Commun ty Matters Salina Presbyterian Manor
May 2017
Mary’s musings I love buttons! I have a button heart pin that I made, a button necklace and earrings, a button tie and button vest. One year I made special button sweatshirts for myself, my daughter and granddaughters. At the antique shop in Russell, they have an old wash tub filled with buttons. Oh, how I love to dig in the tub and look for special buttons. One of my earliest childhood memories is playing in the attic at my grandmother’s house. My grandmother came to America when she was 16 years old. She had 15 children and lived to be 99 years old. She didn’t have any toys at her house, but we had fun in her attic, where we played with her old wooden spools. My cousins and I would have contests to see who could build the highest tower. But my favorite thing to play with was her button box. She had the most wonderful collection. I could play for hours with those buttons. She’d thread a needle with a long string, MUSINGS continued on page 4
Don Lloyd and Perry Hunsley highly recommend Gina’s class.
Residents discover hidden talents in Gina’s Art Class “I’m a terrible artist.” “Don’t look at mine.” Gina Lee hears these statements over and over, from art students in their teens up to their 90s. Gina doesn’t let those beliefs persist. She knows that with a few basic techniques and encouragement, we can all discover our inner artist. For almost a year, Gina has been visiting Salina Presbyterian Manor once a month to guide our residents through an art project. She has a small, devoted core of regular participants, and many others drop in to see what it’s all about, sometimes after seeing the latest creations on display in the resident gallery. “Gina makes it fun and puts everyone at ease. We learn something new every time,” said resident Don Lloyd. ART CLASS, continued on page 2
ART CLASS, continued from page 1
Don and the other art students can thank Chaplain Mary Bridges for bringing Gina to our community. Mary’s daughter used to work with Gina at South High School. Today, Gina teaches art at South Middle School. Last year, Mary asked Gina if she would offer a regular class at Presbyterian Manor. “I was thrilled. I had gotten my certification so I could work with hospice,” Gina said. Gina received her degree in art from Fort Hays State University and has taught middle and high school students for many years. She has enjoyed working with older adults
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Salina Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Bradley Radatz, executive director Jenni Jones, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Jenni Jones, jjones@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-825-1366 Fax: 785-825-6554 Address: 2601 E. Crawford, Salina, KS 67401-3898 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. SalinaPresbyterianManor.org
since she was a child.
Resident Perry Hunsley said he enjoys the class because Gina is Growing up in a small western “innovative, lively and pretty.” Kim Kansas town, Gina became very Fair appreciates that Gina explains close to the retired people in her neighborhood, especially one couple the projects thoroughly. “She down the block. “It was nice to have follows each artist’s progress, always them as ‘extra’ grandparents because encouraging us to go in our own direction,” Kim said. “We all feel my mother’s family lived really far fortunate to have her expertise and away,” she said. support in expanding our horizons.” Gina and her parents would also visit people at the nursing home in Oakley every Sunday. They didn’t even have a relative living there. “We knew all the residents’ names. I would play piano for them,” she said. “I didn’t have an aversion to nursing or retirement homes. That’s where the fun people were. That was my parents’ attitude: we were going to visit our friends.” Later, Gina was able to combine her experience with older adults and techniques she learned from teaching art to kids with special needs. She knows how to Perry Hunsley at the easel. adapt her lessons for people with low vision or difficulty It’s important to Gina that residents holding a paintbrush. know they’re making real art. “I tell them this is a great way to get the “I had to find projects that are not brain thinking in a different way.” long and exhausting but that are still challenging. I hope I’ve done them justice,” Gina said. “I see very creative people who are excited to talk about what they’re doing.” Her students say Gina does a great job of creating that excitement.
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Community Matters May 2017
Gina’s monthly Art Class is open to all residents. Take Don Lloyd’s advice and give it a try, “If you had her as a teacher in school, you wouldn’t play hooky — she is that much fun.” Like us on Facebook
Employee of the Month Congratulations to Jodi Gawith, our employee of the month for April. Jodi is a Restorative Aide and has worked for Salina Presbyterian Manor for 24 years! She has two children, Jessica (36) and Lacey (28), and between them she has five grandsons and one granddaughter. When she isn’t here with us, she enjoys camping with family and friends. She also likes gambling. One thing we might not know about Jodi is that she has started doing things on her bucket list. Whitewater rafting is up next!
May activities at Salina Presbyterian Manor by Cathy Boos, Life Enrichment Director We are starting a new walking club to take advantage of our beautiful pond, walking path and gazebo to enrich the lives of our residents. Senior Sneakers will gather at 1 p.m. every day to take a walk around the pond. The Becky Buggy also will be running for all to take a ride and get some fresh air. We will be adding a garden area in assisted living for residents to plant their favorite vegetables. Gardens in health care and independent living also will be planted. Here are some additional happenings: May 2 Ladies Breakfast May 2 Teacher and School Employees Appreciation Day May 3 ROMEO Breakfast Club May 9 Mother’s Day Celebration May 11 Coronado Heights Picnic May 12 Nurse’s Appreciation Day
Health care happenings
Spring in Japan is our theme for May. We will study the people and culture. We also will sample Japanese foods, including Miso soup and sushi, Japanese fried noodles, and two staples called corn soup and Gyudon bowl. We will be celebrating Cierra’s 24th birthday on May 2. The Mother’s Day Celebration will be May 9. Residents will be honoring the nurses for Nurses Appreciation Day.
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May 15 Travel & Taste – The Barn, Burrton May 17 Men’s Breakfast May 18 Cinco de Mayo Pot Luck May 23 Rolling Hills Zoo Visit May 25 Visit to Starbucks May 30 Townhome Resident BBQ (Gazebo)
Salina Presbyterian Manor
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MUSINGS continued from page 1
and I could spend hours making strings of buttons; some would be dark colors, and some all white, but my favorite were the multi-colored ones.
it was hard to figure just what their purpose was.
When you think about it buttons are a lot like people. Buttons come in all colors, all sizes and all shapes. As I got older I’d sometimes make Some may be chipped or broken, but up stories about the buttons and they still function. Some are simply what kind of clothes they’d been on. decorative and aren’t meant to fasten Maybe this one filled with rhinestones anything; they’re just plain pretty. belonged to a Russian princess. Could Each button is created for a special this gray one had come from the work need. Sometimes we only need one shirt of my grandfather, whom I never button on our clothing, but most knew? And, I think this one came times it takes several. Some clothing from my Grandma’s dress that she has buttons not only on the front wore to church. And, perhaps this tiny or back but also on the sleeves and button was from some clothes that my collars. dad wore as a baby. Did this tiny pearl People also come in a variety of button come from a wedding dress? Some were almost weird looking, and shapes, size and colors. Sometimes it
takes only one person to do a job, but there are other jobs that take many people working together. People working together can accomplish marvelous things. Remember, alone, we can’t always achieve or accomplish much.We may be like that single button, a bit weird or perhaps a bit shabby, or chipped and not quite sure where and when we will be used. One single button cannot hold a shirt closed; but together with others, our single voices can become a powerful statement. Together, we can and do make a difference in our world. Remember, to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
Vacation memories We will be featuring summertime, Independence Day, and vacation memories in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about any of these topics, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share your story. If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Jenni Jones and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters May 2017
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