Celebrating social workers

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Lori Peters with her son and husband at the Alamo in San Atonio, Texas.[/caption]

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor honors Social Work Month

Lori Peters

Lori Peters has always had a passion for helping people. She is currently Arkansas City’s Presbyterian Manor’s social worker for assisted living and memory care. Prior to this position, she was a travel agent based in Kauai, Hawaii. She helped people plan their dream vacations and experience new things. Lori has also worked as an office manager at a chiropractic clinic and as a secretary at a church.

Lori’s two grandfathers were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Learning firsthand the challenges that a caregiver endures, Lori decided to make a career of helping seniors and their families navigate getting older. Lori’s passion truly shines through when she is building relationships with our residents and their families. She takes a special interest in each person who lives here and ensures we are providing him or her opportunities to be active and social, which Lori believes are keys to leading long, healthy lives.

Lori has been married for 37 years. She and her husband have two children and four grandchildren. Both of her children were born in Hawaii. Their daughter is a director of physical therapy in Oklahoma and their son is a graphic design and marketing specialist in Oregon.She has two dogs, one cat, and recently gave her four horses to her grandchildren for them to learn how to ride and take care of them.

When not at work, Lori’s time is devoted to spending time with her grandchildren. They like to watch movies, travel and root for the Oklahoma Sooners. Someday, Lori would like to travel to Bora Bora and stay in the huts that are built on the water and have glass floors that allow you to view the sea life.

Lori has been at Presbyterian Manor for almost 14 years. She has touched many lives while here and helped many seniors find happiness in their later years. The staff and residents both have stated they feel blessed to have such a caring and compassionate peer and caregiver.

Joyce Kisner

Joyce Kisner has a personal and professional relationship with Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor as her mother Betty Elrod lives at Presbyterian Manor. Joyce has been in social work for a long time, having spent the last 10 years here. She graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Joyce is the social worker for our health care neighborhood. Long-term care is where she feels that she belongs. These are usually individuals who need the most care and attention, and she enjoys being there for them and being their advocate.

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Joyce Kisner with her husband.[/caption]

Her calling was always social work. She truly enjoys helping others. Finding solutions and options for those who feel like they have none is a challenge that she is always willing to take on. Learning her residents histories and backgrounds is just one of the benefits of her job. She likes to visit with the residents and find out where they grew up, what they did for work, their family history and much more. She feels there is much to learn from the older generations and feels humbled by their willingness to share and teach.

Joyce has been married to her husband for 42 years. She has three grown children and seven grandchildren. Her family is very important to her and she spends as much of time with her grandchildren a she can, traveling, playing and teaching them about life. When not with her children or grandchildren you will most likely find Joyce quilting, sewing or visiting with friends. She likes to maintain a very active lifestyle and traveled on a cruise to the Grand Cayman Islands at the end of January. She has an inherited dog name Chloe that she has come to love and who is a very important part of her family.

The impact Joyce has on her residents in health care is difficult to measure.

The residents all speak nothing but the highest praises and kindest words about her and enjoy every interaction they have with her. The staff know they have a committed dedicated staff member who will always put the resident first.

At Presbyterian Manor, staff and residents feel blessed to have two such caring and compassionate women who are willing to go above and beyond for the people they care about.

Thank you, Lori and Joyce, for all of the love you bring to the staff and residents at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor.

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35

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