September 11, 2001, began before sunrise for me and five crew members as we met at Tulsa International Airport. Even in dim light our B-25 World War II combat veteran “Old Glory” sparkled
like a freshly polished silver tea pot. We loaded our luggage, maps and charts; completed a walk-around inspection then boarded for our flight to Rhode Island. As our pilot and copilot did their preflight check list, the rest of us sipped our coffee and discussed the battle history of our aircraft.

We were anticipating the crowd of WWII veterans and their families who were eagerly awaiting our arrival in Providence. We would spend a few days there visiting the aging “fly boys”, taking them on flights and allowing them complete access to the bomber. There would be tears, reminiscing and vivid recall of horrifying events.

Our entire crew was totally dedicated to honoring these veterans with love, respect, and gratitude while they, in turn, would thank us for one last time to see, hear, touch and smell the aircraft that took them back to a time when they were young men with all the dreams young men dream.

We taxied to the runway and lifted off into a magnificent sky – what a glorious day this would be! The world was bright and beautiful as we flew past the St. Louis Arch. We did not need radio communication once we cleared Tulsa airspace, so we were flying VFR (visual flight rules). I was in one of my favorite positions, the nose gunner surrounded by plexi glass. The view is breathtaking.

The bomber was strictly military, no creature comforts and of course not pressurized, so we flew at low altitudes where there was adequate oxygen, and we wouldn’t freeze to death. We shuddered to imagine the discomfort of the original crew! We had a planned fuel stop at a small airport just east of Indianapolis where we could use the restrooms and grab another cup of coffee to enjoy with the chocolate chip cookies I always made for the flights.

There seemed to be an unusually high number of aircraft in the skies as we approached the Indianapolis area. We activated radio communication before we entered Indianapolis air space. All we could hear was the urgent-sounding voices of air-traffic controllers directing all planes to land immediately, almost nose to tail, with no explanation for the orders.

I crawled through the small tunnel to the cockpit where I took a safer landing position behind the pilot and buckled in. When we had visual contact with Indianapolis International, the scene was bizarre. All
types of aircraft parked in never-seen positions. Our landing strip, which had no control tower, was straight ahead. We touched down and, instead of the ground crew directing us to the usual refuel
position, we were brought right up to the small ground crew building on the tarmac. The flag man yelled up to the pilot’s open window, “Shut the engines down immediately. We are at war!”

We hastily exited the aircraft. Not another word was spoken. As we entered the small building, a television was blaring loudly and on the screen we saw the second plane impact the World Trade Tower. At that moment I could not comprehend the magnitude of horror I was witnessing. I and my beloved country were changed forever.

By Jenneth Sheeler, Trinity Woods Community Member

By Bonnie Polak, VP of Philanthropy and Community Engagement

If you’ve been thinking about what your next chapter might look like—and wondering if now is the right time to explore a Life Plan Community—you’re certainly not alone. With today’s shifting economy and ever-changing news cycles, feeling cautious is completely understandable.

For many older adults, choosing to move to a Life Plan Community can actually bring a sense of steadiness and peace of mind—emotionally, socially, and financially. During times of financial uncertainty, making a major move can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s worth knowing how Life Plan Communities can offer more predictability and support. Things like the fixed monthly service fees make budgeting more
straightforward, helping to avoid surprise expenses. Also, many communities offer partially refundable entrance fees (often 50–85%), which help protect a portion of your investment.

Instead of managing unexpected home maintenance, and medical costs, or watching the markets with worry, you can have a more stable plan in place—one that includes housing, care, and lifestyle all in one.

But beyond finances, this is really about your life—your peace of mind, your community, and your day-to-day joy. Life Plan Communities are full of people who choose to live with purpose and connection. From chef-prepared meals to wellness programs, hobby groups to meaningful friendships, these communities are about much more than a place to live— they’re about how you want to live. Instead of worrying about
the news or what the market’s doing, you can focus on the good stuff—friendship, freedom, and fun.

You might be wondering, “Should I wait until the market gets better? ”Here’s a gentle reminder: the market may rise and fall, but your peace of mind shouldn’t have to. Choosing a Life Plan Community now gives you – control over your future, a clear financial plan (even during uncertain times) and a lifestyle filled with opportunity, not worry.

If this path feels worth exploring, call us today! The more you understand, the more empowered you’ll feel—whenever the time is right for you.

Trinity Woods was named as one of Senior Care’s Best Places to Work for 2024 under a new program from WeCare Connect – the industry leader in senior care surveys. We are excited to announce we have met the rigorous benchmarks that signal excellence in care.

“We are so excited to receive this distinction. We pride ourselves on not just serving Tulsa seniors but also the people who choose to work in this industry. We love our employees and couldn’t be prouder to be named Senior Care’s Best!” says Garrett Lee, Trinity Woods CEO.

