Rolla Presbyterian Manor
JULY 2020
Feel the freedom By Allen Teal, chaplain
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1b, NIV). Freedom lives more in the mind and heart than in the physical world. Every day, we confront limits to our freedom. The limits come in the guise of speed limits, crosswalks and nearly every law ever passed.
Edna Martin’s family recently arranged for a poster parade that included family and friends. Edna was surprised when she was asked to come up to the lobby because she had guests.
Staff use technology to connect residents with loved ones The Rolla Presbyterian Manor community has responded to social distancing guidelines by picking up new technology skills. According to Life Enrichment Director Joy Parker, in one month staff facilitated 50 video chats: 42 through FaceTime and four each via Zoom and Facebook Messenger. “The residents are amazed they can see their loved ones on a device,” Joy said. “One lady just said, ‘It’s like they’re in my room.’” Utilizing web-based applications meant a learning curve for all involved, but Joy says everyone has risen to the task. TECH - continued on page 2
We feel free when we operate within the boundaries of these constraints. Over the past few months, restrictions on our freedom have come from an invisible foe that has driven us indoors, caused us to wear a mask, and taken hundreds of thousands of souls from the earth. Many have learned to feel free within the confines of a much smaller space. Others have railed against every restriction. Christ brings freedom to his followers. This raises the issue of what constitutes freedom. Some define freedom as an absence of guidelines or rules. Since the CHAPLAIN - continued on page 4
Rolla Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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“It’s been really neat to see the residents embrace technology,” she said. “Some have gotten new smart phones.” Staff send emails to residents’ families twice a month to offer them the opportunity to get on the schedule for a chat. They sent reminders before Easter, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day so that family members would have an opportunity to celebrate the holidays together. “The residents have such a positive attitude,” Joy said. “They are such a blessing.” She jokes that she wants to be more like the residents when she “grows up.” On top of the electronic appointments, residents also had 64 “window visits,” during which loved ones talked to residents on the phone while they watched
each other through a window. Both residents and staff are looking forward to the day when loved ones are once more welcome inside the walls RoseAnn Escott loves to visit with her family virtually to of Presstay in touch during the COVID-19 visitor restrictions. byterian Manor. able to have this technology to do However, video chatting has these kinds of visits.” been such a success that the staff will continue to offer the service Still, everyone will be happy when even after COVID-19 prevention video chatting is an option rather measures are lifted. than a necessity. “We live in a day and time when “Everyone is saying, ‘I miss your people’s family members live all hugs,’” Joy said. “I am preparing to over the country, even in foreign give some really great hugs when countries,” Joy said. “It’s nice to be this is all over.” ◆
COVID-19 updates continue
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, RollaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. Get the latest information about visitation and restrictions on deliveries and learn more about PMMA’s infection control efforts to contain COVID-19 across the PMMA system. ◆
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ROLLA Presbyterian Manor
573-364-7336 ◆ Fax: 573-364-7495 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 RollaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2020
Community Matters
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.
To submit or suggest articles: lfreeland@PMMA.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Rolla Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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ROLLA Presbyterian Manor
1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
CHAPLAIN - continued from page 1
very words that offer freedom are from the book that contains the Ten Commandments, it appears as though we need a better definition. True freedom must originate from within the person. Any other criteria will result in some external factor eventually impeding freedom.
gives becomes our internal guide, the world’s restrictions can no longer limit our sense of freedom. Christ gives us the freedom that comes from the ability to say “no” to evil and “yes” to goodness.
Christ empowers us to live freely in Choose to live free. any circumstance. The river that flows A common Christian saying is, “this freely still exists within its banks. Scripture challenges us to live in world is not my home.” Achieving full freedom will not come in a freedom every day. world filled with locks, rules and The Apostle Paul said these words innumerable other barriers. in his letter to Titus, “It teaches us to When the righteousness that Christ say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly
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passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:12, NIV). Christian living brings continual internal freedom by allowing us to live by adhering to heavenly, not earthly, standards. ◆