Assisted Living Week: Recognizing resident who has a big impact

In commemoration of Assisted Living Week Sept. 8 -14, Parsons Presbyterian Manor would like to recognize resident Betty Heady, who works to improve the quality of life of assisted living residents.Betty has lived at Parsons Presbyterian Manor for about a year with her husband, Ralph. The 88-year-old currently serves as the head assisted living resident advocate, working with other residents to identify problems and find solutions.

In commemoration of Assisted Living Week Sept. 8 -14, Parsons Presbyterian Manor would like to recognize resident Betty Heady, who works to improve the quality of life of assisted living residents.

Betty has lived at Parsons Presbyterian Manor for about a year with her husband, Ralph.

The 88-year-old currently serves as the head assisted living resident advocate, working with other residents to identify problems and find solutions.

Parsons Presbyterian Manor’s care and service is thorough and dependable, so the problems aren’t big, but advocates make suggestions to make residents’ lives a little easier.

Betty said they have started by identifying ways to improve dining services, including having sugar packet holders filled before each meal and keeping snack racks adequately stocked.

Betty believes in keeping busy and continuing to make a difference. She also volunteers weekly at Labette Health Hospital’s gift shop, where she enjoys the social interaction.

“You get to see and meet people,” she said.

Living at Parsons Presbyterian Manor provides Betty with the time and opportunities to get involved. Housework is essentially nonexistent for assisted living residents, and Presbyterian Manor staff provides medical support, including transporting Ralph to his dialysis treatments.

“You don’t have to do any shopping or cooking,” she said. “They handle everything.”

To learn more about how assisted living could be the perfect fit for you, contact Sloan Dwyer, marketing director, at 620-421-1450 or sdwyer@pmma.org.

PHOTOS: Assisted Living staff members are shown, left, during last year's AL week celebration, with Betty and her husband, Ralph who have been in assisted living at Parsons Presbyterian Manor for about a year. They are pictured in the photo on the right, too.

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