The Stories and Stars of the Liberty Lutheran Communities

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Liberty Lutheran

In every Liberty Lutheran community, conversations between residents and staff often reveal hidden gems of past virtuosity, or even current talents. There are thousands of stories to tell and share with the world.

One such story is that of Marion Stein. At 102, Marion is the poet of Paul’s Run. When Patty, director of advancement for Liberty Lutheran, heard about Marion’s talent for writing poetry, she knew Marion’s story needed to be told. Action News, from 6 ABC, interviewed Marion in her apartment where she shared her original poems and artwork. You can watch the interview here.

Some stories involve multiple members of the community and outside guests. When the Phillie Phanatic was paying a visit to the Artman Men’s Group, Henry, personal care administrator, made sure to document the moment through photos that later appeared in the print and online editions of The Ambler Gazette.

Jenna, a member of the Paul’s Run community life team, had a conversation with then-new resident Fred about his past as a way to make him comfortable in his new home. Through the conversation, she found out that Fred had played for one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941. With the Eagles just days away from their historic Super Bowl win, Fred shared his prediction of an Eagles’ victory with the world. NBC 10 even did a live broadcast at Paul’s Run where Fred was honored by the Eagles front office during a pep rally. You can watch the pep rally and interview here. The NFL even caught wind of Fred’s story and shared it with football fans around the globe.

At the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, staff noticed how member Jessie Howard transformed herself by using the community’s fitness center. All told, Jessie lost over 130 pounds through her workouts. Finding inspiration in her story, Action News met Jessie and personal trainer Daniel to capture her workout and tell her story. You can watch Jessie’s Art of Aging segment here.

These are just a small sample of the delightful narratives found throughout Liberty. When one resident shares his or her story with the world, a sense of pride rises in each community. Seeing friends and neighbors featured on television, web and in print brings the community together in celebration for the achievements of their peers. And while every story may not get the spotlight it deserves, the sharing of stories between friends, members, family and staff will continue to inspire even if those stories do not reach beyond the walls of the community.

A Day in the Life – Gary Dolan, Director of Environmental Services at The Village at Penn State

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Liberty Lutheran

As part of our Day in the Life series, Gary Dolan, Director of Environmental Services at The Village at Penn State, shares how he created a culture that defines excellence in service. Here is Gary’s story:

I’ve been very fortunate to have a position that is constantly evolving and presenting new opportunities to learn. The Village is always a beehive of activity, especially in the areas I get to work in. Within my job I oversee housekeeping, laundry, and the facilities side such as maintenance, security and all the work done on 60 acres of grounds. My department also works closely with Liberty’s IT staff to make sure all our tech is running smoothly.

In the past several years, with all the construction going on, I’ve also been working with Dave DeLuca, Liberty’s Director of Real Estate Development, which has been so rewarding given his knowledge. It’s been a great few years with the addition of the completed community room and connector hallway. Now, with the construction of a new main entrance lane, our Commons building expansion, Palmer Park and the new cottages that surround it, another round of development is underway. We also manage renovations to current apartments. I really appreciate what my team is able to do there and how creative they can be.

Managing the grounds is always interesting for us. For example, when the starlings roost at the University’s football stadium and their staff chases them away, they fly right to our campus. So we need to manage that when they try to take up residence on our buildings.

Being so close to Penn State, we have a lot of very intelligent, engaged and active people living here, some of whom are retired academics that desire to be sincerely involved in some of the day to day operations. Being that the University has its roots in agriculture, a lot of our residents are particularly knowledgeable about managing plants and grounds. Some of them are master gardeners. It’s always interesting to learn from them and to get their feedback on caring for things, such as different hand pruning techniques, and what specific fertilizers we should be using on certain plants and not on others. The residents aren’t shy about sharing that insight, so I’ve been very lucky to learn from them.

