Commun ty Matters Farmington Presbyterian Manor
February 2016
Art is Ageless® exhibit and reception features senior and local artists Since the beginning of time, creative expression has brought joy to both its creators and those who experience their art. The Art is Ageless® program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork and reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity. Some have resumed art after putting it aside for a career, others have been creating beautiful pieces throughout their lives, and others never picked up a brush until after they retired, but all are now expressing themselves through art. This month, their works are on display at Farmington Presbyterian Manor. “It’s inspiring to see the beautiful pieces these seniors have created,” said Heidi Beyer, marketing director. “The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s something we want to celebrate and share with the entire Farmington community.” The Art is Ageless exhibit will feature works from local artists ART IS AGELESS, continued on page 2
Tower makes year-round gardening a reality Fresh produce straight from the garden—in February? It’s happening at Farmington Presbyterian Manor, thanks to the donation of a high-tech Tower Garden. The unit, made by the Juice Plus company, grows plants through the use of aeroponics, which is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without soil. So far, the tower has been growing fresh herbs, chard and a few different varieties of lettuce, said Heidi Beyer, marketing director. “Our activity department has a cooking class, and they try to use as many ingredients as they can from the garden,” Beyer said. “They have also made salads for people in assisted living.” Other produce was used in the Thanksgiving meal. “The stuffing was really good,” said Stacy Comstock, the activity assistant who has been TOWER, continued on page 4
than 35 years, and is sponsored by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America who are 65 and older, including a (PMMA), which is a nonprofit few Presbyterian Manor residents. organization that owns and operates The public is welcome to visit the 18 senior living communities in community to view the exhibit Missouri and Kansas. Each year of acrylics, oils, photography and various other mediums, ranging from the organization publishes an Art is Ageless calendar, featuring works amateur to professional levels. The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by amateur senior artists. Proceeds from the sale of calendars are February 17-19. reinvested into new art programs and In addition to the exhibit, opportunities for PMMA residents. Presbyterian Manor will honor local senior artists during a reception at the community at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 19.
ART IS AGELESS, continued from page 1
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Jane Hull, executive director Heidi Beyer, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact hbeyer@pmma.org Telephone: 573-756-6768 Fax: 573-756-6014 Address: 500 Cayce St., Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters February 2016
The Art is Ageless program has been encouraging creativity in seniors for more
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How to travel alone and love it Soaking in a mineral spring pool at a spa, I started talking with another pool denizen. The woman, in her late 60s, asked if I were traveling with family or friends. I said I was alone. She said, “I would be too afraid.” Timidity around this topic baffles me. For more than 30 years, I have traveled mostly on my own. I prefer solo travel, I told the woman, because I go where I want, see what I want and have the freedom to change my plans at any time. Do I get lonely? No, because I talk to strangers. Hear new stories Everyone has a story. Travel with a spouse, partner or friends, and most often you will speak only to them. Go it alone, and you will talk with people you’ve just met. Their stories may amuse you or even astound you. Some may broaden your worldview.
1. Do use common sense Plan a trip that matches your comfort level, whether you head out with a little help from a travel agent or with an itinerary you craft yourself.You may want to sign up for a guided tour. (Look for one that builds in plenty of free time for solo exploring.) Or you may want to book a cabin on a cruise ship, where you have the option of talking to hundreds of new people, all with stories you’ve never heard. When traveling, don’t say your room number aloud in a hotel lobby, never flash a lot of cash and don’t wear pricey jewelry. Before you leave your hotel room for dinner, turn on a light and the TV and put out the “Do Not Disturb” sign. 2. Don’t be ageist Of course another boomer likely will respond to your conversationopener, but it’s also OK to talk to young people.You may even end up with greater respect for a different generation.
Courtesy of Patricia Corrigan
3. Do be a source of cheer The quickest way to do this while on the road is to travel on your birthday, and say so. Tell people in the tundra vehicle on a polar bearwatching trip or in the Zodiac raft in Antarctica that you are celebrating your birthday, and good will and warmth from many a stranger will come your way.
Two birthday trips brought me special joy. In addition to meeting You can do this! You’ve spoken to many interesting people, I saw blue strangers before when asked for whales in the Saint Lawrence Seaway your impression of an attraction you On a trip to the Galapagos Islands, I and spied a hippopotamus beside a were visiting, a concert you were attending or a meal you were eating. learned that a young man on the ship tree right outside my lodge in the On the road — whether far away or was an archaeologist who searched Serengeti in Tanzania.You will never close to home — all you have to do for mummies in Peru. Usually on a convince me the animals showed up cruise or guided tour, I table hop, is smile and start a conversation. for any reason other than to help me sitting with different people each Here are three tips, along night at dinner. Because I thought celebrate. with stories about some of my this fellow’s work was fascinating — © Twin Cities Public Television - 2016. experiences talking to strangers, for and he enjoyed talking about it — making the most of a solo adventure. we ate a number of meals together. All rights reserved.
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TOWER, continued on page 4
maintaining the garden. “We used fresh herbs like sage and basil.You could really taste that it was fresh.” Executive Director Jane Hull even took some fresh sage to use for her Thanksgiving at home. Presbyterian Manor residents were introduced to vertical gardening last fall. Julie Powers, a member of our advisory council, arranged for Presbyterian Manor to be the first participant in a new Traveling Tower Garden Program for six weeks in October and November.
Powers also visited once a week to educate residents about the garden, aeroponics and nutrition.
who passed away in 2011.
“She thought it was something that we needed to have because the The tower takes up a fraction of the residents enjoy it so much,” Beyer space of a traditional garden plot and said. requires 10 percent of the water. It’s Comstock said it has taken a lot of surrounded by T5 grow lights. research and learning to keep the Once it was time for the traveling plants growing. The hardest part garden to move on, another friend is controlling the pH of the water. of Presbyterian Manor decided we In January, she planted the first should have one to keep. Carolyn vegetables—cucumbers, peppers, Gordon donated the current Tower and tomatoes—which she has to Garden in memory of her mother, pollinate by hand with a paintbrush, Helen Gordon, a former resident going from flower to flower.
Farmington Presbyterian Manor 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Return Service Requested
Time to celebrate volunteerism! How have you answered the call to be a volunteer? How have volunteers helped you in a time of need? Why do you think volunteers are so important? How have you benefited from being a volunteer? If you’ve got a story to share about volunteering, contact Marketing Director Heidi Beyer and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters February 2016
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