The transportation team, led by Latanya Bailey, continues to shine day in and day out. More importantly, during our winter storm on January 10th, the team came together and worked around the clock to shuttle employees from both Kirby and the Farms to work and home.
Bailey’s leadership skills with coordinating and communicating with her transportation team make her an amazing leader!
Random thought, how many people remember how I started my article last month? ”It’s great to get the snow & cold behind us….SHOOT ME NOW!!
Today, I want to share with you one aspect of my job that gives me great satisfaction and keeps me in the “Know!” It’s meeting with the Resident Advisory Committee each week. Because this group meets weekly, we discuss the hottest topics on the minds of our Residents, as well as Management. This is one of my most productive meetings of the week! Let me take a moment to introduce our Advisory Committee Members: Chairman, Don Meiners; Communications, Christine Martin; Healthcare, Charlie Foster; Culinary, Carolyn Hladky; Resident Programs, Jody Sosh; Marketing, Linda Tittle; Move-Ins, Sydney Wagner.
Another one of the important aspects of this group is there is representation from the PSALMS Board, RCA, & Kirby leadership in every meeting. This allows direct communication which allows for quicker action or discussion.
The Resident Advisory Committee is designed to bring residents and administration together, fostering and supporting a living environment that promotes well-being, personal growth, and community engagement among residents. These residents work together to help shape the lifestyle and activities at the community. A simple way to explain the role of resident volunteers is….They put their life skills to work by serving others.
Our Wing Leaders are an extension of the Advisory Committee and are a valuable part of the Resident Advisory Committee. It is through the effort of every Wing Leader, member of the Advisory committee, and management that we keep up with the pulse of the community, respond to the needs of the community, and co-participate with keeping the at large community well informed.
Let’s give these people a well-deserved round of applause! Have a great March!
Michael J. Brown, Jr.
Executive Director, Kirby Pines
With many of you here at Kirby I’ve had fear that someday people, talking behind my back, would accuse me of being childish. The dictionary defines childish as having “immaturity and lack of poise.“ As an 90 year old, I certainly didn’t want to appear “immature.” And goodness knows, I have privately considered myself as having poise.
Being a “person of the Book,” I remember that, when he became an ardent follower of Jesus, Paul said, I put away childish ways.
However, I was forced into putting that in sharper perspective when I remembered Jesus’ word: “Let the little children come to me, for to such belongs the Kingdom of heaven.”
I’ve had to conclude that there is a difference between childish and childlike… Rather than having “immaturity and lack of poise” as the dictionary defines childish ,“ childlike is “marked by innocence, trust, and simplicity.”
No wonder I like Eric Marshall and Stuart Hamphill’s Children’s Letters to God. One little boy prayed, “Dear God, I’m sorry I was late for Sunday School, I couldn’t find my underwear.” And another little boy prayed, “Dear God, please tell me where everybody came from, and I hope you explain it better than my daddy did.” Children are open and alive. They have a perception that we adults seem to have lost. Best of all they have the capacity of what I call living lightly. They’re not burdened down by preconception. Their lives are not predetermined by force of habit. They’re not closed to others because of sour experiences. They don’t keep grudges.
So for God’s sake, and for our community’s sake, let’s not be childish. Let’s pray and work hard at being childlike.
At 90 years young, Leon Sanderson is needing to adjust activities and slow down a bit. One activity in particular is going on his hospital visits, which requires a great deal of walking.
The last few years, as soon as Leon has been made aware of a Kirby Pines resident in the hospital, he’s there (often accompanied by his wife, Marilyn) with words of encouragement and prayer. There is no telling how many people he has visited since Berry Terry asked him to take over that part of the Chaplain’s responsibilities.
Once back at Kirby, Leon would write a brief report with copies to Sydney Wagner, Chris Palmer and myself – Cheryl Johnson. This has enabled us to share with other residents through Sydney’s timely emails and weekly on our Prayer List what is happeneing, which has greatly reduced mis-information & speculation.
