Commun ty Matters Farmington Presbyterian Manor
October 2016
‘What a wonderful world’ Louis Armstrong, with his oneof-a-kind gravely style, could get more out of a song than anyone. “I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” That song was a slow stroll through the day. It encouraged pausing to take it all in. The gift of reflection brings to focus the wonder of everyday moments. It highlights nature’s beauty. The trees are alive in fall colors. It’s not too hot and not too cold. I’m determined to take a scenic drive, soak in the beauty and say to myself, “What a wonderful world.” WONDERFUL, continued on page 2
Employees key to ‘gracious dining’ When residents come into our dining room, we want them to feel like they’ve stepped into a full-service restaurant, with servers who are attentive to their needs and tastes. Employees like Angie Evans help us fulfill our “gracious dining” vision. DINING, continued on page 3
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WELCOME
PROJECT Life is better when you’re surrounded by friends. If you know of friends who are interested in the independent living or assisted living lifestyle you enjoy here, providing their names could lead to rewards—for both of you. Pick up a referral form in the marketing office. *Certain restrictions apply. For complete details, contact the Marketing Office.
WONDERFUL, 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 October 2016
I’m also convinced that Satchmo had it right when he said that even a “hello” among friends is an expression of love. “The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky / Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do / They’re really saying I love you.” Human friendship is richer when we are intentionally present in the moment. A smile and a few kind words can make my day. If that is true in the natural, how much more is it true in our spiritual life? Experiencing God has much to do with our deliberate purposeful acknowledgement that He is with us. It’s dialoguing with our Father throughout the day and scheduling
time to unite with Him through Scripture reading and prayer. I’m discovering that connecting with God is far richer if I make time to regularly sit and be with Him. Stop and reflect for a few minutes, soak in His presence and enjoy connecting with our Father. May we, like King David of old, seek the one thing that really matters: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” — Psalm 27:4 New InternationalVersion Gaze on His beauty and you may just find yourself humming, “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” Courtesy of Diane Gunsolley, chaplain at AberdeenVillage, a member of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Family. Like us on Facebook
DINING, continued from page 1
Angie came to Farmington Presbyterian Manor at the beginning of this year, but it’s not the first time she has worked in a senior living community. In high school, she also worked in dining services for a small nursing home. “I really enjoy being with the residents and talking to them. I’ve always loved it,” Angie said. Her main priority in the dining room is beverage service, and she sometimes helps make salads. But she’s not just filling glasses. Sometimes, she makes sure to fill an empty seat. Angie recalls once noticing a resident, who she calls “the nicest lady ever,” who had recently lost her husband. Her usual meal companions were absent that day, and she was unhappily sitting alone. She helped the woman find others to dine with.
meal delivery, food choices and presentation, customer service, table decorations and, of course, taste and nutrition. Our focus on resident-centered senior living also means that residents can order from a menu for more flexibility in their food choices. Angie said she was also delighted to learn about Presbyterian Manor’s annual chicken and dumplings dinner to benefit the Good Samaritan program. “I love that they do it for the community. It helps let them know we’re here. I love it. I never really knew they did that until I worked here,” she said.
Away from work, Angie spends as much time as possible with her husband and their daughter, who just turned 2. She was a joyful surprise that Angie said they never “Even if I have a bad day, if I can make their day, it makes expected, because Angie is a thyroid cancer survivor. Four years ago, she had surgery to remove her thyroid me feel better,” Angie said. and nearly all of the lymph nodes in her neck. That’s a great example of our “gracious dining” philosophy, which includes consistent, high standards in “She’s my everything,” Angie said of her daughter.
As easy as pie A big thank you to Amy McClure, dining services director and Peggy Bland, health services director for taking a pie in the face for our local Alzheimer’s Walk. They raised $215. Way to go ladies! Like us on Facebook
Farmington Presbyterian Manor
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Farmington Presbyterian Manor’s Post-Acute To Home (PATH®) program isn’t just about getting you home—it’s about getting you back to your life. Call 573-756-6768 today to schedule your personal appointment and tour. FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
Farmington Presbyterian Manor 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Return Service Requested
Celebrations & traditions We will focus on celebrations and family traditions in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. What traditions are important to your holiday celebrations? What are your memories of Christmas? What recipes did you only make for these special holidays? If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Heidi Beyer, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters October 2016
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