Work Consultant, I work between 4-8 hours a month at the Manor, so it makes it all possible. Some days, I worry I won’t have enough time, but I think of my relationship with the residents and know that I would miss them if I left,” said Susie.
SAVE THE DATE:
26th Annual Manor Banquet
Mark your calendar for May 4, when we'll host our annual Manor Banquet to raise money for the Good Samaritan Program, which helps residents who have outlived their financial resources through no fault of their own. Look for more details in the April Community Matters newsletter.
Why keeping a good relationship with your doctor is key By Sarah C. Bauer, M.D.
“It’s all about relationships.”
That’s what a mentor told me during my medical training. Every day, as a pediatrician, I realize how true this is.
With the recent emergence and increasing popularity of virtual doctor visits due to convenience and lower costs, it is necessary to examine the nature of the interaction between doctor and patient.
As patients, we go to our doctors in our most vulnerable states. We want them to Medicine is all about relationships. tell us what we want to hear — that nothing is wrong and our deepest fears As a child, I watched the relationship are unsubstantiated. Sometimes that happens, and unfortunately, sometimes it between my grandfather and his doctor, who treated him for amyotrophic lateral doesn’t. sclerosis (ALS). This experience was at In medicine, a guiding principle is to the core of my own calling into “first, do no harm.” Even when you medicine. I wonder what his journey disagree with a patient over his or her would have looked like today. practices, behaviors and beliefs, you still My grandfather did not want to be kept must do your best to build these alive by extraordinary measures, and this relationships and “first do no harm.” was discussed with his longtime doctor Areas of disagreement may include and our family. His wishes were refusal of blood transfusions due to honored, and his doctor was at the religious reasons and withdrawing life center of the experience for everyone. support. It is important to consider whether it would be best for a patient to At the core of my grandfather’s find another doctor. This issue is an area relationship with his doctor was trust. Trust develops over time, listening that requires further study. and shared experiences. It is The doctor-patient fundamental to every relationship, relationship, 2015 version including the ones between doctors, patients, and families. This was in the I have started to think of the doctor1980s, and perhaps I was young and patient relationship as one that also involves extended family members that naïve. However, it did not seem as complicated as what happens in can, and often do, cause dysfunction. medicine today. Partnering with these sometimesdysfunctional aunts, uncles, and in-laws Dr. Google are the Internet, media, insurance The Internet is another extended family companies and the lack of time. member in the doctor-patient
Thinkstock photo
relationship, acting as an acknowledged or unacknowledged guest. In my clinics, many families come to visits after researching symptoms of autism, as well as treatments. They also have an idea of what autism is, purely based on characters they have seen in movies such as Rain Man or on television, including Max on NBC’s nowdiscontinued show, Parenthood.
I go online to diagnose for myself, and I went to medical school. If I have a symptom, I look it up online and have an idea of a plan before I go to my own doctor. Sometimes my doctor will agree, and sometimes not. I trust her judgment, and this trust has been built with time. She is also open to discussion.
Reputable medical sites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health are fine sources of information when we have
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CLAY CENTER PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3
YOUR DOCTOR continued from page 3
Each day I see children and their families and recommend treatment. We then talk about checking with their insurance company to see if the recommended treatment is covered. This is a particular challenge for families with children who have developmental disorders such as As so many are discovering with the ongoing discussions about the Affordable autism. Care Act, insurance companies have also Negotiating with the insurance company is another full-time job for become critical to doctor-patient many families, in addition to caring for relationships.
a question, but they offer just that: information. Sites do not have the ability to discern, observe and assimilate all of the facts — especially individual considerations for the patient. Sites cannot develop and sustain relationships no matter how often we visit them.
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YOUR DOCTOR continued from above they also have to make a living.
Medicine is all about relationships, regardless of the age of the patient, parent or caregiver. And these are relationships we choose and the relatives whose behavior we cannot choose or control.
Doctor-patient relationships are becoming more complicated, and we need to consider and advocate for how we protect them.
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We need more time with our patients and families, and we also need improved reimbursement from insurance programs so we can spend time with them. Equally important, improved reimbursements also allow us to develop programs to support patients and families in the journeys they did not choose.
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their children and supporting their families.
Time is another party to the doctorpatient relationship. Recently in the United Kingdom, family doctors demanded doubling of their patient visit times — to 15 minutes. In the United States, insurers will not pay for a visit if it is less than 15 minutes. Doctors want to spend time with their patients and families, but
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