Wesley Manor Retirement Community residents pass out candy to children dressed up for Halloween
Wesley Manor, a senior living community, held its annual “Trunk-or-Treat” event Thursday in Frankfort, hosting over 1,000 participants.
Sixteen trunks were decorated by staff and local businesses. Corporate donors provided candy to pass out to residents.
Melissa Robertson, Wesley Manor’s life enrichment director, said the volunteers and contributors made the event successful.
“While there was some rain, the temperature was perfect for a fall evening and the residents really enjoyed participating in the event, with many staying outside until their candy buckets were empty,” she said. “We especially want to thank the countless organizations who volunteered, donated candy, or gave their time and energy to make this event a success.”
Wesley Manor, a senior housing community in Frankfort, recently sponsored an event that brought history and aviation together for fi ve residents who took a flight on a World War II-era patrol plane.
The event was held at the Frankfort/Clinton County Airport honoring U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Adrian Marks, a Frankfort native, who rescued 56 crewmen aboard the USS Indianapolis in 1945.
“I was touched by the emotion that our residents experienced, not only seeing the plane, but getting an opportunity to ride in it,” Wesley Manor Executive Director Brent Waymire said. “Especially for those that are veterans and served our country with dignity, honor, and pride.”
Marks played a pivotal role in rescuing survivors from the USS Indianapolis. The USS Indianapolis ship was sunk by torpedoes that came from a Japanese submarine shortly after the ship had finished a secret mission delivering atomic bomb components to Tinian. Many of the men who survived the sinking were attacked by sharks in the Philippine Sea. Marks was the first to rescue the men, five days after the ship sank.
The PBY-5A, often referred to as an “amphibian” due to its ability to operate on both water and land, represents an era of aviation history when the versatile planes served multiple roles, from wartime missions to post-war firefighting and private transport.
After the war, Marks returned to Frankfort where he opened a law practice, specializing in real estate titles and deeds. He and his wife, Elta, built a home in the Village of Wesley Manor. Marks passed away at the age of 81 in 1998. The owner and two pilots of the plane that was brought to the event were provided guest rooms at Wesley Manor, where Marks once lived, and the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce covered the $250 cost for each resident who flew in the plane.
One resident, Larry Price, an Army veteran and pilot, said flying in the PBY gave him a chance to experience what Marks had experienced in the air when he rescued the sailors in the water the day the USS Indianapolis sank.
“Living in Frankfort, a number of years ago, I became aware of the Adrian Marks story and I’ve always had an interest in it,” he said. “I’ve flown in other WWII planes, and it’s always a neat experience.”
Beyond the aviation adventure, the residents said the flight on the PBY bridged the past and present.
“I had the honor of hearing Marks speak one time at one of his presentations,” Army veteran Jack Nussbaum said. “At one of his presentations, Marks handed me a little book that had four speeches in it that he had written, and I’ve always cherished that book. For that reason, I wanted to fly on the plane because of what he did for the sailors he saved.”
FRANKFORT, IN – July 19, 2023 –Wesley Manor, a BHI Senior Living Community, is proud to announce that its Medical Director, Dr. Marwan Mustaklem has earned the esteemed Certified Medical Director (CMD) credential from the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM).
The CMD credential is a highly respected recognition demonstrating mastery of the professional competencies required in medical direction in post-acute and long-term care. By earning this notable credential, Dr. Mustaklem has further distinguished himself as an exceptional leader within our healthcare team, showcasing his unwavering commitment to continuous professional growth, and to providing our residents with the highest standard of care.
“I am thrilled to congratulate Dr. Mustaklem on this remarkable achievement,” said Brent Waymire, Executive Director of Wesley Manor. “His commitment to the highest standard of care and dedication to his professional growth are truly exceptional. His achievement reinforces his role as an indispensable asset to our team.”
In the state of Indiana, only 75 physicians hold this prestigious credential, making this accomplishment even more noteworthy. This achievement marks a significant milestone not just for Dr. Mustaklem, but for Wesley Manor as a whole, demonstrating our commitment to bringing the highest level of expertise and care to our community.
We congratulate Dr. Mustaklem on his commendable achievement and look forward to his continued leadership and contribution to our team and residents at Wesley Manor.
Dr. Marwan Mustaklem is a Board-Certified Internist (Internal Medicine) focusing on Geriatrics, healthy aging, and wellness.
Dr. Mustaklem attended medical school at Damascus University in Syria, after which he completed his Internal Medicine Residency training at Brown University – Rhode Island in 2003. He and his wife relocated to Indiana in 2007.
Through this practice, he has been able to focus on other areas of interest, such as Cardio-Metabolic Syndrome, Anti-Aging, and Longevity, to produce healthy outcomes for the orthopedic aspect and create better overall health outcomes and improve health status in all patients.
Dr. Mustaklem has been a Medical Director for Long Term Care facilities in Indiana since 2016.
He is certified Medical Director through The Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine / American Medial Directors Association.