Located in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma the Trinity Woods campus (formerly Oklahoma Methodist Manor) is 40 acres of scenic beauty, full of life, and great neighbors. This is a place where people come to live! We call it “neighborly” and that is probably an easier definition but being neighborly comes from being kind. We are kind to each other. We are kind to strangers. We serve in the spirit of Christ.

For more than 65 years, we have created a unique place where our kindness and faith are only matched by our love of this community. It is a place where the mind, body, and soul are nourished through fellowship. Through laughter. Through contentment. Through one another.

Why Senior Care’s Best?

For a long time, it has been difficult to measure and rank the qualitative benefits such as satisfaction and engagement that are critical to senior care. WeCare Connect uses the largest third-party survey data set in senior care from which to assess, certify and rank organizations as Senior Care’s Best. Look for certified organizations to find the most trusted and exceptional senior care providers around.

About WeCare Connect

WeCare Connect is the industry leader in senior care surveys. We enable senior care organizations to act on what their employees, patients and residents care about most, ultimately helping them increase retention, satisfaction and organizational stability. Senior Care’s Best from WeCare Connect acknowledges top-performing organizations for results that come to light through our robust survey methodology.

Trinity Woods is excited to start a new partnership with Stein Therapy Services in November. Stein has a large presence in western Oklahoma and eastern Arkansas, serving more than 80 providers in those areas. Stein came highly recommended from multiple providers like Trinity Woods. The therapist will be providing physical, occupation and speech therapy for both inpatient and outpatient on the Trinity Woods campus.

Some of the new therapists came onsite to meet Trinity Woods team members and residents. “The new therapy team was very impressed with the facilities and can’t wait to start working with the residents.  We are eager to have them here and engaged in provided the high quality of care that we expect in all areas of the campus,” says Jacob Will, Vice President of Health Services. Stein Therapy Services officially takes over therapy services on November 1^st.

We are excited to announce the Trinity Woods Logo Shop! Community members can now show their Trinity Woods spirit. The website will be live through Sunday, August 21. Items purchased will be ready for pick up at the September Town Hall, scheduled for September 9. For questions about ordering TW merchandise contact Heidi Garrett at 918.346.6671.

To access the website click here!

This month we are featuring the most affordable senior living community option in Tulsa – Trinity Woods’ Felt House apartments. Located in the heart of Tulsa, Trinity Woods is 40 acres of scenic beauty, full of life, and great neighbors. Discover a sense of community like no other. Trinity Woods is a place to grow, connect and truly live. Right now we are offering an April Special. The Felt House offers 1 bedroom and bathroom, living room, and kitchen but you also receive three meals a day. For this month only the entry fee is $5,000 (based on the standard plan) and $2,745 in monthly expenses – don’t forget this includes meals, housekeeping and maintenance! And $5000 toward moving expenses! Contact us for more info.

By Senior VP of Finance, Jim Ginther

In my line of work, people are always asking for finance tips…So here is my best advice –
START USING A BUDGET.

Budgeting is helpful when it comes to cutting expenses. Budgets require you to track
spending and set reasonable expectations for how much you spend. Here are my “best
tips” for saving money.

SHOP AROUND FOR AUTO AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE – When it comes
to different insurance products like auto and home insurance, you can easily save money if
you shop around and compare insurance from other providers.

CONSOLIDATE CREDIT CARD DEBT – The average credit card interest rate is over
16%, which means you could be saving big if you consolidated your credit card debt with
a 0% APR credit card or a personal loan. Balance transfer credit cards let you avoid interest for up to 21 months.

SWITCH CELL PHONE PROVIDERS – How much are you paying for your cell phone? Chances are good you could be paying less if you are willing to switch providers.

PLAN SEVERAL “NO SPEND” DAYS PER WEEK – Did you know that spending $27.40 a day adds up to $10,000 a year? Small purchases can add up quickly. Plan a few “no spend” days each week or a couple of weeks each month.

FINAL BUDGETING TIP – The number one rule in budgeting is, do not go over budget.

Annie Turnbo Malone

Annie Malone was born in 1869, in Metropolis, Illinois, to formerly enslaved parents and orphaned at a young age. From an early age, Malone understood that for African American women, appearance and grooming represented more than their personal style. It could also indicate a woman’s class and social standing. She realized that improving hair health could also have a positive effect on the lives of African American’s. This motivation, along with her early passion for styling her sisters’ hair, inspired Malone to develop products to help women adapt to a society that judged them based on how they met the American standard of beauty (which excluded the natural appearance of most African Americans). 

Malone not only faced the challenges of being a black woman in a segregated society but a businesswoman in a sexist society. Undeterred, she began experimenting with chemistry and established a successful business after developing a line of products that were advertised to help improve scalp health and promote hair growth. Some of these products included scalp preparations and her famous “Hair Grower.” After early success in Illinois, she moved to Missouri in 1902 and founded Poro College Company which became a very successful training ground for many women and men.

