Commun ty Matters Topeka Presbyterian Manor
January 2017
5 New Year’s resolutions for older adults In 2007, British psychologist Richard Wiseman followed more than 3,000 people attempting to achieve NewYear’s resolutions including the top three: lose weight, quit smoking and exercise regularly. At the start of the study, most were confident of success. A year later, only 12 percent had achieved their goals. To make meaningful NewYear’s resolutions that you’ll really keep, set long-range resolutions for your second act. This way, you can help reach the goals that matter to you in the context of your entire future, not just a single year. To make holistic NewYear’s resolutions, look to the wisdom of RESOLUTIONS, continued on page 3
Meet Michelle Iott New business office director brings passion to profession If you haven’t yet had a chance to meet new business office director Michelle Iott, you’re in for a treat. She’s not only warm and compassionate, she’s also a highly skilled problem solver. And although she’s had many years of experience in the senior living field, it may come as a surprise to learn what she studied in college. “I graduated from Ottawa University in 1998, with a bachelor’s in liberal arts, a degree in elementary education.You have to pass an exam to get your teacher’s license, and for some reason the math portion kept giving me fits. I took it five times. I was disappointed then, but looking back, I MICHELLE, continued on page 2
MICHELLE, continued from page 1
guess it wasn’t meant to be. I was hired by Rhonda Parks, regional director of operations at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor years ago. I worked there for a year and fell in love with the atmosphere. I love helping people,” said Michelle. Michelle rejoined the PMMA family in November 2016, and her current duties include monthly billing for residents, Medicaid billing, hospice billing, HCBS billing, resident trust funds, accounts payable, daily census updates and many other things. She helps out wherever she’s needed. “I love working with the residents. It makes my day when they come in MICHELLE, continued on page 4
Bill Taylor, chief operating officer, left, and Bruce Shogren, president and chief executive officer, right, present Heather Pilkinton, executive director, with an Emerald Award certificate for meeting safety goals.
Manor honored for achievements
Heather Pilkinton, executive director Jami Colson, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Jami Colson, marketing director, at jcolson@pmma.org.
Topeka Presbyterian Manor received a certificate of recognition from Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica for reaching goals in fiscal year 2016, July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016.
Certificates of recognition were given out to communities that reached their goals in one or more category.
The recognition came through PMMA’s Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 17 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.
“This recognition is a visible sign of Topeka 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.
To receive an emerald, a community has to meet its goals in all 11 areas.
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Community Matters January 2017
Topeka was recognized for reaching safety goals.
Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica has been providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri for more than 65 years. Like us on Facebook
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Peter Drucker, the father of modern management who died in 2005 at 95. Drucker’s iconic 39 books and countless articles were always forward-focused. Try these five long-range resolutions for older adults.
to be another Bezos, but you should actively search for new possibilities inside and outside your field.
One 1. I resolve to embrace suggestion: uncertainty rather than avoid it. Interact with people Don’t assume that tomorrow will be in diverse like today. It could be, but the future groups and is unknown. And while uncertainty start reading can be unsettling, remember this: unfamiliar newspapers, magazines, we’re all in the same boat. blogs and websites. To embrace uncertainty and support 3. I resolve to stop and reflect your second act, form a book club or on my second act. discussion group dedicated to learning about the future. Explore advances Every year, Drucker carved out and trends in business, technology, time to engage in deep, focused education, culture and work.You introspection. He’d reflect on how the could also look at role models — past year had gone compared with his people you know or ones in the public expectations and the adjustments he eye who seem adept at navigating needed to make going forward. uncertainty. As you reflect on your second act, 2. I resolve to seek maximize your efforts by employing opportunities in changing practices such as journaling and conditions. mindfulness.You can also adopt what’s known as a “beginner’s mind.” In his We may not like change, but it’s classic book Zen Mind, Beginner’s natural, necessary, and something Mind, Shunryu Suzuki (founder of the to celebrate. Drucker distinguished San Francisco Zen Center) wrote: “In between being a change agent (good) the beginner’s mind there are many and a change leader (better). “The possibilities, but in the expert’s there most effective way to manage change are few.” successfully is to create it,” he said. To do that, you need to see change as an 4. I resolve to remove and opportunity, not a threat. improve. So, rather than just reacting to change, go out and look for it. Think about Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. He played a mammoth, pioneering role in the growth of e-commerce.You don’t need to aspire
Your second act will unfold in part due to what you stop doing. Drucker recommended something called systematic abandonment — intentionally dropping activities and relationships that are no longer
productive or useful. He suggested combining this with kaizen: steady and incremental improvement of what remains. A good starting point for this resolution is to make a list of what and who you can live without and then gradually shed them from your life. Then, use your newfound time to help create a winning second act. 5. I resolve to make friends with risk. Drucker believed that it was risky to sit back and let the future happen to you. Accept the idea that almost everything carries some element of risk, and you can create a space for risk in your life. Your second act may involve weighing the risks in going back to (and paying for) school, learning new technologies or creating an entrepreneurial venture. At some point, though, you’ll simply need to take that first step. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said: “The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet.” Topeka Presbyterian Manor
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MICHELLE, continued from page 2
with a problem, and I can help them find a solution. It makes me really happy.” When she’s not solving problems and enjoying time with residents at Presbyterian Manor, you’ll find her with family. With three
children, two step-children, and six grandchildren, she stays very busy. “I keep really busy with kids and grandkids, but when time allows, my 12-year-old daughter and I enjoy volunteering at the Topeka Humane Society. I also try to help with her school PTO as much as I can, too.”
While Michelle is still learning the day-to-day ins and outs of her position, she’s confident she’ll soon be strumming along. “I want to make sure residents know they can come to me for whatever they need. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out for them. We’ll get it taken care of.”
Social workers help residents We will focus on how our campus social workers help residents live life to the fullest in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. How has your campus social worker been an advocate for you? How have you benefited from your campus social worker’s efforts to assist you and your family? If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Jami Colson and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters January 2017
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