Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
September 2018
“Late Night Reading,” a painting by Skip Kreibach.
Local Wichita artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners Three winning artists in Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2019 Art is Ageless Calendar produced by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. “Gabbie Sue Christmas,” a painting in the Christmas category by Maria Ctibor; “Rose Garden,” a drawing by Carol Davis; and “Late Night Reading,” a painting by Skip Kreibach will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall. In addition, “Red Bird,” a painting by Kathleen McVey will be featured on one of the Art is Ageless greeting cards. Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition ART, continued on page 2
Wichita Presbyterian Manor residents and children with USD 259’s Parents as Teachers program enjoy monthly play groups that are focused on education and building relationships.
Intergenerational play group nurtures growth, brightens days When most people hear the phrase “play group,” they don’t necessarily envision a group of participants ranging from newborns to senior citizens, but thanks to a grant from the Mental Health Foundation, that’s exactly what takes place every month in Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s memory care neighborhood. Spearheaded by USD 259’s Parents As Teachers program, each meeting of the group includes an educational activity, an art project, a fine/gross motor skill activity, story time and a snack. And while education and skill development is at the core of the group’s mission, it’s also about making cross-generational connections. “We wanted our kids to have experience with the older generation, and we want it to be educational and build relationships as well,” Shannon Benoit, executive director of curriculum and instruction for USD 259, said. Beyond the traditional learning opportunities provided by the group, Shannon believes it also helps provide the children with a new perspective PLAY, continued on page 2
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with winning art from 16 other PMMA communities. More than 180 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar and greeting cards. “We are inspired by the talent in our senior community and are thrilled we have the opportunity to share it and inspire others through the Art is Ageless calendar and greeting cards,” said Melody Dodge, director of marketing and sales, Wichita Presbyterian Manor. Art is Ageless, open exclusively to people age 65 and older, is a copyrighted program of
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. Courtney Wolfe, executive director Melody Dodge, 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 September 2018
“Red Bird,” a painting by Kathleen McVey.
“Gabbie Sue Christmas,” a painting in the Christmas category by Maria Ctibor
Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. Right: “Rose Garden,” a drawing by Carol Davis.
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on their world. “I think participating in the group builds acceptance. It broadens the opportunity for experience with the students,” Shannon said. But it’s not just the children who benefit from the group; positive effects have been noted in the residents who participate as well. “The interaction with the little ones has a calming effect on some of the residents who are otherwise anxious or pacing,” Amy Watson, life enrichment director at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, said. “They actually sit down and interact.”
And those effects don’t seem to dissipate at the end of the group’s time together. “It really makes a difference in the remainder of the day for some of the residents,” Amy said. “There is a dramatic change in engagement levels, residents are smiling, singing and talking more. I think the program has improved their overall quality of life.” Currently, the program is the only one of its kind in the city, but its success has its creators thinking bigger. “It’s been such a great partnership I would love to expand it in other communities if we could get the funding,” Shannon said. Like us on Facebook