Black History is American History

Crystal Creekmore, Human Resources Coordinator, is this month’s STARS Employee.

Start Date: February 2019

Born: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Raised: Mounds, Oklahoma

Education: Northeastern State University

First Job: Grocery Store Clerk

Wanted to be as a Kid: Scientist, to cure cancer

Favorite Thing about Trinity Woods: It is rewarding to work alongside people whose work

improves the quality of life for others.

What her supervisor says:

“Crystal was faced with the overwhelming responsibility of being the only person left to manage HR and payroll after her co-worker resigned and I was compelled to take extended medical leave. The absence of help left her doing the work of three people and ensuring that everyone in the organization was paid, all while managing all the other tasks assigned to HR. She never complained or felt sorry for herself; she simply rolled up her sleeves and took care of all 220 employees that work at Trinity Woods with grace and dignity.” Bill Peterson, VP of Human Resources.

As the mission of Trinity Woods expands, we feel compelled to explore what’s next for our
community. For the past 15 years, the question “What’s next?” has been clear. As we enter
the next chapter, we are evaluating several ideas and options. One topic that keeps rising to
the top of every discussion is diversity and inclusion within the organization.

More and more organizations are learning that a strong business is one that includes people
with diversity of gender, race, and cultural background. In this article, I am hoping to outline
three ways Trinity Woods is advocating for more diversity and inclusion.

At the Board level. While there is gender diversity on the Board, there is not ethnic
diversity. The Governance Committee is exploring ways to increase diversity by recruiting
ethnic minorities to serve on the Board.

On the staff level. The need for eff ective training on cross-cultural communications
and sensitivity as well as implicit bias is important. Hiring managers and leadership are
undergoing training to deepen their understanding of the benefi ts of a more inclusive and
diverse team.

At the community member level. As a ministry we are asking those we serve: “How could
our community be more inclusive? Can we promote diversity in a way that would enrich our
lives as well as the lives of others?”

A Task Force is exploring options for the development of the adjacent property owned by
Trinity Woods. The purpose is to provide suggestions to the Board for how the property
could be used. This includes considering how our mission can touch a more diverse
demographic group.

In the months ahead I will report back on the next steps that our Board envisions. In the
meantime, please join me in praying for Trinity Woods that we may fi nd new and innovative
ways to grow and deepen our commitment to serve all people in the spirit of Christ.

Thank you to the many members, staff and families who are supporting us with their prayers, donations and kind words during these unprecedented times. Here are some new procedures we are implementing, effective April 1 until further notice. We appreciate your cooperation. As always if you have concerns or questions, I encourage you to reach out to me or to another OMM staff person.

April 1 Reassessment of COVID-19 Responses

Two weeks ago, we imposed a set of protective measures for the OMM campus and promised that we would reassess those actions on April 1. Now, as we enter the third week of self-quarantine for the COVID-19 virus, the national, state, and local timeline for this battle keeps extending into the future. Mayor G.T. Bynum has said “At some point in the weeks ahead, just based on the math of contagion, (the virus) will begin to snowball, and then the bad part will be here. That is when all this talk about flattening the curve will quit being theoretical. Only then will we know if we did enough right now.”

Based on our commitment to reduce the possible risk of virus transmission for our campus, we are adding the following preventative measures effective April 1:

• In keeping with state and local directives, the Tranquility Wellness Spa will be closed until further notice.
• We are designating a smaller group of employees to serve at the West Gate entrance as their sole work assignment. In order to effectively limit risk, they will no longer be entering campus buildings. They will still deliver packages to various building entrances but will be wearing protective equipment such as gloves and face masks.
• Deliveries will continue to be accepted at the West Gate. However, those deliveries will only be brought onto the campus between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. OMM families please make note of these changes, especially when delivering groceries. We will not be able to store perishable goods overnight at the gate.
• We are coordinating with the various home care agencies who serve members of our community. We are requiring consolidation of their scheduling to permit the fewest number of to caregivers enter our campus.
• We will be offering the opportunity, where possible, for employees to work remotely from home to decrease the potential for virus transmission and to comply with “Safer at Home” guidelines for administrative personnel. Other employees will restrict their on-campus travel and remain in or near their offices.  All employees, whether remaining in their office or working remotely, will continue to be accessible via telephone or email.

The steps already taken, and these additional steps bring us closer to “flattening of the curve.” Only once we see the number of cases peak and start to recede can we consider reducing any restrictions. We understand the discomfort and inconvenience caused by these actions. We ask for your continued patience and grace as we, along with our community, state, and nation battle this invisible enemy.

