Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
What makes not-for-profit senior living different? While shopping for a senior living community, it is common to consider the layout of the residence, the taste of the food and the friendliness of the staff as well as the financial requirements and availability of ongoing care. But what about the operational status of the organization? A community operating with a for-profit business model vs. a not-for-profit business model can make a significant difference in the overall operation and culture of the organization. Five major differences are worth exploring to understand the contrast better. DIFFERENT, continued on page 3
September 2017
Ray of the rails
Resident has a lifelong passion for trains Like many little boys of his generation, Ray Keller always had a Christmas train. The tradition sparked a lifelong love of model trains. In fact, one of the reasons Ray and his wife, Helen, chose to live at Wichita Presbyterian Manor was because he saw there was room to set up a small garden-scale train off their patio. He has two engines and a small loop of track. The trains aren’t set up year round, but all you have to do is ask to see them. “I’m always happy to show the trains somewhere or other. It takes some time because the trains themselves are not always out in the weather,” Ray said. Ray was a clergyman and lived almost exclusively in parsonages, where he always found room to set up an indoor scale train in a basement or extra room. When he and Helen finally had their own home, he was thrilled to have room for a larger layout. “At Christmas I would have a couple hundred feet of track in the living area, from one end of the house to the other,” he said. It wasn’t until retirement that Ray bought his first garden trains, on a RAILS, continued on page 2
RAILS, continued from page 1
visit to Denver. Today, Ray is an active member of the Wichita Area Garden Railway Society. The club’s 20th annual Garden Tour is Saturday, Sept. 16. Five area homes will be on the tour, plus Botanica, where admission will be free that day to anyone with a printed tour guide. During the summer months, Ray volunteers every Wednesday at Botanica, operating the trains in the Gene E. Spear Railroad Garden and serving as conductor there. “I think what I love the most is the young mothers bringing their children by who are always excited to see them. Then they don’t want to leave,” Ray said.
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 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 2017
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DIFFERENT, continued from page 1
1. Faith-based; mission-driven As a not-for-profit organization, there is one governing philosophy to which all operational decisions must align- the mission! At Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, our mission is to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. We carry a culture that makes all decisions by wearing two lenses, one is quality, and the other is Christian values. All things must measure up to those standards.a 2. Continuous ownership A popular avenue through which for-profit organizations gain revenue in senior living is acquisition and resale. In fact, it is common to see ownership change every five years or so. However, this growth model is simply a grab at revenue which makes it a rarity in the not-for-profit sector. Enjoying the consistency of continuous ownership can be a huge plus! 3. Oversight is provided by a volunteer board of trustees Who is at the helm of an organization? The shareholders? The CEO? The Board? In a for-profit business, many decisions are based on what will be pleasing to the shareholders. Compare that to the way a not-forprofit is managed. A volunteer board of trustees is holding the organization and its leadership accountable to the mission and the best interests of the residents. The fact that this group of highly-qualified individuals serves in a volunteer capacity means that there are no alternative motives outside of the mission.This means that residents are always the priority. 4. Net revenue is reinvested back into the community Like us on Facebook
Just because Presbyterian Manor is a not-for-profit company doesn’t mean the organization never makes money. The real difference is how that income is managed. Naturally, in a for-profit, revenue goes to serve the shareholders. Conversely, there are no shareholders for a not-for-profit; therefore, all net revenues go back into the community to improve the quality of life for the residents. 5. Good Samaritan Programsupported by philanthropy One of the number one fears of American seniors is running out of money. In more than 68 years of serving seniors, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America has stood in that financial gap for those who no longer had the resources to pay for their cost of living in the community. The
Good Samaritan Program is supported by philanthropic efforts to ensure residents always have a secure future. Choosing a senior living community is a complex decision with many variables. As you go through the process remember to ask these questions: 1.What is the mission of this organization and how is it implemented each day? 2.Who owns this community and for how long? 3.Who is in charge? (Shareholders? Volunteer board?) 4.What happens to net revenues? 5.What would happen to me if I ran out of money? Wichita Presbyterian Manor
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Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s Post-Acute To Home (PATH®) program isn’t just about getting you home—it’s about getting you back to your life. Call 316-942-7456 today to schedule your personal appointment and tour. WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
Memory care & gratitude We will feature memory care or gratitude in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story about memory care or how gratitude has shaped you, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share the story. If you’ve got a story to share, contact Amy Watson, life enrichment director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters September 2017
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