Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
December 2015
Colds and flu are back in season As we near the peak months for cold and flu season, it’s a good time to review tips for prevention and treatment. Getting the flu vaccine is still one of the best things you can do for your health in wintertime. There is no truth to the myth that you can catch the illness from the vaccine. The injection contains only a killed version of the virus. People 65 years or older run a higher risk of complications from the flu, as do people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, emphysema, heart disease, and diabetes. It can, however, take up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect, so the earlier, the better. But they are usually available through February. Good hand-washing routines are another top defense against illness. Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds, or use alcohol-based sanitizer, whenever you have been out in public. Viruses can live on hard surfaces for eight hours. COLDS, continued on page 3
Westerly residents ready for move-in day Residents of Wichita Presbyterian Manor get to welcome their newest neighbors this month as the first residents of The Westerly move into their apartments. The completion of the new independent living apartments marks a new direction in senior living at Presbyterian Manor, and Jim and Gayle Roose are looking forward to being a part of it. The couple will move into their apartment at The Westerly from their home in northwest Wichita. Jim said they received a mailing about The Westerly earlier this year, and they were intrigued. Gayle had suffered a stroke the previous year. Since then, Jim had been shopping for long-term care insurance, but the costs were discouraging. Jim retired in 2008 from facility management for Wells Fargo, and he has been an usher at Intrust Bank Arena since it opened a year later. WESTERLY, continued on page 3
Donate your vehicle to help senior citizens The season of giving is here. Wouldn’t it be great to know that your vehicle donation helped seniors who have outlived their financial resources receive the care they need this year? Turn that unneeded vehicle into holiday cheer and receive a tax deduction! We accept many donation types, including cars, RVs, boats, planes and more. Donating your vehicle will help seniors who have outlived their financial resources at a Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in so many ways. Call us at 844-490-GIVE (4483) or visit WichitaPresbyterianManor.org/Vehicle_Donations, fill out the form, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Donate at WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
Each year, Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica provides more than $4 million in charitable care. Our seniors need your support; a donated vehicle can help in so many ways ‘Tis the season, give for a reason.
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 Jill Coleman, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Amy Watson, life enrichment director, awatson@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
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Community Matters December 2015
Merry Christmas
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WESTERLY, continued from page 1
If you do get ill, follow these recommendations:
• Drink a lot of fluids, but avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee and colas; they can dehydrate you.
The more he looked into the Unique Health Care Benefit offered to Westerly residents, he said, the more it made sense for them. The benefit provides assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care and the PATH® (Post-Acute to Home) rehabilitation program, if needed in the future, at lower rates compared to stand-alone health care providers.
• Rest, so your body and mind can recover.
“It kind of fell into place for us,” Jim said.
• Call the doctor if you have a fever that is not controlled by over-the-counter fever reducers, if you have a severe cough, or if you cannot keep any fluids or food down.
As charter residents, the Rooses will be among the first to live in The Westerly’s 90 brand-new maintenance-free apartment homes. They’ll be able to enjoy meals in the bistro and other restaurantlike venues, get involved in social activities, and use the indoor pool and wellness center.
• Eat what you can. This will maintain your energy to help your body fight the virus. If you don’t have much appetite, try simple foods like rice or soup.
• Stay home rather than coming to community meals and group activities. This will help contain the virus so you don’t spread it to others. All residents can request to have meals delivered to them, even in apartments.
Jim said their two-bedroom, twobathroom apartment has as much square footage as the main floor of
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their house, without the basement stairs that have been troublesome for Gayle. It’s also closer to their church. The couple have been married for 51 years; they have two children and eight grandchildren. Gayle said she and Jim prayed a lot about the decision to move. They spoke often with Jill Coleman, director of sales and marketing for The Westerly, to make sure they understood the commitment. Once they decided to move, the plan seemed to pick up steam. The Rooses mentioned to a neighbor that they might be selling their house. A few days later, the neighbor’s friend asked to see the house, and a few more days after that, he made an offer. “It felt like God was leading us that way,” Gayle said. “I’m excited now—I wasn’t before.”
Holiday Open House Wichita Presbyterian Manor will have a Holiday Open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 in the commons. There will be vendors with their craft items and wares for purchase, refreshments and music.
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Top left and right: Angela Page, Westwinds Life Enrichment Coordinator (pictured far right), and residents Beverly Kilian and Roy Harder play bingo with the Westside Christian Church volunteers. Left: Ella Leslie (far right) and Betty Stuckey visit with volunteers from Westside Christian Church. Left: Kyle Duncan, youth group leader at Westside Christian Church, visits with Roy Harder, assisted living resident. Westside Christian Church members volunteered at Wichita Presbyterian Manor recently. Projects included cleaning windows, playing bingo with residents and visiting.
What’s your secret artistic talent?
An upcoming edition of Community Matters will focus on Art is Ageless®. The Art is Ageless® program encourages residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through an annual art competition and exhibit, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions. What talent have you discovered? If you’ve got a story about what inspires you to create, contact Life Enrichment Director Amy Watson, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters December 2015
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