I am very proud of our amazing staff. There is no way I could oversee everything this position calls for without their help. They’re always going the extra mile. The key thing is that we’re not in a silo. We have oversight of an entire campus and when someone has a problem it’s our problem too, because we often have the ability to remedy the situation or at least lend a hand.

Everything that you can see, feel, touch, and smell at The Village has to do with our work. Whether it’s the lights or phones, or helping fix something in the gym or the kitchen, we deal with everything that has to do with the quality of life at The Village. So the day-to-day can be an adventure, and not to be cliché but in my entire time here, no day is ever the same. I love it. There is not one single day, when it comes to 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon that I don’t truly wish it was 10:00 in the morning because there is so much to do. The days just fly by.

We are here for our residents and it’s so important that they know that. We can’t just show up to work and do our job on the grounds, or the laundry, or maintenance. We are caregivers just as much as anyone else and it’s important to remember that when it comes to the service we provide, I’m fortunate to work with people who truly believe that. It’s not just about fixing a sink or a light; it’s about providing help in all areas to create a positive experience in all outcomes. I love that our team has pride in service.

I have the opportunity to learn from residents every day. I just really appreciate the amount of learning this job continues to provide from both them and the people I get to work with.

One other thing I’d like to note is that the Association for the Healthcare Environment, which is a peer group of the American Hospital Association, has been critical in my career within this industry. I was fortunate to serve as national president of the association in 2011 and again in 2016 throughout 2017. Liberty Lutheran has been so supportive of my involvement and I am very thankful for that. It’s wonderful being able to work for a group of people that recognize opportunities for professional and personal growth. They know it’s key to the entire organization, not just the individual.

To learn more about The Village at Penn State, Palmer Park, and the new cottages, please visit RetireatPennState.org.

For information about working at The Village at Penn State, or Liberty’s other communities, please visit LibertyLutheran.org/job-listings.

THE INSPIRATION CAFÉ

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Liberty Lutheran

By Sandy Smith, Development Associate for Liberty Lutheran

Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries bring a sparkle to the residents’ eyes and smiles to their faces while at Artman’s Inspiration Café! These hot beverages aren’t the only explanation behind the smiles. But it is the exchange of kindness and attentiveness shown throughout their conversations which displays how much the residents care about each other.

Much concern is taken with the placement of the residents around the tables. Walkers and chairs are put off to the side to make room for the wheelchairs. There is an unexpressed knowledge which you quickly notice that no one shall drink their coffee alone.

The café opens right after Tuesday’s mass and that’s when the orders start pouring in. Residents watch as I use the coffee maker to make one cup of Joe after another interchanged with a few hot chocolates and a stand-alone cappuccino. I find myself refilling the water tank repeatedly to keep the orders fulfilled. And before I know it, everyone has a cup of something in front of them.

Mary Cassidy, CTRS, household coordinator for Artman’s Penllyn community shares, “The residents love coming to the café. It gives them a chance to socialize with residents from other households and to enjoy an afternoon coffee and treat. The residents have come to know that the café will be open Tuesday afternoons and frequently talk about going to the café leading up to the scheduled time.”

As the Café’s Tuesday barista, I absolutely enjoy the hustle and bustle that comes with preparing the beverages. Artman’s Inspiration Café resembles the show, “Cheers” where everyone knows my name and I know their drink of choice.

For convenience, the Café offers a ‘drive through’ service where residents can take their beverages to go for themselves or for friends who aren’t feeling well enough to leave their room.

The café offers the opportunity to foster new bonds and share treasured memories and life stories with old and new acquaintances. During my time spent making coffee, I have overheard some heartwarming sentiments such as, “The last time I had a cup of coffee was in WW II. I must have liked it then, but I don’t like it now.” And, “Sitting here reminds me of being in my parents’ bakery when I was a little girl.”

Established in 2017, the Inspiration Café has become the place to be. So, next time you happen to be at Artman on a Tuesday afternoon or here for Sunday’s mass, make a plan to visit this aroma filled coffee nook. You will find yourself enthralled with the charm of the Inspiration Café!