Commun ty Matters Emporia Presbyterian Manor
February 2019
Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® call for entries underway Emporia Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held April 10-30, 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 2020 Art is Ageless calendar. Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to 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 April 5. 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 ART, continued on page 2
Resident Lyla Jean McCoy and Executive Director Susan Siepelmeier enjoy listening to Loretta Lynn’s “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” on the Amazon Echo. Lyla Jean’s favorite music is country western.
Donation is music to our ears Last summer, our community was chosen for a pilot study on the impact of music on depression. While the project only lasted six weeks, the results will impact our campus for years to come. “I was really interested in music therapy with geriatric clients,” said Breanna Gilger, ESU nursing and honors college student. “Two semesters ago I had the opportunity to apply for a summer research program, and I did a pilot study at Emporia Presbyterian Manor that was a lot of fun! We had iPods and different play lists so the residents in the experimental group listened to music for 30 minutes and the other group of residents didn’t. We measured depression scores. I got to know the residents, and everyone really liked it. When my six-week project ended, everyone was sad they wouldn’t have the music anymore.” DONATION, continued on page 2
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events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.
Trying to find a way for the music to play on, Breanna met with Life Enrichment Coordinator, Jen Moran, to come up with a solution.
Local competition winners will join winners from 16 other Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica communities to be judged at the systemwide level. Entry forms and information can be picked up at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, 2300 Industrial Road, Emporia, or by contacting Crystal Stock at 620-343-2613 or cstock@ pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online.
“I had to have a community engagement project to graduate as a student in the honors college, so we talked about what I was wanting to do, which was to make some program so residents could have access to music whenever they wanted,” said Breanna. In a short amount of time, two anonymous donors provided Amazon Echo devices and Breanna’s connection with the honor college at ESU gained her access to refurbished iPods from ESU’s IT department. A few other iPod and monetary donations have been made as well. “It’s like a library, residents can check out an iPod with music and listen awhile,” said Breanna.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Crystal Stock, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Crystal Stock, marketing director, cstock@pmma.org.
Telephone: 620-343-2613 Fax: 620-343-9195 Address: 2300 Industrial Rd., Emporia, KS 66801-6636 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters February 2019
a useful tool to add an extra element of fun to activities, and it can help to add a calmer mood when residents are resting,” said Jen Moran, life enrichment coordinator. The staff have also found the Echo devices to be conducive to work. “After the residents have left the dining room, I’ve noticed that some of the staff play their own favorite music while they clean the space and prepare it for the next meal. I feel like this could easily lead to a more content and productive staff. To me, the Amazon Echos have been a wonderful addition to our community and I’m very, very grateful to our donors, and to Breanna Gilger, whose school project allowed us to have these experiences,” said Jen.
And the Amazon Echo devices are finding all types of uses around the community, too.
Music is simply in her blood, and Breanna hopes others will feel moved to share a similar act of compassion in their community.
“We know that music is important throughout all stages of life and have seen first-hand how music can rekindle memories. We’ve been using the Echos in our healthcare and memory care dining rooms. We play music during meals and periodically throughout the day. It’s
“Music has always been a big part of my life. I’ve played piano for almost 12 years and I love being able to share that with other people. It’s a lot easier to do something like this than people realize. And the benefit it has is so monumental.”
Love on display: February 20
Join us for a staff art reception featuring all the things we love on—and off—the job from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20. From poetry to art to photos and more, all staff will exhibit a variety of mediums in the atrium gallery. Like us on Facebook
Coming soon: Smart Phone 101 Wondering where the photos go after you take them on your smart phone? Curious how to update your contacts? Or are you looking for an answer to a specific question about your smart phone or mobile device? Raise your smart phone IQ with our smart phone event on campus at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26. In this 40-minute presentation by PMMA’s Jenn McClanahand, she’ll explain the many different features and applications associated with smart phones and tablets followed by a oneon-one question and answer session. From how to navigate a touch screen to quickly adjusting volume (in
church or in public), to saving contact information, and taking photos, we’ll cover all the basics in addition to exploring a variety of applications that can be added to a phone or tablet for wellness, entertainment and even saving money. The presentation will conclude with tips on saving battery life. “We are continually looking for relevant topics that affect older adults and the greater community we serve,” said Jen. “PMMA has long been a trusted resource for continued learning and education and embracing technology just seemed like a natural fit. It has been such a good fit that we’ve often had to schedule back-up
dates for encore presentations due to high response rates.” “Navigating Your Smart Phone” is part of Presbyterian Manor’s ongoing Just Ask lifelong learning series focusing on issues of interest to seniors and their adult children.
All the things we love... Resident Nina Gragg likes that while living in a villa she can maintain her independence but have access to all the community’s activities and meals.
“Presbyterian Manor is special to me, I have enjoyed helping our resident’s maintain their strength, mobility and independence. I have just been touched by many of the “I feel we develop a close family residents and each one has taught me feeling among the residents and look a little something about life and its after and help each other. The staff challenges. It is so wonderful to see is helpful and friendly. They do all the love and care throughout the years they can to add to our comfort and I have worked here. It is honestly like security,” Nina said. home away from home for me. I really PJ Larry, dining services staff member, love what I do!” loves the friendly staff working with Resident Arlo Bell said that he Our mission is at the heart of all we do, him to take care of our residents. and it’s one of the things our residents appreciated the commitment and say they love about us. comfort of the manor staff by very “It takes a village to be the best care accommodating personnel. providers for our residents. The feels like home because the residents residents are always welcoming and Ashley Burright, assisted living staff treat you like family. They are so come with different personalities you member, said that she enjoys the appreciative. I also enjoy the company just can’t help but love,” PJ said. environment. of the people that work here,” Ashley Diann Smith, restorative aide, said, “It doesn’t feel like work, somedays it said. Like us on Facebook
Emporia Presbyterian Manor
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Emporia Presbyterian Manor 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 Return Service Requested
Thank you, angels, for your generosity in 2019 Since the inception of our mission, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America has ensured thousands of residents of its commitment that they will always have a home. Established in the 1950s, the Good Samaritan Program provides funding to assist residents who outlive their financial resources through no fault of their own. Arlo D. Bell Delores J. Perkins Evan Lindquist Gerald Karr Jack Gabriel James W. Calvert Jay W. Vander Velde Jerry Waddell
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Community Matters February 2019
To continue to meet the growing need among seniors in our communities, we invited donors to become an “angel for a day” by making a contribution to the Good Samaritan Program over the Christmas holiday. In exchange for a donation to this program, a bell was placed on our Christmas tree as a reminder of their generosity. Joan E. Budd John V. Humphrey Keith Thomas Larry D. Pierce Marjorie Nash Merle L. Peterson Nina Gragg Paul D. Walker
The 2018 Angel Appeal raised $6,235 for the Good Samaritan Program in our community! We are honored by the staff and residents who so strongly identify with the heart of Presbyterian Manor’s mission that they give to the fund. Thank you to these donors: Philip E. Koehler Richard G. Ames Robert Barrett Sharon A. Wagoner Viola Kuhn William H. Snyder William W. Jones Like us on Facebook