But that is only a part of what Leon does. He also regularly visits our Medical Units reading to them from the Bible. He and Marilyn are Wing Leaders and are active in the 8 o’clock Church of Christ Worship Service. They both attend the Thursday morning Bible Study Class and often Leon leads the singing. They are also members of Joan Dodson’s Chorus, not to mention Leon’s once a month Sing-A-Long in the Chapel. So a big Thank You to both Leon and Marilyn for going above and beyond for Kirby Pines!
The Miracles are a select group of singers chosen from the most musically-gifted members who live at The Baddour Center. They travel across the United States to express their faith through music, bridge attitudinal barriers that may exist towards adults with intellectual disabilities, and share the mission and ministry of The Baddour Center.
The transportation team, led by Latanya Bailey, continues to shine day in and day out. More importantly, during our winter storm on January 10th, the team came together and worked around the clock to shuttle employees from both Kirby and the Farms to work and home.
Bailey’s leadership skills with coordinating and communicating with her transportation team make her an amazing leader!
Question: What Valentine’s message can you find in a honeycomb?
Answer: “Bee mine.”
Question: Why are artichokes so beloved?
Answer: They’re known for their hearts.
Question: What did the love-obsessed candle say when it was lit?
Answer: “I found the perfect match!”
Question: Why did the magnet hit on the refrigerator?
Answer: He found her to be very attractive.
Question: What’s the best recipe for a perfect morning on February 14?
Answer: A hug and a quiche.
Question: What’s the most romantic ship?
Answer: Courtship.
Question: What did the pickle say to the other on Valentine’s Day?
Answer: “You’re a big dill to me.”
Question: How did the cashew share its feelings with the almond?
Answer: “I’m nuts about you.”
Question: How did the two prunes confirm dinner plans?
Answer: They said it was a date.
Question: Why do air fresheners love Valentine’s Day?
Answer: They’re so scent-imental.
Question: How did one drum tell the other about its feelings?
Answer: “My heart beats for you.”
Sometimes in life, circumstances occur which lead to a seemingly providential conclusion. According to Parker, his marriage to Ruth was “arranged” due to the fact that their families were closely associated from the time of their births. Although contact with each other was sporadic in their youth, a reconnection as adults would unite them forever. In March of 2025, Ruth and Parker will celebrate 56 years of marriage.
The primary circumstance that would eventually bring Ruth and Parker together occurred when their parents met while attending an Evangelical Free Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. The families became very close, and when Ruth’s mother, who had enrolled in Nyack Missionary Institute, was having financial difficulty, Parker’s family helped to support her so that she could remain in school. This is their story:
Born in 1942, Ruth Nilsen (Knopp) describes herself as “double trouble” as she was both a preacher’s and missionary’s kid (PK/MK). Ruth and her parents lived in Holiday Cove, West Virginia, where her father was pastor of a church. The family later moved to Dearborn, Michigan, and while there, Ruth’s brother was born, and her parents were “called” to become missionaries to Columbia, South America. Unfortunately, Ruth’s father died of typhoid two and one-half years after their arrival in Columbia, but her mother remained there in missionary work for 28 years. However, Ruth’s family always returned to Teaneck, New Jersey, when her mother had a “leave” from her missionary work; that would always put Ruth and Parker’s families in close contact.
Ruth would call Columbia her home base from 1948 until 1960. The family lived in seven different parts of Columbia while Ruth lived there. To attend an appropriate school, it was necessary for Ruth to spend nine months of each year in a boarding school for missionary children in Quito, Ecuador. Except for the two weeks at Christmas, and the two and one-half months of summer break, Ecuador was her “home.” Because of limited communications during school, each student was expected to have a letter written to their parents every Sunday, or they would not be allowed to eat supper! Ruth had her 6th and 12th grades in the United States when her mother was on “leave” from her missionary work. Her 12th grade was in Teaneck, New Jersey, where the number of students was over 600. That was cultural shock as Ruth’s previous school had 12!
