Commun ty Matters Kansas City Presbyterian Manor
Older Americans Month 2015:
Meet your neighbors:
Older adults are a vital part of our society. Since 1963, communities across the country have shown their gratitude by celebrating Older Americans Month each May. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Get into the Act,” to focus on how older adults are taking charge of their health, getting engaged in their communities, and making a positive impact in the lives of others.
They may have moved into their new home in early March, but Gene and Donna Ashley are still working to get settled as assisted living residents at Kansas City Presbyterian Manor. “We still have lots of pictures to be brought over, and I’ve got to get somebody to help hang them,” said Donna Ashley.
“Get into the Act”
By promoting and engaging in activity, wellness, and inclusivity, more Americans than ever before can “Get into the Act.” While Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campuses provides quality senior services guided by Christian values to older adults year-round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access the homeand community-based services they need to live independently in their communities. It is also an occasion to highlight how older adults are engaging with and making a difference in those communities.
Throughout the month, Kansas City Presbyterian Manor will be conducting activities designed to highlight the contributions of seniors to the greater community.
Gene and Donna Ashley
May 2015
Gene and Donna Ashley moved into their new home in March.
As the two work to put the finishing touches on their place, Gene and Donna are starting to feel at home here. “The Manor is in the area where both Gene and I are from,” said Donna. “I’m also keeping the car, so I can get the things I could run out and get before, so that’s a plus!”
Gene and Donna have been married 65 years. The two are from Kansas City and went to the same high school, during which they met at a youth center. They have three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
While health problems brought the couple to Presbyterian Manor, they are looking forward to becoming part of the Presbyterian Manor community. “We like to be friendly and helpful and enjoy the experience,” said Donna.
Tulips help to ‘grow’ Good Samaritan Program
Colorful paper tulips – each representing a gift to the Good Samaritan Program for Benevolent Care – are adding to the spring decorations at PMMA’s senior living communities. Prior donors received a mailing in April, inviting a gift in honor or tribute to a special woman in their lives. A paper tulip was included. The tulip may be returned with the gift to the PMMA campus of the donor’s choice. Tulips will be displayed through May.
The Good Samaritan Program assists PMMA residents who have run out of funds through no fault of their own. To make a gift and hang a tulip, contact your local PMMA campus.
Say Hello to Harry
If you’re a Chiefs fan or a frequent Bingo player, there’s a good chance you’ve already met Harry Stephens. Harry moved into Kansas City Presbyterian Manor about eight months ago. His wife Rosemary lives at home but visits frequently. Harry enjoys playing Bingo and can be found watching Chiefs football on television during the season. But long before he joined our community, Harry served in the U.S. Air Force as a weatherman.
When Harry decided to serve in the Air Force, he looked at his options for education and felt that going to weather school sounded interesting. His official role was as a weather observer.
“I made observations, checked barometric pressure charts and changes in the pressure, so I could tell the pilots how
it would affect the weather,” said Harry. “I was in the Air Force for three years, 10 months and 26 days.” Harry served from 1952-1956.
After serving his time with the Air Force, Harry worked for Waid’s restaurant in Kansas City as a manager. It was there Harry Stephens calls Kansas City Presbyterian Manor home. that he met Rosemary – she worked for Waid’s at a different location. The two have been married for 32 years and enjoy keeping up with their family, which includes three great-grandchildren.
5 steps to combat and prevent elder abuse What a new federal report recommends to curb this scourge
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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Kansas City Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Peatric Gates, executive director Charley Lewis, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Charley at clewis@pmma.org. Telephone: 913-334-3666 Fax: 913-334-2904 Address: 7850 Freeman, Kansas City, KS 66112-2133 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. KansasCityPresbyterianManor.org
2 COMMUNITY MATTERS MAY 2015
By Liza Kaufman Hogan for Next Avenue
A Widespread Problem The Elder Justice Roadmap is intended Not long ago, my aunt, who is in her to help recognize, prevent and address 80s, was the victim of financial exploitation by an in-home health aide. It the abuse and exploitation of older adults. One in every 10 people over 60 started with trips to the drugstore and who lives at home suffers some form of small loans. Before long, the caregiver abuse, neglect or exploitation, the was regularly taking my aunt and her report says. Those with dementia are far credit card to department stores to more likely to be abused or neglected by purchase clothes and other items – not caregivers. for my aunt. Eventually, a clerk noticed what was going on and alerted security and our family. By then, however, my aunt was out hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars. No charges were filed, but the caregiver was dismissed.
According to The Elder Justice Roadmap, a report just released by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, my aunt is one of 5 million Americans affected by some form of elder abuse each year (physical or mental abuse, neglect or financial exploitation). Most families don’t report such abuses to authorities according to the study.