His professional interests include educating patients about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention through Evidence-Based Medicine. His medical passions are Geriatrics and Healthy aging. His objectives are practicing Precision Medicine, Comprehensive Patient Care, and helping patients feel great, inside, and out.
He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), a fellow of Hospital Medicine (FHM), and an active member as well as Certified Provider (IFM-CP) of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM).
He is married and is a proud Dad to three children. His hobbies include Pickleball, Tennis, fishing, and traveling.
Wesley Manor
Located in charming Frankfort, Indiana, Wesley Manor has been providing security and peace of mind to residents since 1961. Wesley Manor was founded by the Northwest Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church as a Christian-based, non-profit continuing care retirement community.
A continuing care retirement community, or Life Plan Community, offers quality senior housing, freedom from the responsibilities of home maintenance, and the security of an on-site continuum of care. In 2016, Wesley Manor affiliated with and became a BHI Senior Living Community.
BHI Senior Living
The seed of BHI Senior Living was planted in 1904, when Edward and Sarah Crawford donated 185 acres of land in Boone County, Indiana, to the American Baptist churches. With additional funding from American Baptist churches, their gift became The Crawford Baptist Industrial School — a non-profit orphanage and industrial school that opened in 1905.
In 1952, a new era began for the organization with the opening of our first Life Plan Retirement Community, Hoosier Village in Indianapolis. With Hoosier Village, Indiana seniors were introduced to a new approach to retirement living — one that places the needs of residents as our highest priority.
Today, BHI Senior Living has seven Life Plan Communities and two Active Adult Communities in the Midwest. Hoosier Village, The Towne House, Prairie Landing, Four Seasons, Wesley Manor, Athens Crossing, and The Barrington of Carmel are located throughout Indiana, Clark Retirement in Michigan, and Maple Knoll Communities in Ohio. Each community provides high-quality, maintenance-free residences; a full continuum of healthcare services, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services; and a fulfilling lifestyle for active seniors.
Diana Wickes received the Volunteer of the Year Award at the LeadingAge Indiana Awards Luncheon held at their 2023 Annual Spring Conference on May 4, 2023, held at Crowne Plaza Union Station in Indianapolis, IN. The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual or group of volunteers within a member community whose commitment and dedication enhance the quality of life for seniors and their communities. Wesley Manor has been a long-standing member of LeadingAge Indiana and nominated Diana for this prestigious award.
Diana and her husband Brad have resided at Wesley Manor in our independent Village since 2009.
Diana did not let the grass grow under her feet and began volunteering immediately at the Wesley Manor Share and Care Thrift Shoppe, soon after her move-in. In 2014, Diana assumed the overall leadership role of the Share and Care Thrift Shoppe, which included coordinating and overseeing the other volunteers as well as assuring the continued success and tradition of this well-established program.
The Share and Care Thrift Shoppe offers Wesley Manor residents, employees, and guests an opportunity to purchase clothing, jewelry, small appliances, furniture, and a wide variety of other items which have been donated and then repurposed for the benefit of Wesley Manor residents.
Each Friday will find the shop and the adjoining corridor packed with residents awaiting their turn to get in and take their turn shopping. All items are marked at more than a reasonable cost, but remarkably, the volume, or amount of sales generated through the Share and Care program is phenomenal and most of those funds are provided back to Wesley Manor to benefit programs and services for the residents we serve.
Since Diana has taken over the volunteer leadership of the program, she has done a phenomenal job in soliciting donations in order to keep the inventory of items available for sale up to date and vibrant within the shop, and consistent with the wants and needs of the residents.
In recent years, $60,000 + has been provided back to Wesley Manor to assist with various projects and aid in the assistance where operating budgets have been tight.
The Share and Care Thrift Shoppe is certainly a valued venue at Wesley Manor and the residents thoroughly enjoy the shopping experience and the “hunt for a bargain.” Diana, through her volunteerism, makes this a continued possibility at Wesley Manor and we are grateful for her involvement in this project, which she clearly holds near and dear to her as a ministry.
Diana Wickes from Wesley Manor was honored by LeadingAge for her volunteer work with the Care and Share store at Wesley Manor. Mrs. Wickes received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her many dedicated years of service.
Pictured: Front Center – Diana Wickes, recipient of the LeadingAge Indiana – Volunteer of the Year Award. Left – Right: Ginny Cromer, Associate Executive Director; Jerry Cooper, Maintenance Director; Brent Waymire, Executive Director; Jo Unroe, Resident Services Director; Cindy Reecer, Director of Nursing; Beth Wheeler, Environmental Services Director; and Brad Wickes, Diana’s husband.
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The CMD credential is a highly respected recognition demonstrating mastery of the professional competencies required in medical direction in post-acute and long-term care. By earning this notable credential, Dr. Mustaklem has further distinguished himself as an exceptional leader within our healthcare team, showcasing his unwavering commitment to continuous professional growth, and to providing our residents with the highest standard of care.