If You Are Not Feeling Well

Monitor your symptoms. If you feel short of breath, develop a cough, and begin running a fever of above 100 degrees, contact Lupina Fry at 918-346-6618 and call your doctor. You should not contact your neighbors for assistance if you feel unwell or are requiring care and you should not allow them to enter your residence.

What about medically necessary appointments?  We urge everyone to first consult with your medical provider by phone and avoid any off-campus travel that is not absolutely necessary. We strongly recommend rescheduling appointments to a later date when the healthcare system has this situation under better control.

I need in-home care coming into my home to help. Is that okay? You should consider home care workers and all OMM employees as possible exposure risks.  We are doing everything possible to mitigate that risk by screening all employees and home care workers, but you should still follow social distancing guidelines.

Will OMM still take checks to the bank for deposit?  We need to restrict these trips to only urgent deposits absolutely needed to cover expenses. Family members may do this for you, we can arrange for them to pick up your check at the West Gate.

Again, thank you for your support, please know how much we appreciate your patience, kindness, and trust as we are doing everything we can for our employees and residents.

Steve Dickie, CEO

Dear Friends,

With the announcement of the first case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Tulsa County, we want to assure everyone in our community that we are taking the risks and precautions necessary to protect our residents and staff during this outbreak.

Please know there is no higher priority to us than ensuring that Oklahoma Methodist Manor residents are well cared for and safe. We are monitoring this international situation closely and remain in close communication with medical professionals, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), government agencies, and internal teams to stay on top of this evolving situation.

According to the most recent information from the CDC, for most people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. However, since we serve a population that has been deemed at a higher risk, we are taking precautionary measures.

1. If you are sick, not feeling well, or have been around someone who is ill, please do not visit.
2. If you have traveled to an area that has been identified with cases of COVID-19 we ask that you not visit until you are sure you have not been exposed to the virus.
3. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
5. Stay home when you are sick.
6. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

We always want our guests and families to feel welcome on campus, but we feel it is our responsibility to our residents to do everything in our power to protect them from this virus. As a result, we call special attention to the above limits placed upon visitors. Additionally, we have enhanced our cleaning procedures in the interest of our residents’ and employees’ health and safety.

Thank you for your cooperation and trust in Oklahoma Methodist Manor as we care for elders. We are prepared to navigate through these challenging circumstances with health and safety at the forefront of everything we do.

Should you have any concerns about what we are doing to combat this medical issue, I encourage you reach out me.

Sincerely,
Steven H. Dickie
CEO, Oklahoma Methodist Manor

Our hearts are overflowing with love this month for all our OMM employees, but we are excited to announce Victoria Treiber, Wellness Coordinator for Holliman, as the February STAR of the Month. Thank you, Victoria for all you do to encourage and bring joy to OMM Members.

Victoria Treiber began her tenure at OMM in September of 2008. She was raised in Corpus Christie but, when her parents relocated to the area, she fell in love with Tulsa and is happy to have called it home for the last 20 years. Victoria enjoys baking and learning about photography when she is not working. She even secretly collects fun kitchen gadgets. Her favorite thing about her job is “seeing the relationships – new ones and ones that are rekindled.” She is the mother to one daughter who is 20 years old and lives in Tulsa.

What her supervisor says “One of the many traits I admire about Victoria is her ability to build relationships. She not only has strong relationships with the Members in Holliman but with Members in the whole community. This ability allows her to add a special touch to all her programs. She often gets members involved in sponsoring or hosting events and helps members create their own programming.

She makes members feel welcomed and enriches the lives of those that she serves,” said Jennifer Rawlings, VP of Wellness.

It’s a cold day but as you walk the halls of the OMM Health Center all you feel is the warmth of love inside – especially in Cobb Landing. Cobb Landing is a special place, where very special people have been called to serve. It is a unique home for up to 14 elders and is dedicated to providing care for people facing the challenges of memory-related issues such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

“Sometimes it can seem intimidating to interact with individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia,” said Julie Akers, Cobb Landing Household Manager. “Discovering the key that unlocks an

elder from these diseases, even if it’s just for a moment, is an unexplainable joy for all of us who work here.”

Julie and her team the “Cobbies,” as they call themselves, are dedicated to serving the elders of Cobb Landing. They have cookouts and bake together, and always remember to have fun. Recently they created life stations, where the elders sort household items, organize and complete tasks. These types of activities were parts of their lives and still allow them to relate

in an adult and purposeful way.

Providing care for individuals with memory related issues can be stressful. These diseases involve relentless cognitive deterioration. Our caregivers manage the ever-changing

demands and unexpected behaviors. “What works today may not work tomorrow but their smile is there, and we just have to find it,” said Akers.

“Our purpose in Cobb is to find their joy and encourage everyone (elder and family) that there is still life to live. This disease doesn’t define us,” a goal Julie and her team strive to achieve every day.