Discovering Recipes for Healthy Living at WPSCC

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Liberty Lutheran

When Qussie Murphy retired two years ago, she saw a new opportunity to become more active and dedicated to improving her health and well being.

“I didn’t want to just stay home, cook, eat, and watch TV,” Qussie shares. “I wanted retirement to be fun. At first, I visited another senior center, and I just didn’t feel like it was the right place for me. It was very low key. When I went to the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center it was a whole different experience. People were welcoming and active. There was music playing and people dancing. It was exciting.”

Combining favorite pastimes with healthy lifestyles at WPSCC

Among the many programs that attracted Qussie was the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative (AUNI). Within a classroom setting, AUNI helps members build dietary habits that promote healthy lifestyles. For Quissie it also provided an outlet for one of her favorite pastimes – cooking.

“I love to cook. I never have a chair in the class. I’m usually one of the people up there with the instructor, helping to prepare ingredients or cook the food,” Qussie said. “When I started the class, it was only offered on Mondays. However, it was so well attended that the instructors felt that they needed to expand. At one point there were 45 or more people coming. So now we offer the class on Mondays and Wednesdays.”

No tears here! Members at WPSCC smiling while learning how to cook healthy recipes.

As one of the programs most active participants, Qussie has used the information she has learned to help her on her own journey to improved health and wellness.

WPSCC helps Qussie achieve major weight loss, and big health gains

“My interest in eating better started about two years ago, around the same time I joined the Center. I didn’t always eat a healthy diet, but now, in part thanks to the Center, I’m very conscious about what I eat,” Qussie notes.

“I am very happy to share that in two years, I have gone from weighing around 225 pounds to a current weight of around 147 pounds. I feel better and I feel energized. The food we eat is fuel, and now I’m proud to be fueling my body with the right stuff.”

Every day, the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center makes a significant and meaningful impact for older adults in West Philadelphia by providing programs that educate, empower, and enrich lives. These programs have never been more important.

“At the Center, our goal is to add years to people’s lives,” says Helen Rayon, the health and wellness coordinator for the Center. “The programs we offer, like AUNI, help prevent major health issues, highlight resources for healthy living, and truly transform lives. We are always ready to help someone improve their health, and it’s wonderful to watch their journey.”

WPSCC is Thrilled to Announce Their Accreditation from the National Institute of Senior Centers

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Liberty Lutheran

The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center is pleased to announce their accreditation by the National Institute of Senior Centers. This recognition validates that The Center is meeting its mission in a nationally-accepted, professional manner. Moreover, it demonstrates the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center’s outstanding commitment to provide quality programs and services for older adults.

The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center WPSCC, also known throughout the community as The WOW of West Philadelphia for their energetic spirit and vivacity, is a beloved neighborhood hub for adults ages 50 and better. Offering a wide array of activities, The Center gives members opportunities that benefit their body, mind, and spirit through classes, clubs, educational programs, transportation assistance and more.

West Philadelphia Senior Community Center Zumba Class

Members at WPSCC dancing in Zumba class!

Enter The Center’s doors and you’ll immediately see smiling faces of people who feel fulfilled, active, and excited for each and every day. Why are members so full of life and optimism? The Center’s vibrancy speaks for itself; simply walk through The Center and you’ll understand. As Zumba class happens down the hall from cooking, right alongside pottery, sewing, and beyond, The Center’s dedication to providing activities that fill members with joy and make them feel connected to their community is clear, not to mention the free hot lunch for adults ages 60 and better.

Senior Center Accreditation: What it means and why it’s important

The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center has been accredited by the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). Dedicated to advancing the quality of senior centers throughout the country, the NISC developed their accreditation program with nine standards of excellence that senior centers must uphold to earn recognition and receive this honor. First developed in 1978 with ongoing revisions, each standard has a principle, rationale, and criteria that if demonstrated after official assessment and review, will earn senior centers their accreditation.

