Celebrating this month’s STARS Employees, Jennifer Murphy, Staff Accountant, and Josh Cunningham, Fitness Coordinator. Each of these OMM employees have been seen as shining “stars” for our members.

Josh Cunningham has the lucky distinction of being the newest employee to receive the Star of the Month. Starting his OMM tenure in June, he is clearly already making an impression. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Josh comes from a military family, so he has lived many places and countries but considers Claremore his hometown and that is where he graduated from high school. When not helping OMM members achieve their fitness goals Josh is using his fitness skills to climb tall billboards around town – don’t worry he wears a safety harness. One of his many talents is changing out billboard ads. He and his wife, Shayla, have a little girl named Charlott who is one year old.

What his supervisor says: “Josh has been a true asset to the Wellness Team. His enthusiasm is felt throughout the community. He has a great ability to adapt and meet people where they are in their physical journey and help them succeed. He has shown true success in his programming and the members he has worked with,” said Jennifer Rawlings.

Jennifer Murphy is on the OMM Accounting Team and just celebrated her two-year work anniversary. She says she loves the employees and wonderful members at OMM. She was born in St. Louis, MO but spent her high school years in the piney woods of East Texas. Raised on a ranch, Jennifer liked working cattle and showing steers as a child. When she is not working at OMM she enjoys spending time with family, grilling out, or simply relaxing on the couch. Jennifer is married and has a stepson Robert who just started college at TCC here in Tulsa.

What her supervisor says: “Her individualism helps make her a great team player and this is what makes her a great asset to our OMM accounting team,” said Chris Harvey.

What is the STARS program at OMM?

At OMM every employee goes through the two-day “STARS” training program detailing customer service and a culture of service to our members and fellow employees. We want our community to be a place where people work together, engaged and enthusiastic about creating an amazing experience for our members! Where the entire team understands that the customer matters, their work matters and they matter. At OMM we are a place where the red carpet is rolled out for every customer and guest, by every staff person, at every touch point, every single time.

What is Active Aging Week???

Celebrating aging and the benefits of active living at any age, Active Aging Week showcases the capabilities of older adults as fully participating members of society. Initiated in 2003 by the International Council on Active Aging®, the weeklong campaign calls attention to and wholeheartedly celebrates the positivity of aging today. It showcases the capabilities of older adults as fully participating members of society and spotlights the role models that lead the way.

Active Aging Week challenges society’s diminished expectations of aging by showing that, regardless of age or health conditions, adults over 50 can live as fully as possible in all areas of life—physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental. The objective of the annual health-promotion event is to give as many older adults as possible the means to experience wellness activities and exercise in a safe, supportive environment. It also promotes the benefits of healthier, more active lifestyles across the life span.

Why do we participate in Active Aging Week???

OMM wants to show society what it means to age! We want to Redefine Aging and show society that aging doesn’t mean lose and decline, it means life, fulfillment and having purpose! We are hosting events this week that allow members to express their creativity, keep their mind sharp and allow them to Pay It Forward. We are joining ICAA for this National push to showcase members of the OMM community and how they are true examples of aging well and how they add life to all the programs the Wellness Team implements. We are redefining aging and changing people’s expectations of aging!

Follow us on social media for active aging activities and posts!

August 27, 2019

In partnership with LeadingAge, we are very excited to announce the launch of our NextGen program! NextGen is an expansion of TimeSlips programming into high schools, youth-serving programs, and colleges/universities. This summer 13 NextGen pilot partner faculty and staff got trained and certified in TimeSlips and are now prepared to guide students through their own experience over the coming school year. These schools and youth programs will collaborate with aging services partners/LeadingAge member organizations that will host students for hands on creative programming with elders. The two main goals of this intergenerational work are to reduce the stigma of aging and dismantle stereotypes held between elders and youth as well as to increase the number of young people going into the field of creative aging. 

We are proud to announce our NextGen Pilot Partners:

• Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) in partnership with local Memory Cafes and Clement Manor
• ArtStart (New York, NY/Milwaukee, WI)
• ArtWorks for Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) in partnership with St. Ann Intergenerational Care, Stein Campus
• ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Tempe, AZ) in partnership with Mesa Arts Center
• Chemeketa Community College (McMinnville, OR) in partnership with Friendsview Retirement Community
• George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) in partnership with InSight Memory Care
• Jefferson Humanities & Health (Philadelphia, PA) Old City Presbyterian Apartments
• Macalester College (St Paul, MN) in partnership with Lyngblomsten Senior Housing, Healthcare, and Services
• Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK) in partnership with Oklahoma Methodist Manor 
• Stockton University (Galloway, NJ) in partnership with Seashore Gardens Living Center, Eastern Pines Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and Spring Village at Galloway
• UCLArts and Healing, ALMA (Los Angeles, CA)
• University of Wisconsin/Whitewater (Whitewater, WI) in partnership with Fairhaven Senior Services
• Western Kentucky University CORE – Community of Respected Elders (Bowling Green, KY) in partnership with Signature of Bowling Green

We are excited to announce the STARS of the Month: Lillian Boyd in Housekeeping and Dunel Calixte a C.M.A. in Holliman Assisted Living Center. Please congratulate these outstanding OMM employees.

Dunel is one of the STARS of Holliman Assisted Living Center. He is a C.M.A. and has been with OMM since June of 2010. “I am grateful to work at OMM because I have the opportunity to bring joy into the lives of many members,” said Dunel. He was born in Jamaica and even lived in Montreal, Canada for a few years, which is where he learned to speak French. He then moved to Scranton, PA where he graduated from Newport Pacific High School. He received his college degree from Tulsa Junior College. He enjoys photography, writing poetry and visiting people in nursing homes and hospitals. He has one grown son who lives in Florida.

“Dunel does not let the physical barriers of our campus limit the relationships with people whom he serves and has served in the past.” – Jacob Will, Director of Assisted Living

Lillian is a native Oklahoman, who was born in Stillwell, OK. She graduated from Cave Springs High School. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite holiday is Christmas because she spends it with her family, surround by kids and laughter. Lillian has been on the OMM Housekeeping team for almost two years. One of the things she likes most about working at OMM is “Getting to know the people I clean for and hearing their stories!” Lillian loves the Housekeeping team and thinks all the other employees are great. She is the mother of five children, ranging in ages from 9 to 33 (two girls and three boys.) She also makes an amazing Indian taco!

“Lillian has become integral part of our team. She is well liked and complimented often from the members she serves.” – Cathy Green, Housekeeping Manager

Forward thinking people plan ahead.  They seek to answer the questions “What will I need as I look toward the future?” and “How can my future needs be met?”

Forward thinking organizations also plan ahead. Since the opening of Crestwood in 2012 the board and staff of Oklahoma Methodist Manor have been hard at work planning for the next phase of our growth and development. Demolition of outdated buildings began in November of 2017 to make way for the new construction on the new 3-story Holliman Assisted Living Center.

Work has progressed nicely and as a result the building will be ready for occupancy on schedule in September. Forty individuals and couples will be moving into their brand-new residences then!