Commun ty Matters Rolla Presbyterian Manor
April 2017
Seeing the world through the eyes of others By Allen Teal, Rolla Presbyterian Manor chaplain
Volunteering strikes a chord with Rolla teen
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17, NIV).
After Thomas Hardwick graduated from Rolla High School last May, he wasn’t having any luck finding a job just for the summer. So his mother, a hospice chaplain, suggested he look for volunteer opportunities instead.
Perspective is important.Viewing the world from high in the sky can make all of the structures and landforms appear to be flat. Standing on the earth, we can see the majestic mountains and marvel at the height of skyscrapers. Understanding the circumstances of others requires us to stand where they stand. Until we can get their perspective, it is impossible to know how they feel or what they really need.Three thoughts about April may provide a new point of view about those around you.
Thomas’ search led him to Rolla Presbyterian Manor, and he began visiting once a week with his guitar and banjo. He played roots music like bluegrass and folk, first for memory care residents and then in health care, too. He was a little nervous at first, but he hoped he was doing something the residents enjoyed. His confirmation came, he said, “when my name stuck.”
EYES, continued on page 2
Once the summer was over, Thomas packed up his guitar for the last time. But he decided to take a year off before starting college. Thomas said he was getting bored at home, so he got back in touch with Activity Director Joy Parker. Joy was happy to put Thomas to work again – this time, to help with the Music & Memory™ program. Music & Memory provides individual iPods for residents in memory care, pre-loaded with songs that they or their family members have said VOLUNTEERING, continued on page 4
Honoring our Volunteers Rolla Presbyterian Manor will hold a reception to recognize our wonderful volunteers on Wednesday, April 26, at 2 p.m.
Community Matters
small family businesses.
EYES, continued from page 1
The word April is believed to come from a root meaning “to open.” Spring’s arrival dispels the bleak memories of winter. Life “opens” around us. Personal growth and a rising standard of living can do the same thing to our memories of past hardships.We can forget the opportunities and help we were given by others.This is not a suggestion to feel guilty about your successes. It is a suggestion to help others have a better life to “open” for them.
As you are being blessed, others may be suffering illness, grief and loss. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31, NIV). April 28 is Pay It Forward Day. The fascinating thing about Christ’s words is that they tell us to be proactive in our blessings to others. If you were standing where they stand, what would you want them to do for you?
In April while leaves are starting to grow in North America, leaves are falling in South America.
Once that question is answered, you have revealed your next step. Being kind to the poor means more than giving money. Christ spoke of “giving a cup of water” in his name.
Events that bring joy to some can bring difficulty to others. In the retail world, the success of a giant store coming into a community can mean death to the
Always remember, small things are often big things to those who do not have them. Just an offer of friendship can be life-changing.
is published monthly for residents and friends of Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Joelle Freeland at lfreeland@pmma.org. Telephone: 573-364-7336 Fax: 573-364-7336 Address: 1200 Homelife Plaza, Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. RollaPresbyterianManor.org
Rolla 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 573-364-7336 today to schedule your personal appointment and tour. RollaPresbyterianManor.org
2
Community Matters April 2017
Like us on Facebook
Your plain English guide to investment jargon By Jack Fehr for Next Avenue As the stock market continues its gyrations, now is a good time to buy an investment with a favorable NAV and alpha that keeps on giving while reducing beta. Got that? If not, don’t be embarrassed. Investment companies and financial advisers love to load up their materials with this kind of jargon. Too bad they don’t just say something like this (a plain-English translation of the first sentence in this article): “You might want to buy an investment that is likely to grow faster and experience less risk than alternatives.” Well, some actually do, but many still don’t. If companies aren’t willing to talk to you in a language you understand, it’s up to you to decipher their financial-speak. So, here are five of the more widelyused, but not widely-understood, financial terms you should know: Alpha is a measure of investment performance adjusted for risk. Think of alpha as the two extra chocolates you happily found in your bag of candy. Alpha is like an overfilled box of chocolates, the part of your investment return that is more than a benchmark market index. For example, your large-company mutual fund may return 10 cents a share more than the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index — the benchmark to which you might compare the fund. Consequently, your alpha is 10 cents a share. If your mutual fund has an alpha of Like us on Facebook
0, that means its performance has matched its benchmark (before fees are taken out). Beta is a measurement of investment volatility or risk compared to the market overall. For example, when your investment’s beta is 2, that means its volatility, or Some investment analysts, by risk, is twice as great as the volatility of the entire market. Tech stocks often contrast, use top-down analysis to have a beta of more than 1. identify hot or cold industries and economic trends. They might think A beta of 1 means your investment’s a sector that’s currently cold could price will move as much as the depress even the best stocks in it. market and a beta of less than 1 (such as what you’d find with many utility Using top-down analysis might lead stocks) means your investment isn’t as you to, say, shun all energy stocks at volatile as the market as a whole. a given time. In other words, you’re avoiding the desert altogether. If you’re near retirement, keeping many investments with high beta NAV (Net Asset Value) Mutual fund probably isn’t wise, because you’re managers and Exchange-Traded Fund taking on extra risk. (ETF) managers toss NAV around like it’s as familiar to you as your name. But if you’re younger and have time For many people, it’s not. to weather market volatility, a little beta can be a good thing since it usually accompanies greater potential returns. When stock analysts look at specific companies with little regard to the overall economy or a broad industry, they practice the discipline known as doing a bottom-up analysis. They’re looking at firms based on their “fundamentals” — things like their financial statements, their management and how their products or services are doing. It’s like looking for a grain of sand in the desert. For example, you might like to own Exxon-Mobil, no matter how the energy sector performs.
But it is the figure calculated every day by funds and ETFs and the one that appears in financial listings and places like morningstar.com that track these types of investments. Net asset value is a mutual fund’s price per share or an ETF’s per-share value.You get it by dividing the value of all the stocks in the fund or ETF minus liabilities by the number of shares it has. The jargon cited here is by no means an exhaustive list. To learn more, check out mymoney.gov, the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Investopedia.com and Investor. gov. Rolla Presbyterian Manor
3
Rolla Presbyterian Manor 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Return Service Requested
“I always joke that most of my friends are over 80 now. It’s kind of are favorites. Joy did the work of true. It’s nice to connect with new developing song playlists for the people, and you can learn something residents. Then Thomas downloaded from all of them,” said Thomas, the music. whose parents are Lindy and Michael In some cases, the response is Hardwick. “One of the things I’ve dramatic. The documentary “Alive Music & Memory has had a profound gotten from my peers, as far as age, Inside” showed how music could effect on Thomas, too. It’s the is that people can be uncomfortable draw out people with dementia who reason he decided to major in music around old people, which is a shame. had been non-communicative. therapy when he goes to Maryville They have a lot of stories and things It wasn’t long before Thomas saw the University in St. Louis this fall. to give back.”
VOLUNTEERING, continued from page 1
powerful effect of music firsthand. “I had a moment like that. I had played (live) for one woman before, but she was never very responsive. As soon as I started playing the iPod for her, she started singing along,” he said.
Father’s Day We will be featuring summertime and Father’s Day in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about a memorable Father’s Day or how your father influenced you, we want to share it. If summertime is your favorite time of year and you’ve got great memories to share, let us know. If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Joelle Freeland and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
4
Community Matters April 2017
Sign up to receive our newsletter by email. Visit RollaPresbyterianManor.org and enter your email address in the subscription box on the right. It’s that easy! Like us on Facebook