Wichita Community Matters – September 2023

Seven local artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners

Seven winning artists in Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2024 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica®).

“Christmas’ Glow,” a Christmas entry by Janet Butler, “Ring Neck Pheasant,” a Photography entry by Charles Cummins, “Between Sea and Sky,” a Photography entry by John Ellert, “Sitting in Spring,” a Painting by Richard Haden, “Covered Bridge,” a photography entry by LaVerne Klassen, and “My Favorite Memories,” a Mixed Media/Crafts entry by Carolyn Jean Stahl, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall.

“Kansas Sunshine,” a Drawing entry by Patt Sharpe, will be featured on the pull-out postcards included in the 2024 calendar.

“Friends,” a Fiber Arts entry by Deborah Derber, “Oaklee,” a Drawing entry by Maria Engelhardt, and “Birds,” a Quilting entry by Donna Walter, will be included in the calendar’s honorable mention gallery.

“Partial Eclipse,” a Painting entry by Skip Kreibach, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards.

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Help us welcome new resident back to our community

For Varon “Bill” Harvey his assisted living apartment might be new, but the Wichita Presbyterian Manor community is a familiar home. Originally, Bill was supposed to move into an assisted living apartment - but days before his scheduled move-in date, he found himself in the hospital. That required him to spend some time receiving care in our PATH area, for some skilled nursing services and rehabilitation care. Later, he moved over to the healthcare area, and over time improved enough to make his way back to assisted living. He recently experienced another challenge, and returned to rehab for a whilebut he’s on the mend and has found his way back to his original destination in Assisted Living.

We’re grateful that Bill has called Wichita Presbyterian Manor home, and we’re happy that our community gave him all the care he’s needed to grow, recover, and find his way back to the life he imagined.

Help us give a hearty welcome to Bill! u

Wichita Presbyterian Manor

“Christmas’ Glow, by Janet Butler

“Ring Neck Pheasant,” by Charles Cummins “Sitting in Spring,” by Richard Haden

“Between Sea and Sky,” by John Ellert Art is Ageless

Art is Ageless

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“We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Amy Watson, life enrichment director.

“Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of senior artists. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”

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New resident finds active community in retirement

When Carl Case was preparing to retire from his career in the aerospace industry, he worried that he might need something to do with his time.

Carl said. “We work so much overtime I was worried about retiring and sitting around doing nothing.”

For more on Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org. u

To stave off that worry, he found a community in Wichita Presbyterian Manor. “I’m single, and after all those years of doing my own cooking, I wanted something different,” Carl said. “I have lots of friends my age. There’s a pool, exercise gear, and it even has a nice carport.”

As happy as Carl was to make the move to Presbyterian Manor, the easy life of retirement didn’t last too long.

“I’m 67 years old, so I retired but I only made it 90 days,” he said. “My boss called me back to work and said there was nobody to fill my desk.”

Community Matters

Carl spends the week working as a service and airworthiness inspector for AeroTek. Carl said he doesn’t mind the workit’s been a passion throughout his life since he entered the field in 1979. He did negotiate work-free weekends for his retirement.

In his spare time, Carl also enjoys building model and Lego cars, radiocontrolled boats and helicopters. “I like building and making stuff,” Carl said. “There are probably close to 30 models sitting here. Toys, that’s what I used to say. I used to collect full-sized cars, but that’s impractical in an apartment. So, I got rid of them and got rid of the all the monthly expense of owning them.” Be sure to help us give a warm welcome to Carl! u

To submit or suggest articles: awatson@PMMA.org

Amy Watson, life enrichment dir.

Jenna Beilman, executive director

Lisa Fetter, marketing director

Laurie Jones, health care sales and marketing

“Partial Eclipse,” by Skip Kreibach

“Birds,” by Donna Walter

“Covered Bridge,” by LaVerne Klassen

“Kansas Sunshine,” by Patt Sharpe

“My Favorite Memories,”

Carolyn Jean Stahl

“Friends,” by Deborah Derber “Oaklee,” by Maria Engelhardt

Sharing the memory of love, one baby at a time

The team at Wichita Presbyterian Manor put on an amazing baby shower called Pearl's Babies for our Memory Care Residents in May. It even drew the attention of both KWCH TV and KSN-TV to cover the event.

Residents received a lifelike baby doll or a stuffed puppy, donated by Pearl’s Memory Babies. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of seniors with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive impairments. Pearl’s babies founder realized the baby dolls help by rekindling “something inside the residents’ memories and hearts.”

The response was immediate – as soon as our residents got to hold their “babies” their eyes lit up. Some started singing to the babies, others talked to them, hugged, and kissed them.

“She’s a sweet baby, a real sweet baby” one resident kept telling her baby doll as she kissed her. “Look what I got,” another resident proclaimed.

“It’s real, it’s raw, it’s a moment that they get to experience,” said Sarah Oenning, PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) Vice President of Giving. “The moment they hold these babies, it brings back that historical moment in their lives.”

Pearl’s Memory Babies delivers babies to senior living communities across the country and it’s always a heart-warming, emotional experience. The organization started when one of the founder’s mother-

in-law, Pearl, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The family found the only thing that could soothe her was a baby doll.

“It’s happening in their minds; it’s happening in their hearts. It brings joy to the heart,” said Oenning. The residents get to keep and care for their baby dolls or puppies.

If you’d like to help Pearl’s Memory Babies continue their mission, visit their website at https://pearlsmemorybabies.com/donate/. u

Wichita Presbyterian Manor shares customer service survey responses

Thank you to our generous donors and volunteers

Wichita Presbyterian Manor celebrated the people who make it all happen - our donors and volunteers - in June.

It has been a while since all of us have been able to get together to celebrate the contributions of time, money, and love that have been given by each of our special volunteers and donors. Even some of our employees donate through their paychecks.

Chef David and the dining team made a fabulous array of food and beverages to enjoy during the event. Meanwhile the Volunteer of the Year Award went to Carol Spurgeon, who not only volunteers, but whose mom was a former resident here. She was able to tell us how paying it forward is so important.

This year, we also presented Claudia and Ira Mann with the first Spirit of Giving Award to honor all that they have done to help the Wichita Presbyterian Manor Community.

We are grateful for all of those who make our community one to shine for our seniors in Wichita. Thank you very much! u

Recognizing our faithful supporters