Commun ty Matters Sterling Presbyterian Manor
Sterling Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless exhibit and reception features senior artists
They are teachers, farmers, veterans, homemakers, entrepreneurs and nurses, among many others. Some have resumed art after putting it aside for a career, others have been creating beautiful pieces throughout their lives, and others never picked up a brush until after they retired, but all are now expressing themselves through art.
These diverse lives intersect at Sterling Presbyterian Manor this month with the Art is Ageless® program, which reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity. Studies show seniors who are involved in the arts report better health, have more positive attitudes and are more active than those who are not.
“It’s inspiring to see the beautiful pieces these seniors have created,” said Marketing Director Cindy Moore. “The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s something we want to celebrate and share with the broader Sterling community.”
February 2015
Sterling Presbyterian Manor honored for achievements Sterling Presbyterian Manor received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America for reaching goals in fiscal year 2014, July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014.
The recognition came through PMMA’s new Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 18 locations to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards. EMERALD AWARD continued on page 3
Bruce Shogren, PMMA CEO, left, and Doug Yoder, PMMA chief operating officer, right, present Mike Rajewski, with the Emerald Award recognition.
The Art is Ageless exhibit will feature works from local artists who are 65 and older, including a few Sterling Presbyterian Manor residents.The public is welcome to visit the community to view the exhibit of
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Sterling staff members share in the Emerald Award recognition.
Painting brings peace to resident When Executive Director Michael Rajewski’s father James fell and broke his back last year, helping him choose where to recover, and eventually reside, after surgery was an easy decision. The situation surrounding the transition certainly wasn’t easy at all though. Mike’s mother Marian, aka “Cookie,” also came to live at Presbyterian Manor with her husband. “Dad was Mom’s primary caregiver, and with her dementia, it only made sense to move her here with him,” Michael said. Moving to a new location can be difficult for anyone, but especially people who experience the disorientation of dementia.
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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Sterling Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of
501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Mike Rajewski, executive director Cindy Moore, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact cmoore@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-278-3651 Fax: 620-278-3581 Address: 204 W. Washington, Sterling, KS 67579-1614 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. SterlingPresbyterianManor.org
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“Mom has trouble communicating. She often doesn’t know where she is, what time of day it is or what’s going on,” said Michael. “But we found something that brought her a lot of peace. She recently started taking painting classes here. Art was a way for her to express herself without feeling confused and disoriented.”
Mike vaguely remembers his mother painting when she was raising children, but doesn’t recall her taking up the habit in recent years. “Mom was exceptionally talented at so many things,” he said. “She had eight children, so she had to be creative. On the farm, she couldn’t afford to buy artwork, so she made her own. She upholstered furniture, made clothes without using a pattern and even made drapes for the living room.”
Marian’s rediscovered talent was a pleasant surprise for Michael, and she isn’t the only one at Presbyterian Manor with hidden abilities.
“We were pleased to learn that Maintenance Supervisor Roger Riggs is an exceptionally talented painter. He even won some competitions in New York. Not only that, but he was willing to volunteer his time to teach art classes to our residents. He’s been so helpful with getting artists ready for our Art is Ageless program,” said Michael. “He worked with my mother to find what best suited her. She can follow along well, especially if she was modeling him. With Roger working with her, she can replicate what’s on the painting in front of her. It’s really quite remarkable. We tried paint by numbers at first, but that was too structured. She could do much better free-form.” James is very proud of his wife’s accomplishments, and no doubt the
Marian Rajewski, mother of Executive Director Michael Rajewski, shows the painting she created in her art class.
peace she’s found through painting has brought him peace, too.
“He’s very proud of her artwork and glad they were able to do it with her. It’s something he wasn’t able to do as an outlet for her. Now, she can express herself.”
Hark! The Angel Tree sings
We appreciate everyone who gave to the Angel Tree appeal this winter to benefit the Good Samaritan Program.
New community arises from growing senior need
This month, we continue to look back at 65 years of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America with the birth of Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kan. In 1996, Presbyterians in Johnson County were convinced there was a need for a new Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in the Greater Kansas City area, and specifically in Johnson County. A sign announces Aberdeen Village is coming soon. At the time, there were no Christian-based non-profit senior living communities offering the full continuum of care in Johnson County. A 37-acre tract of land just east of West 119th Street and Ridgeview Road in Olathe was donated for the project. Dr. Robert Meneilly steered a committee of “Be of Good Cheer” committee members PMMA CEO Bill Ward speaks at the local and church leaders in the “Building for honoring the work of Dr. Bob Meneilly. dedication of Aberdeen Village. Our Future” campaign for Aberdeen Village. The project included a three-story building for 90 independent living apartments, 44 assisted living suites in a two-story building, and a 60-bed health care center with 15 spaces reserved for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Construction began in 1999. Aberdeen Village opened its doors in May 2001 as the 17th campus for Presbyterian Construction of Aberdeen Village began in 1999 and continued Manors of Mid-America. through 2000. ART IS AGELESS continued from page 1
EMERALD AWARD continued from page 1
In addition to the exhibit, Sterling Presbyterian Manor will honor local senior artists during a reception at 3 p.m. March 27.
Sterling was recognized for achieving a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
acrylics, oils, photography and various other mediums, including amateur and professional levels.The exhibit is open March 23 to 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Art is Ageless program has been encouraging creativity in seniors for more than 30 years and is sponsored by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, a nonprofit organization that owns and operates 18 senior living communities in Kansas and Missouri. Each year the organization publishes an Art is Ageless calendar, featuring works by senior artists. Proceeds from the sale of calendars are reinvested into new art programs and opportunities for PMMA residents.
To receive an emerald, a campus has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. Certificates of recognition were given out to campuses that reached their goals in one or more category.
“This recognition is a visible sign of Sterling Presbyterian Manor’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA.
Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America is celebrating 65 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri. For more information about Sterling Presbyterian Manor, contact Marketing Director Cindy Moore at 620-278-3651 or cmoore@pmma.org.
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Coming up in Community Matters:
Community Matters will be looking forward to the change in seasons to spring and preparing for Easter. We’re looking for residents with a story to tell.
• What’s your favorite March Madness memory? • Who’s your favorite baseball team? Why? What’s your favorite baseball memory?
• What does spring mean to you? What do you remember about spring as a child or adult? • What’s your favorite Easter memory?
If you have a story to tell, contact Cindy Moore to share your idea.Your story may be selected for the next issue of your community newsletter.
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Sterling Presbyterian Manor 204 W. Washington Sterling, KS 67579-1614 Return Service Requested
Resident reflects on bird-watching pastime
Did you know February is National Bird-Feeding Month? Many Americans enjoy this pastime of feeding and watching wild birds in outdoor feeders. Whether you've been doing it for years or are just getting started, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy nature right from the comfort of your chair.
A female red-bellied woodpecker bellies up to an outdoor bird feeder. 4 COMMUNITY MATTERS FEBRUARY 2015
Activity Director Jon Van Veldhuizen visited with Charlie Seidl, an avid birdwatcher. “I have always enjoyed watching birds,” he said, “it is an enjoyable way to pass the time.” He said that his bird feeder is mostly filled with sparrows, usually five to 10 at a time, and “they knock each other off.” It’s special when a cardinal shows up, but mentioned that his feeder is too small for the cardinal and it does not stay long. “When the weather is warmer, mourning doves and robins come and eat from the ground below the feeder,” he said.