Contrary to popular belief, older adults are more likely to suffer abuse at the hands of their own family members than by a paid caregiver, according to Laura Mosqueda, a geriatrician and director of the National Center on Elder Abuse at University of California Irvine who served on the Elder Justice Roadmap steering committee.
Family caregiver abuse can stem from stress or financial motives. Mosqueda hopes the report will lead to more attention being paid to the factors that “As a provider, I’ve seen families come in on the cusp of abuse and they are good people,” she says. She hopes public PREVENT ABUSE continued on page 3
Joining hands on the journey by Diane Gunsolley, Chaplain
Oh, how we delight in the beauty of tulips with the accompanying aroma of lilacs! Is it possible that our hearts “open up like flowers” when touched with God’s love? Does all of creation praise Our God? I invite you to consider a poem written in 1907 by Henry Van Dyke titled “The Hymn of Joy.” Van Dyke penned the poem to be used with Beethoven’s famous “Ode to Joy.” What we see in the natural is a beautiful image of what happens in our lives as God’s love touches us. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Opening to the Sun above, Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away; PREVENT ABUSE continued
awareness of elder abuse will rise to the level where families can get help before it’s too late.
5 Steps for Preventing Abuse Recommended actions in five areas:
1. Awareness The report calls for an
increase in public awareness of elder abuse – a multi-faceted problem that requires a holistic, well-coordinated response in services, education, policy and research.
2. Brain health It also wants to see
more research into brain health, with an enhanced focus on cognitive capacity (and incapacity) and mental health.These are critical factors both for elder abuse victims and for perpetrators. 3. Caregiving There should be better
support and training for the tens of millions of caregivers who play a critical role in preventing elder abuse.
4. Economics The authors want to see
the costs of elder abuse quantified,
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day! All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays, stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise: Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in Thee. Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, well-spring of the joy of living, ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,— all who live in love are Thine: Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the Joy Divine. Mortals join the mighty chorus, which the morning stars began;
particularly because this national problem includes huge fiscal costs to victims, families and society.
The report says the nation needs to strategically invest more resources in services, education, research and expanding knowledge in order to reduce elder abuse in America. 5. Resources
How to Recognize Abuse The report has produced immediate benefits.The Department of Justice has created training to help attorneys recognize financial exploitation of older Americans.The Department of Health and Human Services is developing a national adult protective services data system to analyze reports of abuse.
Mosqueda says healthcare providers and social workers need training to
Love divine is reigning o’er us, binding all within its span.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife; joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.
Listen. Do you hear joyful music off in the distance? It’s telling of a place that Jesus has prepared with no more pain and no more death. Do you hear it? If you hear it, let the music fill you with hope. Spend some time on the patio and feel God’s peace as you listen to the birds sing. Fix your mind on the coming joy and join the song of praise. March on, soldier, knowing that Jesus leads you to victory. A day is coming soon when you will be crowned with everlasting joy! recognize the signs of abuse in their patients and clients. “So many agerelated changes can mimic or mask signs of elder abuse – a fracture, bruise or pressure sore or burn,” she notes. The National Center on Elder Abuse has developed an instructive Red Flags of Abuse Factsheet listing the signs of and risk factors for abuse and neglect.
The Administration on Aging says if you suspect that someone is in danger of being an elder abuse victim, call 911 or contact your adult protective services agency, which can be found through the National Center on Elder Abuse website or by calling 800-6771116. “We must take a stand to ensure that older Americans are safe from harm and neglect,” said Associate Attorney General Tony West in a statement. “We owe them nothing less.”
Copyright© 2014 Next Avenue, a division of Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. KANSAS CITY PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3
Campus website gets a facelift
Three things you’ll LOVE about our new website:
• Homepage - at a glance, you’ll find contact information and direct access to information about our care levels and living options. • Floor plans - you can now view floor plans for assisted living residences online. We are proud to announce the release • Resources - you’ll find a variety of resources to assist you with researching and of our newly redesigned website for deciding on a senior living community.You’ll even discover your next steps to becoming Kansas City Presbyterian Manor at a Kansas City Presbyterian Manor resident! KansasCityPresbyterianManor.org. We will be continually expanding our online content to bring you updated and relevant It has been crafted to reflect the wants information, so we encourage you to bookmark it and check back often.
and needs of our site visitors. You will immediately notice the streamlined menus, simple navigation and access to the information you need, 24 hours a day.
Start exploring:
• Learn about upcoming events and activities on campus. • Discover tools to help you evaluate senior living communities. • Read about our residents. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of Kansas City Presbyterian Manor.
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Coming up in Community Matters:
In a future issue of Community Matters, we will be focusing on summer travel. Were you a summer traveler? Do you have a great vacation story or travel story to tell? Contact Charley Lewis to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.
4 COMMUNITY MATTERS MAY 2015