Updated Surroundings, New Approaches to ... - Phoebe Ministries

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Wyncote Memory Boards
Illustrate Residents’ Past
Personalized memory boards about residents
of Wyncote Church Home are helping
staff members learn more about the seniors in
their care. “Although they know who each resident
is, sometimes they have little concept of
who the residents were in their earlier lives,”
says Rev. Linda Williams, Dir.-Social Services.
“Most likely we never knew, and a memory
board can help rectify that.”
The board, roughly 18 inches by 24 inches,
resembles a bulletin board. “We cover it in fabric,
and ribbons that cross-cross the front
enable residents to place pictures on the board
and construct a brief history,” she says.
Photos: Activities, Wyncote Church Home
Wyncote Resident Elinore Leino enjoys reviewing some
of the highpoints of her life.
One resident, for example, served in WWII
as a WAVE, traveled extensively and at one time
was an executive secretary. “She had an interesting
life, and we want the news on her board
to reflect that,” Williams said. The staff plans to
include pictures the family brings in as well as
more recent photos of activities that go on
throughout the year at Wyncote. ■
Phoebe Named Leader,
Innovator by CareTracker
Phoebe Ministries was the recent recipient of
these CareTracker Excellence Awards presented by
Resource Systems, supplier of the CareTracker
information system used to document patient care:
■ Series Innovation Award, for implementing
a set of assessment questions that has created resident
benefits. In particular, an incident tracking and
reporting series that allows nurses to enter incidents
and print statistical reports.
■ Quality of Care Improvement Award, for
incident tracking and implementation in the Miller
Assisted Living Community. Phoebe also was
recognized for its upcoming vaccine series including
requirements for completing the government mandated
MDS and for tracking vaccine administration
for reporting to the Department of Health.
Congratulations to the organization and to the
members of Phoebe's Core Team: Renee Jarrell,
Michell Staska-Pier, Candace Mason, Sandra
Masters, Faith Palermo, Gregory Chomitzky, Fran
Darlington, Charlotte Cruse and Lynnette
Clinton. ■
Volunteer Chaplain Associate, Phoebe Home Resident
Recall Time Spent at Wyncote Church Home
T
he
recent affiliation of Wyncote Church
Home in Montgomery County with Phoebe
Ministries has unearthed some interesting personal
history about Phoebe’s newest community
for seniors.
Rev. Dr. Albert Teske, former pastor of New
Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ, was the
Board President of Wyncote Church Home for 16
years. He now volunteers for the Pastoral Care
Department at Phoebe Home as a chaplain
associate. His experience serving both organizations
gives Rev. Dr. Teske a unique perspective.
One of the most obvious similarities
between Phoebe Home and Wyncote Church
Home, he believes, is the exceptional quality of
care at both communities. “I have found the nursing
staff to be outstanding at both Wyncote and
Phoebe Home,” he says. “There is a real loyalty
and devotion to the organization and to
those in their care. When someone is hired
who is truly concerned about the residents,
it’s appreciated.” Teske senses that appreciation
for the volunteer work he does at
Phoebe, just as he did at Wyncote Church
Home.
Mary Weaver has resided at Phoebe
Home for 13 years. As a member of
Heidelberg UCC in Schwenksville, she
often lent her time and talent to Wyncote
RED HATS, FLANNEL SHIRTS
Created in 1997 for women over 50, the Red Hat
Society today boasts 42,000 chapters, including
groups at Phoebe Home, David A. Miller Assisted
Living Community, Phoebe Richland, Phoebe Berks
Health Care Center and Village Commons. At a
recent meeting, Phoebe Home activities aide Joan
Hale (below), who once worked at Hess’s department
store, reminisces with residents
about Hess’s Patio restaurant.
RIGHT: Resident Warren DeLong,
a Hess’s retiree, joins the fun.
Church Home. “I used to drive several ladies
down there and we volunteered to do backyard
barbecues and help with the church’s roast beef
dinner and flea market,” she recalls. Mary served
on the Wyncote Auxiliary with Rev. Teske’s wife.
She also collected Auxiliary dues from members
of her church.
Mary remembers the helpfulness of everybody
at Wyncote. “The nursing staff was welltrained
and compassionate, and it was a nice
campus with lovely trees, sort of up on a hill.”
Rev. Dr. Teske believes both Phoebe and
Wyncote are pursuing visionary goals that meet
their missions to “grow and change as the needs
arise to meet future challenges.” As a Phoebe
community, Wyncote Church Home will be able
to continue meeting the needs of seniors for
many years to come. ■
Wyncote Church Home
ABOVE: Red Hatters wait to sample strawberry
pie they helped prepare in memory of the
Patio’s famous “mile-high” strawberry pie.
BELOW: The Flannel Shirt Society, a similar
men’s group at Phoebe Home, enjoys a fish fry
in Moyer Hall before its program begins.