The nine standards of excellence are

Purpose
Community
Governance
Administration and Human Resources
Program Planning
Evaluation
Fiscal Management
Records and Reports
Facility

WPSCC’s newly-earned accreditation means they successfully uphold these nine exacting standards.

What is the process for earning accreditation? What did WPSCC have to do?

Steps to Accreditation:

Self-Assessment
Peer Review Site Visit
Accreditation Board Meeting

For senior centers looking to earn accreditation, upholding the nine standards of excellence is only half the journey. Earning accreditation requires many steps.

Self-Assessment

To earn accreditation all senior centers must form a committee and complete a self-assessment. The senior center then evaluates its level of compliance to the national standards and completes any tasks to bring it into compliance.

Peer Review Site Visit

After the senior center evaluates their level of compliance, they prepare a Document Review Notebook with relevant information and send it to the NISC Program Manager at NCOA headquarters. The program manager then recruits on-site and off-site peer reviewers who are sent copies of the Document Review Notebook. The on-site peer reviewer arranges a scheduled visit to the senior center and writes a report in consultation with the off-site reviewer. The peer reviewers then make their recommendation relative to the accreditation status of the senior center.

Accreditation Board Meeting

Once the recommendation is made, the Accreditation Board meets and reviews the reports. After the meeting is adjourned the senior center will receive official notification of whether or not they’ve earned accreditation.

Peer Reviewers recognize WPSCC as welcoming, lively, and entertaining!

WPSCC members walk the runway for annual sewing class fashion show

When the WPSCC received their official letter of accreditation, the Peer Reviewer recognized The Center for various strengths including:

A strong connection to the community with a variety of partners who actively provide and support programming
Outstanding participation from staff in community committees and organizations
Active support from The Advisory Council that includes two community members
A well-qualified staff with longevity in positions
Dynamic and creative leadership from The Center’s director
A diverse array of activities, many of them led by volunteers
A great use of space that creates a welcoming, lively, and entertaining atmosphere

The Benefits of WPSCC’s Accreditation

Accreditation for all senior centers is certainly a badge of honor, but to the WPSCC it means much more than a simple recognition. Thanks to accreditation, the WPSCC will:

Improve and strengthen The Center’s overall operations
Connect more with the entire community through self-assessment
Develop strategic plans for the future of their center and community
Establish themselves as a leader in positive aging

The benefits accreditation brings to The Center are plentiful, and this recognition will continue to help the WPSCC fulfill their important mission to provide new and engaging activities that support members’ health and well-being and keep them connected to their community. At The WOW of West Philadelphia, the joy of opportunity and possibility continue to grow. If you’d like to learn more about The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, visit our website here or follow our page on Facebook!

CUSP Workshop at WPSCC Teaches Members How Climate Change Affects our Health and Homes

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Liberty Lutheran

The impacts of climate change often fill people with fear. Aiming to teach communities how to prepare for climate change, rather than fear it, members from multiple organizations joined forces to lead a Climate and Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP) workshop at the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC). As members of the local West Philadelphia community gathered together for “The Weather Ready Homes: Climate Change, Energy, and Your Health” workshop, they learned not just what climate change is and how to prepare for it, but were encouraged to share their personal experiences about how climate change has affected their daily lives.

“Who in this room thinks they’ve felt the effects of climate change?” Ali Kenner, professor at Drexel University, asked the crowd as she introduced the topic of discussion.

The majority of the room raised their hands.

“And what have been some of those effects? How has it impacted you?” Ali asked.

“Hotter summers!” many exclaimed from the crowd.

“Floods!” others responded.

The reaction from the crowd was clear: the climate is certainly changing, and it’s not only affecting the weather, it’s affecting our health too. The effects of climate change are causing warmer, wetter weather throughout the Northeast, so much so that this region receives

71% more rain than the rest of the U.S. Additionally, this warmer, wetter weather can create changes in the air that affect health conditions like allergies, and asthma, and increase the chances for mold growth in homes.

Throughout the CUSP workshop three overarching topics were discussed: Energy efficiency and weatherization, mold in homes and schools, and emergency preparedness.

