December 11, 2009
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Rev. Sue Babovec at 800.545.6220; or 260.578.3215 ext. 1566

North Manchester, IN – With the holiday season's arrival, Peabody Retirement Community's Director of Spiritual Life, Rev. Sue Babovec, is preparing once again to serve campus residents, employees, and family members who may be facing the "holiday blues."

Babovec writes, "For many people, the holiday season is a fun and festive time of year, but for those who have lost a loved one – recently or perhaps long ago but it is still a tender topic – the holidays can be very painful. While there is little that can be done to lessen that pain, sometimes the best way to deal with the pain is to face it head on and deal with it rather than try to avoid it. By "dealing with it", Rev. Babovec means to do the opposite of what most people's natural instinct tells them to do. Instead of trying to get oneself to not think about the loved one, Rev. Babovec asks, "Why not remember them and the important role they had in your life while they were with you?" She admits this may cause some pain, and possibly many tears, but along with that pain and those tears, there can also be some smiles and laughter as one remembers the stories from the life that was lived. There is power in remembering, for one can literally remember, as in "bring those memories back to life again." This seems like a small think, but when one stops to think about it, this is a way to invite ones' loved ones to the party – even when they can no longer by there in person.

Rev. Babovec shared this quote from known theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (in "Letters and Papers from Prison") – "Nothing can make up for the absence of someone we loved, and it would be wrong to try to find a substitute; we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time, it is a great consolation, for the gap, as long as it remains unfilled, preserves the bonds between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap; he does not fill it, but on the contrary, keeps it empty and so helps us keep alive our former communion with each other."

If you are finding yourself overwhelmed with sadness this holiday season, take some time by yourself and list ten to 12 things you want to remember about your loved one, and share that list with your family or friends at an appropriate moment his holiday time. Writing the remembered things down is healthy and cleansing for your spirit. Sharing that list with others gives them permission to remember and share, too; as well as seemingly bringing the loved one into the celebration.

Rev. Babovec concluded that the holiday season can be happy even for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one – if they choose for that to be the case. If additional assistance is needed, she suggests contacting one's own clergy, a primary care physician, the local mental health association, or – through their employer – the employee assistance program. Rev. Babovec can be reached at Peabody Retirement Community, 800-545-6220, extension 1566.

Established in 1931, Peabody is fully licensed. The Presbyterian Church-affiliated campus is comprised of a 48 bed Memory Enhancement Center, 134 long term care beds, a 24 bed Transitional Care Unit, 124 assisted living residences and 57 cottage (independent) living homes.

December 8, 2009
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Mary Owens or Jeffrey Brasie at 800.545.6220

North Manchester, IN – Peabody Retirement Community recently honored Laurie Hardie for 25 years of Board of Trustee service. Hardie, a Syracuse, IN resident, most recently served as Peabody's Board Secretary. Her husband, Andrew Hardie was Senior Pastor at Goshen's First Presbyterian Church.

In recognizing Hardie for her years of service with several gifts, Peabody and the First Presbyterian Church have also established a fund in honor of her Peabody service.

Hardie will continue with Peabody, serving on the Board of the Peabody Home Foundation.

Established in 1931, Peabody is fully licensed. The Presbyterian Church-affiliated campus is comprised of a 48 bed Memory Enhancement Center, 134 long term care beds, a 24 bed Transitional Care Unit, 124 assisted living residences and 57 cottage (independent) living homes.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

November 25, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lucy McKinley at 800.545.6220; ext. 1111

North Manchester, IN – The Peabody Entertainers will present their annual Christmas show on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 7 p.m. and on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 2 p.m. Both shows will be in the Peabody Chapel, 400 W. Seventh Street, North Manchester. Both shows are free and open to the public.

The theme of this year's show is "Christmas Memories". The show will include favorite Christmas songs and carols as well as novelty and description Christmas music, jokes, a piano duet and an Irish dance. Santa Claus will also make an appearance.

The Peabody entertainers range in age from 57 to 89. Most are residents of Peabody Retirement Community. Director of the group is Carol Davis, a retired music teacher. An accompanist is Lois Dickinson. Members of the chorus are Madolyn Bechtold, Sue Babovec, Rosemary Bollinger, Carolyn Fedewa, Judy Glasgow, Cheryl Huntington, Kathryn Huntington, Esther Malott, Berneice Mindala, Phyllis Penrod, Gracie Pinson, Mary Louise Reist, Miriam Rusher, Donna Williams, and Shirley Williams. Flute player is Lois Karnof. Announcers are Wanda Woodward and Joyce Atkins. Not pictured are Esther Malott, Cheryl Huntington, and Rosemary Bollinger.

