Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
December 2014
‘Believe’
By Bruce Shogren, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America president and CEO
As I look forward to the holiday season, one word is key to this season: “believe.” I truly believe in three key people: Jesus Christ, Santa Bruce Shogren Claus and the employees of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America system. What could be more important than Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ? I grew up in a church in which every Sunday we would state our belief by reciting the Apostles’ Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of theVirgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of CEO, continued on page 2
Employees move the first bed into the new health care neighborhood.
New campus opens Residents move in, neighborhood names announced Big changes are underway at Wichita Presbyterian Manor as residents move into new buildings and everyone learns new names for their neighborhoods. “It’s part of our effort to reposition the campus and give it more of a personal feel,” said Executive Director Dawn Veh. She said each name was chosen to provide a sense of continuity with The Westerly, an additional independent living community coming to the Wichita campus.
Thank you for your patience We want to thank you for your ongoing patience as we continue to progress with our community transition! We feel that the new Dawn Veh accommodations will allow us to provide an increased level of service to those who call Wichita Presbyterian Manor home. If you have any questions or there is any way that we can assist you during this transition, please call me at 316-942-7456 or email me at dveh@pmma.org.
Skilled nursing, assisted living and Post-Acute ~ Dawn Veh, executive director To Home (PATH®) rehabilitation are now collectively known as The Willows. This neighborhood includes Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s first memory-care residences. On Nov. 4, skilled CAMPUS, continued on page 4
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CEO, continued from page 1
sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen. This belief statement says it all for me and has been the guiding statement throughout my life. It has given me the ability to believe in the power of prayer, which has really been needed daily as my wife was healing in the hospital and at home. This Christmas season, I pray you reflect on that night long ago when Jesus was born and you continue to realize the impact his birth has had on all our lives.
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Dawn Veh, executive director Amy Watson, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Mary Angela Page, activities director, mpage@pmma.org. Telephone: 316-942-7456 Fax: 316-941-3806 Address: 4700 W. 13th St., Wichita, KS 67212-5575 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
My second key belief is in the spirit of Santa Claus. Santa has always been a big part of my family’s Christmas celebrations, dating back to when I was a little one. Santa has always come out of the fireplace in the house I grew up in in Lindsborg, Kansas. It is quite the spectacle to see the Jolly Old Elf come out of PaPa Har’s (my dad’s) fireplace to deliver gifts to all the good girls and boys of the Shogren family after losing his pants once again. “Har, when are you going to fix your chimney,” Santa states every year to the delight of all in the room.You have to be there to really experience it and believe it. But the actual thrill in believing in the spirit of Santa Claus is to be a “Santa Helper.” To see the joy in the eyes of a child when he or she sits on Santa’s lap, to experience a surprise appearance by Santa is unforgettable whether it is to children or adults, to give an unexpected and thoughtful gift which says “I know you” is pure happiness for the giver, the receiver and those watching, and the best is when someone will ask with a wink and whisper in Santa’s ear, “Who are you, really?” and Santa gets to tell them the truth: You are really Santa Claus. Priceless! Finally, my third and final belief is in the employees of the PMMA system in providing the care and services to you. Being on the side of receiving care in the past year by a caring hospital nursing and health care staff, I appreciate even more the PMMA staff throughout our system that daily provide the health care, friendship, caring and a whole lot more to you, our residents. Please join me in thanking your community’s staff for their commitment to our mission, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values. As I close my letter, let me wish that you know the blessing of being a child of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, the joy of caring for others, and that you still hear the bell ring and truly believe. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Celebrate With Us Saturday, December 13
Holiday Bazaar 2 to 4 p.m.
Come early and shop locally made art and handcrafted gifts.
Open House & Tour 4 to 6 p.m.
Complimentary chef-prepared treats, cider and hot chocolate served. Each attendee will be entered to win 2 ticket vouchers redeemable for one of Wichita Music Theater’s 2015 summer productions.
Wichita Presbyterian Manor 4700 West 13th Street | Wichita, KS 67212
Parking: Enter new campus circle drive from W. 13th Street and look for event parking signs.
Call 1-866-869-3841 to R.S.V.P. for yourself and a guest.
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CAMPUS, continued from page 1
nursing residents became the first to move into the new building, which offers comprehensive care in a more homelike setting. Family members and volunteers were on hand to help them get settled in. The administrative offices have also moved to new quarters. In December, assisted living residents will move into larger apartments in The Willows. The Westwinds is the new name for the original independent living neighborhood.
Jill Coleman, The Westerly sales team, operates a snack cart during move-in.