Within each part of the CUSP workshop active demonstrations were given that had members on their feet participating with enthusiasm. Among them an inflatable model house that demonstrated the importance of energy efficiency, as well as activities like “Is this mold, or no?” that tested the crowd’s recognition of mold in homes.

By the end of the workshop members of the community learned what climate change is, how it affects our health and our homes, and how to solve the problems that occur because of it. Participants created their personal emergency preparation plans complete with written phone numbers of people and businesses to call in case of a disaster, and ten lucky members even went home with an air purifying house plant.

Thanks to the dedication of multiple partnerships with eco and health-conscious organizations, as well as the event’s sponsor, The Franklin Institute, the CUSP workshop turned out to be a great success. With these types of programs, we empower local communities to stay healthy, live well, and create a better future for our planet.

Here is a summary of the partnering organizations who helped make this workshop possible as well as the workshop’s guiding mission.

The Weather-Ready Homes: Climate Change, Energy, and Your Health Workshop is part of an educational research project under the Climate and Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP) sponsored by Franklin Institute which is led by multiple partnerships including the Clean Air Council, Drexel University, Energy Coordinating Agency, Liberty Lutheran, the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium, and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As part of this program, workshop leaders strive to teach community members the relationship between their health and climate change, as well as effective solutions and available resources in their area. Because of partnerships like this with multiple organizations, we are able to facilitate successful programs that benefit the future of our local communities and empower their health and well-being.

If you’d like to learn about climate change, there will be another CUSP workshop on February 20th, from 4 pm to 6 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Philadelphia! Please find the details below:

Wednesday, February 20th, 4 pm- 6 pm

St John’s Lutheran Church

3101 Tyson Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19149

A Day in the Life – Rose Richardson, Executive Director for The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Liberty Lutheran

As part of our Day in the Life series, Rose Richardson, executive director for the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center shares how her day is shaped to help members and staff have a successful and meaningful time .

My day usually starts early in the morning. Today I got in around 6:30 so we could prepare breakfast for the members that were going on a trip. we always want to make sure they have something in their stomachs before they leave.

On a normal day, I usually get in and the first thing I do is walk around the building and check every room to make sure everything is set up for that morning’s programs. After that, I’ll check my e-mails to stay on top of things. We have a kitchen here, so I’ll also check in with the team in the kitchen to make sure they have everything they need for both breakfast and lunch. We have a great team that improvises really well if we run out of something.

Members often show up as early as 8:00 am. I’ll usually open The Center and work the front desk to greet them and help them sign in. The one thing I always tell my staff is to ‘treat every member as if we may be the only smile they see all day.’ That rule applies from the moment we open. I really enjoy being able to say hello to them first thing in the morning.

I’ll usually go back into my office before 9:00. Then, I meet with Julia Diggs, our program coordinator, to discuss the day’s activities and upcoming events. I’ll also meet with The Center’s counselor to discuss any cases she is managing. From there, I’ll check in with our In-Home Support Program (IHSP) about what they’re doing. IHSP serves as an incredibly positive resource for the older adults we serve. A lot of them may be isolated or managing significant challenges, whether they are physical or financial.

Our IHSP staff works very hard to make sure we’re meeting the needs of their program participants. For example, a participant may need a new refrigerator, or we may need to contact a contractor to complete some home repairs. In order to get these things done, we utilize discretionary spending, which requires a lot of paperwork, especially as IHSP is required to get two bids for each project or purchase.

Members usually continue to arrive throughout the morning. We’ll be packed for classes and programs at around 10:00 and I’ll go out into our main area, called the Atrium, to say hello to everyone. This is my favorite part of the job. I try to give our members as much time as I can, whether it’s talking to them about things involving The Center or their personal life. For me, it’s important that they feel listened to.

In addition to the programs we offer, The Center also invites vendors to come in as a service to our members. The vendors range in services and products. For example, we have a man that comes in to sell shoes for people with diabetes, a woman who sells cakes, and we even have some staff from the local dollar store who bring products so we save the seniors a trip. Since Julia Diggs is on a trip today and we have a vendor coming in, I’ll make sure they’re all set up and have what they need.