November 24, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeffrey D. Brasie at 800.545.6220; ext. 1106

North Manchester, IN – Peabody Retirement Community announces the appointments of Geoffrey Hadlock, M.D. as the organization's Medical Director and Heather M. Tepper, R.N. advanced to Peabody's Director of Nursing.

	Hadlock is a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University and has a practice in Pierceton, IN. He has privileges at Warsaw's Kosciusko Community Hospital.
	Tepper is a Bachelor in Nursing graduate from Oxford, OH's Miami University. She has been associated with Peabody for over a year.

Established in 1931, Peabody is fully licensed. The Presbyterian Church-affiliated campus is comprised of a 48 bed Memory Enhancement Center, 134 long term care beds, a 24 bed Transitional Care Unit, 124 assisted living residences and 57 cottage (independent) living homes.

November 12, 2009
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Pam Callahan at 800.545.6220; extension 1533

North Manchester, IN – This past Wednesday, November 11th over 125 Peabody Retirement Community residents and family members, as well as community guests were honored with Grissom Air Guard Reserve's Honor Guard during a Veteran's Day Tribute. Also, delivering remarks from Grissom was Major Shane Toomay.

Peabody has over 160 residents and employees who are veterans, including a former Prisoner of War.

Established in 1931, Peabody is fully licensed. The Presbyterian Church-affiliated campus is comprised of a 48 bed Memory Enhancement Center, 134 long term care beds, a 24 bed Transitional Care Unit, 124 assisted living residences and 57 cottage (independent) living homes.

November 4, 2009
For Immediate Release
CONTACT:  Sue Babovec at 800.545.6220; extension  1566

North Manchester, IN – Please join us in lighting “candles of care” to remember and honor individuals in our community whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias at a Commemorative Candle Lighting hosted by Peabody Retirement Community (400 West 7th Street, North Manchester, IN) on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 7 P.M.  The service will be held in the chapel, off the Strauss Center. 

All persons – families and friends – who have been or are being touched by dementia are encouraged to attend.

The planned service is part of National Commemorative Candle Lighting, an annual event initiated by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in recognition of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. (This is the second year that Peabody has hosted such a gathering.) Organizations across the U.S. are participating in this unique and inspirational event—offering individuals affected by dementias and their families the opportunity to join in spirit and solidarity at hundreds of services on the same day.  As the incidence of dementia rises, it is extremely fitting to unite the community in this heartfelt service to remember those individuals who have passed away and those families currently affected by brain disorders.

A social time in the Enrichment Center will follow the service.

For more information, please call Rev. Sue Babovec at 260-982-8616, ext. 1566.

Established in 1931, Peabody is fully licensed.  The Presbyterian Church-affiliated campus is comprised of a 48 bed Memory Enhancement Center, 134 long term care beds, a 24 bed Transitional Care Unit, 124 assisted living residences and 57 cottage (independent) living homes.

November 3, 2009
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Jeffrey D. Brasie, 1.800.545.6220; extension 1106

North Manchester, IN – The scams "targeting" older adults are numerous. They range from a letter, email, telephone call, or visit to your residence door. These approaches typically reveal you have won the Irish Sweepstakes, $3.43 million dollars awaits you in Nigeria, ridiculously low mortgage or loan rates, work-at-home opportunities to earn thousands of dollars a week, become a mystery shopper with big rewards, or requesting a donation to a worthy cause – which in most instances does not exist.

According to Peabody Retirement Community's Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey D. Brasie, "It appears open season on senior citizen's wallets and purses is constant. In all instances these requests asking you for money or personal information are nothing more than from unscrupulous individuals."

He added, "When Medicare open enrollments occur, as well as holiday season charitable giving, these unsavory culprits' surface."

Brasie added, "A recent edition to the scam calling is when an alleged family member (niece, grandchild, or related) calls from jail asking for bail money."

Officials with Public Safety, the Indiana Attorney General's Office, and U.S. Postal Service stress – do not respond with any information to these inquiries. This includes and is not limited to revealing or confirming important and personal information as your Social Security number, date of birth, place of birth, bank or investment account names and numbers, telephone numbers, or even similar information for any family member or friend.

If you have letters, email, caller identification, or a physical description of the person visiting your address – any of which are questionable, immediately contact your local police department or U.S. Post Office. The U.S. Postal's Regional Inspection Office is at 877.876.2455. In addition, the Indiana Attorney General at 800.382.5516 or visit www.indianaconsumer.com.

Established in 1931, Peabody is fully licensed. The Presbyterian Church affiliated campus is comprised of a 48-bed Memory Enhancement Center, 134 long term care beds, a 24-bed Transitional Care Unit, 124 assisted living residences and 57 cottage (independent) living homes.