Following graduation from high school, Ruth remained in Teaneck and entered secretarial school while living with an aunt and cousins. During this time, she found part-time employment in a law firm and remained in the legal field for 13 years, eventually becoming the office manager.
Parker Nilsen was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1941. He had an older brother and was later joined by a younger one. Parker and his brothers were First Generation Americans as their parents and grandparents came to America from Norway. When he was four years old, Parker’s family moved to Maywood, N.J., where he attended school through the ninth grade. It was necessary for him to ride public transportation through two towns to reach a school for the remaining high school years. Parker began work at 12 years of age as a stock clerk in a gift shop. “Because my family was lower middle class economically,” recalls Parker, “it was necessary for me to begin work two years before I could actually get work papers!”
The work and family examples were influential in molding a strong work ethic in Parker. His desire for a better life led him to enroll in Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. He arrived on campus and experienced cultural shock– coming from a metropolitan area near New York City to a small town surrounded by corn fields! Parker graduated in 1964 with degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry. He entered the Army military service and served three years in what Parker calls an “interesting assignment”–military intelligence. He was assigned to a field office in Karlsruhe, Germany, and served in civilian clothes the entire time.
Returning to Maywood after his military service, Parker and Ruth reconnected at a church activity. Ruth was still working for the law firm, and Parker took a position with SAFECO Insurance Company. The couple began dating in 1968, became engaged in three months, and married in March 1969. Four years later, their son, Thomas Allen, was born; three years later, their daughter, Kristin, joined them. Unfortunately, at the age of 25, Tom developed Ewings sarcoma and passed away after 17 months of treatment. Parker recalls, “Tom had a great faith, and from the time he received the diagnosis, he said, ‘I am in God’s hands –there is no better place to be.’ ’’ It was during this time that Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Nilsens were living in St. Louis, Missouri, but after retirement, they wanted to be closer to their daughter, Kristin, and her family. They believed that their ministry was to help Kristin and their son-in-law, Alex. At Easter in 2022, they visited Kirby Pines and made the decision to move here. They babysit their granddaughter, Kayleigh, at least two days a week while Kristin works as a nurse at St Jude’s. They attend First Baptist Church in Collierville with Kristin’s family.
Ruth and Parker say, “We are thankful for our move to Kirby Pines as we have met a wonderful group of loving and caring people.”
Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines.
Wellness Dimensions are how we as humans define our quality of life. The Wellness dimensions consist of emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, and social. Each person defines their wellness differently. Ideally, a person should have a balance between all 8 dimensions.
Occupational therapists are trained on emotion, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environment, occupational, and social dimensions.
• Do you find that it is harder doing tasks in your home?
• Do you feel nervous when going to take a shower and worry about falling?
• Have you stopped participating in activities that you enjoy?
• Do you have a hard time reach high and low to grab things within your home?
• Do you find it difficult being around people?
Physical therapists are trained in physical, environmental, and occupational dimensions.
• Are you having difficulty moving around in your environment?
• Is it getting hard to get to the bathroom at speed that prevents incontinence?
• Do you have a hard time getting in and out of your car?
Speech therapists are trained in intellectual, occupational, and social dimensions.
• Do you find that you are not remembering things like you used to?
• Do you find it difficult at times to get your words out when with other people?
• Do you find that you are having a hard time swallowing and/or eating and drinking foods and liquids?
If you said yes to any of the questions asked in this article, or want to learn more about the Dimensions of Wellness, please contact the Broad River Rehab Team for guidance.
Practicing regular deep diaphragmatic or belly breathing has many health benefits, and is one of the hidden keys to optimum wellness. In fact, people who practice deep belly breathing as little as 10 minutes a day have a much less chance of developing cancer and heart disease, handle stress more effectively and generally have better overall health and well-being. Deep diaphragmatic breathing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of improving one’s health with the least amount of cost and time investment.