Veh said there will be some interior remodeling and landscaping done at the Westwinds to match the newer construction. An office has already been removed from the original buildings, she said, but key staff members will remain, including maintenance workers and an activities director. As the new buildings open, others will be demolished to make way for the 90-unit Westerly Residences. In preparation for construction next year, the 13th Street entrance has been closed, and a new entrance is open off Zoo Boulevard. There is additional parking behind the original assisted living buildings. Employees are working to organize holiday events amid the construction and moves, Veh said. Some will take place in the new chapel/multipurpose room. Touch Town, the campus’ new touchscreen information system, will help keep everyone up to date, Veh said. Information on Touch Town can be updated as needed. Touch Town monitors across the campus will also provide menus and birthday announcements.
Health services staff prepare for a shift change.
Neighborhood name guide WAS...
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IS NOW...
Skilled nursing • Assisted living PATH® (Post-Acute to Home)
The Willows
Original independent living
The Westwinds
New independent living
The Westerly
Independent living drives expansion plans This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life. The desire for more independent living drove expansion for Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America in the late 1980s. Duplex or apartment projects were approved for the campuses in Sterling, Wichita, Topeka, Parsons, Arkansas City and Lawrence. Existing spaces were renovated in Sterling, Arkansas City, Kansas City and Newton, and a new health care center was constructed in Newton. Wichita received funds for and constructed a chapel. Community interest and persistence led to the development of a campus in Emporia. Ground was broken on May 22, 1984, and Emporia Presbyterian Manor campus opened in 1986. Construction started on a new campus in Dodge City in a joint venture with the CSJ Health System of Wichita, Kan. The new campus, adjacent to St. Mary of the Plains College, was named Manor of the Plains. In conjunction with the closing of St. Mary of the Plains campus in 1992, Presbyterian Manors Inc. acquired CSJ Health System’s joint venture interest in Manor of the Plains and became the sole owner. PMMA’s dream of providing services for severely physically handicapped adults became a reality when Hutchinson Heights opened in 1986. The 1980s also brought serious conversations about the relationship between Presbyterian Manors of Mid-
America and the synods of the Presbyterian Church as well as increased competition in the senior care market. Board minutes from 1986 demonstrate PMMA’s desire to keep the ties with the Synod of Mid-America and individual Presbyterian churches strong. In 1989, the original United Presbyterian Foundation of Kansas Inc. (Newton), and the other separate Kansas Manor corporations, (Arkansas City, Clay Center, Emporia, Kansas City, Lawrence, Manor of the Plains, Parsons, Salina, Sterling, Topeka and Wichita) and Presbyterian Manors of Missouri Inc. (Farmington, Fulton and Rolla) were merged to form Presbyterian Manors Inc. In 1990, an office building was constructed in northeast Wichita and the headquarters of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc. moved from Newton to Wichita.
Seeking ‘angels’ for Good Samaritan Program Christmas angel ornaments – each representing a gift to the Good Samaritan Program for Benevolent Care – are adding to the holiday decorations at Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s senior living communities.
Donors responding to the annual Christmas Angel Appeal letter mailed in November include paper angel ornaments with their gifts. Each ornament will then be displayed at the PMMA community designated by the donor. During the past two years, angel donors have given more than $94,000 to the Good Samaritan Program, which assists PMMA residents who have run out of funds through no fault of their own. 5
Wichita Presbyterian Manor 4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 Return Service Requested
Christmas memories By Ella Leslie
One Christmas Eve my parents loaded the older of my two sisters and me and the box of gifts to make the usual trip to Grandma Pearl and Grandpa Ollie’s home in Conway Springs. After Daddy started to back out of the driveway, he pulled back in, hurrying into the house for something he forgot. Upon returning late that night, we found Santa had left a pink wicker doll carriage complete with the baby doll for me. I don’t remember what he left for Rosalie, but we were quite sure Santa had been there. In later years, my grandparents had moved to an old commercial building that was now their home and business. A big window in the kitchen looked out on an alley. My children and their cousins were sitting at a round table in the middle of the kitchen eating whatever Grandma had cooked in her big pot, and of course the usual peanut butter cookies. To their great surprise, Santa knocked on the window and with a hearty wave of his hand went on his way. I don’t know where he was headed, but it was a special experience for a table full of kids.
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My husband and I eloped on Christmas Eve on my parent’s 20th wedding anniversary, which was also my father’s birthday. We always tried to go out to dinner on the 24th of June – halfway between, so Christmas could be Christmas. For me, one of the special Christmas traditions was the midnight candlelight service at church. One Christmas, my children decided to open the wrapped gifts hidden in my closet. Their only problem was they could not find the Scotch tape and taped the gifts back with masking tape.