Throughout the day, when I have the opportunity, I’ll focus on completing paperwork, which covers several areas. One of the areas that is so important is writing applications for funding. This can be a lengthy process and I’m really grateful to have the support of people at Liberty Lutheran and here at The Center. The other aspects include writing reports to demonstrate we’re in compliance or to earn accreditations from outside organizations.

On a normal day, The Center closes at 4:30 pm, and I’ll probably be here with staff until 5:30 to 6:00 in the evening either completing paperwork, planning for a trip or major event, or setting up for the morning programs and breakfast. This also includes preparing for our weekend events, which I usually attend.

Today, because we have a trip, I need to make sure that the SEPTA bus services shows up in the evening to take our members home. If they see the lights out in The Center, they’ll stop the route. Because our groups get back late, such as today, I’ll probably be here until they arrive home to make sure everyone gets their ride.

I have been in the senior services industry for over 25 years. I am so happy to be at The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center. Throughout my career I’ve worked to make sure that I’m meeting and anticipating the needs of older adults, especially those who may be underserved. I’m very thankful to have a great team that enhances the quality of life of our members. That’s incredibly important for the community we’re in. It’s absolutely rewarding and gratifying.

To learn more about The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, please visit LibertyLutheran.org/west-philadelphia-senior-community-center.

For more information about our In-Home Support Program, please visit LibertyLutheran.org/lcfs-in-home-support-program.

Liberty Wellness – Employees Helping Employees

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Liberty Lutheran

Liberty Wellness Works is Liberty Lutheran’s health and wellness program that helps employees reach their fitness goals, as well as achieve better health through improved diets, nutrition, and stress management. Liberty staff members are encouraged to earn points that can be redeemed for financial bonuses at the end of each Eligible employees can gain up to $350 per year.

The system is based on a 1 point equals $1 system. Regular wellness visits with a physician that include bloodwork are worth 200 points, which converts to $200. Completing a monthly challenge will earn an employee 5 points. Being a non-smoker for over 12 months is worth 10 points. Having your annual dental exam is worth 15 points. Points are also awarded for such activities as reading a book on stress management, receiving an annual flu shot, joining a gym (or Liberty’s own Becoming Center), and more.

Each month, employees are encouraged to submit healthy recipes they enjoy making at home. Rebecca Ditore, wellness program coordinator, then assembles the recipes and shares them with the entire network of Liberty employees through her email blasts.

This summer alone, 60 recipes were sent to Rebecca by staff to encourage others to eat healthy this summer.

Here is just a sample of those recipes:

Tropical Papaya Smoothie
Submitted by: Annamma from Paul’s Run
Servings: 1
1 papaya, cut into chunks
1 c fat-free plain yogurt
½ c fresh pineapple chunks
½ c crushed ice
1 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp ground flaxseed

Combine the papaya, yogurt, pineapple, ice, coconut extract, and flaxseed. Process for about 30 seconds, or until smooth and frosty.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes
Submitted by: Heidy from Liberty at Home
½ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 container plain or flavored Greek yogurt
1 egg

Mix together, cook with coconut oil
Pour about ¼ cup of batter onto skillet to make 1 pancake
Wait for edges to bubble and flip pancake

Cantaloupe Salsa
Submitted by: Luanne Fisher, Whitemarsh
4 cups cantaloupe, small chunks
1 cup tomatoes, small chunks
½ red onion, diced
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
½ yellow bell pepper, diced
½ cucumber, small chunks
4 jalapeno peppers, diced
2 tbsp. each lemon & lime juice
Clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil

Mix everything & refrigerate until chilled & flavors combine (about 1 – 2 hrs.)

Summer Fruit Salad
Submitted by: Sherry, The Village at Penn State
1 – 29oz can of peach slices (don’t drain)
1 – 20oz can of pineapple chunks (don’t drain)
3 1/8 box of instant vanilla pudding
1 lb. of strawberries sliced
1 banana sliced
½ pint blueberries
1- Bunch of grapes

In a large bowl combine peaches, pineapple, pudding and juice from cans. Mix well. Stir in remaining fruit and chill.