To help you realize the importance of deep diaphragmatic breathing, here are 12 benefits to regularly practicing this healthy habit:
Reduces the risk factors for heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol (LDL), raising good cholesterol (HDL), lowering blood pressure and stabilizing blood sugars.
Cuts chances of cancer by as much as 400%.
Reduces negative stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol.
Helps reduce cravings for processed carbohydrates (junk food).
Cuts chances of diabetes by strengthening the insulin beta receptor sites.
Improves quality of sleep by improving stage 1 and stage 4 sleep cycles.
Lengthens the cells’ life span by cleansing the cells more thoroughly through increase lymphatic flow.
Slows the aging process by increasing the secretion of human growth hormone (anti-
aging hormone).
Optimizes the immune system by strengthening T-cell formation and improving
Lymphocyte production.
Improves your mood by elevating the ”feel good” hormone, serotonin, and other
positive endorphins.
Improves mental focus and concentration by increasing blood flow to the
Pre-Frontal Cortex of the brain.
Improves the quality and effectiveness of meditation by changing brain wave activity from the more stressful beta wave activity to a more relaxing and healthier alpha and theta brain wavelengths.
Here’s how to reap the amazing benefits of deep diaphragmatic breathing: Sit in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed and inhale very slowly through your nose using your diaphragm (your belly should expand while you inhale with little or no chest movement). Once your lungs are full and your belly has expanded, hold your breath for about 6 to 12 seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth making sure you use your belly to push the air out. Once your lungs are empty and your belly is contracted, repeat the cycle. Your goal is to complete 10 cycles (inhale, hold, exhale) for 8 to 10 minutes of deep diaphragmatic breathing a day.
The best time to practice this type of deep breathing is first thing in the morning and right before you go to bed. To enhance the benefit of deep breathing. I suggest visualizing your goals or picturing your ideal life while practicing this habit. Personally, I pray while practicing deep diaphragmatic breathing.
For the next 30 days, take the challenge to practice deep breathing for at least 10 minutes a day every day. This is one of the best prescriptions for improving your health and optimizing your wellness.
It is great to get the snow and cold weather in our rearview mirror and looking down the road towards an early Spring!
February is Here! Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, and the Super Bowl all in one month! Every one of them will be celebrated right here at Kirby Pines. Please be sure to look over the calendar so you don’t miss your favorite activities coming up!
February means “Love is in the air.” Here is my favorite Kirby Pines “LOVES.”
I love working with all of my Staff! They are truly the most dedicated staff I have had the privilege to work with.
Next, I love “LAUGHING” with our Residents! They keep a smile on my face with their stories and comments. I love helping with the Marketing Events. It is exciting to see current Residents showing off their home with such pride to new prospects. And then, to see new prospects turn into new Residents.
I love feeling the “ENERGY” of all the various activities permeate the entire community.
To sum it all up…
I LOVE KIRBY PINES!!
Michael J. Brown, Jr.
Executive Director, Kirby Pines
The most important questions in life can never be answered by anyone except oneself.”
– John Fowles, The Magus
It poured rain the day I left. But I was filled with excitement, a strange exuberant sense of taking wing. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew what I needed. I needed a new land, a new race, a new language; and although I couldn’t have put it into words then, I needed a new mystery.
These are the words of a young man named Nicholas in The Magus, a novel by John Fowles. Nicholas is starting out on what is to be a totally new life, and this is the expression of his feeling.
His words have become a kind of theme song for my spiritual pilgrimage. It burrowed its way into my soul not long ago when I had to make a vocational decision.
It happens. As Christians, we are not permanent residents. We are pilgrims. Paul made that clear to the Galations. They were arguing about doctrine and Christian practice. Paul spared no word: “Circumcision is nothing; uncircumcision is nothing; the only thing that counts is a new creation” (Ga.6:15 NEB).
Let’s claim it and live it more intentionally this new year.
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Memphis, TN 38115
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Kirby Pines, a sister community of The Farms at Bailey Station, is part of the family of LifeCare Communities of Retirement Companies of America. For more information, visit retirementcompanies.com