Carrot Dogs
Submitted by: Areatha, West Philadelphia Senior Center
5 carrots – cut each end of the carrot off, to fit a hot dog bun,
Shave the outer layer of skin off.
Put 2 cups of water in a pot with:
2 tbls. soy sauce
2 tbls. liquid smoke
2 tbls. steak sauce such as A1 sauce
2 tbls. maple syrup
2 tbls. ketchup
(Preferably organic, without high fructose corn syrup)

Stir the pot and add the carrots.
Let it boil for 10 minutes
Cover the pot and boil for 10 more minutes.
Place your carrot in a hot dog bun and dress it with coleslaw, white onions, mustard and ketchup.

Delicious Cauliflower
Submitted by: Diane, Whitemarsh
1 large head of cauliflower, cleaned and cored (keep it whole)
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon brown mustard
4 slices Swiss cheese; other sliced cheese may also be used
Pepper, to taste

Clean, core and steam one large head of cauliflower.
Drain cauliflower and place on a serving dish.
Mix mayonnaise and mustard together to blend them.
Spread the mixture over the hot cauliflower.
Sprinkle with pepper.
Lay the four cheese slices on top to cover the cauliflower.
Serve when the cheese has softened and melted.

Low Carb Taco Salad
Submitted by: Sheryl, Village at Penn State
8 oz. low fat sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
1 lb. lean ground beef
Mild taco seasoning packet
Mild taco sauce
1 bag shredded or chopped lettuce
1 bag mild shredded cheddar cheese
Tomatoes
Whole grain Tostitos (optional)

Mix sour cream & cream cheese until creamy and layer on bottom of 9×13 pan.
Brown ground beef & mix taco seasoning according to package.
Layer on top of sour cream mixture.
Pour taco sauce over ground beef.
Layer lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes.
Dip Tostitos if desired.

Summer Veggie Pasta
Submitted by: Sophie, Artman
Pre-cooked ziti (zucchini diced, tomatoes diced)
Garlic chopped or minced depending on your preference
Basil leaves
Mozzarella balls or Parmesan cheese
Yellow squash
Mushrooms if you like it

This recipe is quick and easy to make. The amount of ingredients depends on how many people you’re cooking for and the timing also depends on how you like to eat your vegetables. I like to eat mine crunchy, so I don’t cook them as long.

Zucchini Casserole
Submitted by: Teri, The Hearth at Drexel
1 large zucchini, chopped into ¼-inch slices
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped (optional)
Croutons
1 tomato, sliced,
4 – 5 slices American cheese or sharp Cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook zucchini 10 minutes or until tender and drain well.
Sauté onions, mushrooms and green pepper in butter.
Add zucchini to sautéed mixture; season with salt and pepper.
Put mixture into buttered 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with croutons, then sliced tomatoes.
Arrange cheese slices on top.
Bake 10-15 minutes until cheese melts.
Vegetable mixture may be prepared ahead of time. If so, heat casserole longer to warm through.

Apple Turnovers
Submitted by: Samantha, West Philly Senior Community Center
Total Time: 30min
Servings: 8
Small Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, cut into 8 (1/2-inch) slices
Tablespoons butter, melted
One can (8 oz.) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
One teaspoon apple pie spice

Heat oven to 375°F.
Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper, or grease cookie sheet.
Set aside.
In small bowl, toss apple slices in 1 tablespoon of the melted butter; set aside.
Separate dough into 8 triangles.
In small bowl, mix brown sugar and apple pie spice.
Divide mixture evenly among triangles.
Top each triangle with apple slice. Starting at short side of each triangle, wrap dough around apple.
Place on cookie sheet. Brush with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until crescents are deep golden brown and apples are softened.
Cool 5 minutes before serving.

Learn more about the benefits of working for Liberty Lutheran at LibertyLutheran.org/benefits

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.