Greenbay's Going All the Way!

A heart warming site on a cold winter day!

Mornings can be crazy in the lobby at St. Ann Center – people coming and going, staff coming in for the day, clients arriving on buses, caregivers dropping off their loved ones, parents dropping off their sometimes crying children, housekeeping trying to keep the floors clean and dry in these wet winter months.

As I watched the clients arrive I was humbled as I usually am by the amount of care and concern the staff shows to each and every person that arrives through the front door. One arrival in particular caught my attention - Marta a woman in her 20’s. She was seated in her wheelchair bundled from head to toe with hat and scarf, large winter coat and blanket on her legs. Marta can’t speak but she has the most infectious smile. Today, as she’s greeted with a friendly “good morning” her nose is running from the cold. The caregiver who greeted Marta sees her and says “Oh honey, let’s wipe your nose, that must be uncomfortable,” and she gently wipes Marta’s nose. Marta returned the favor with one of her beautiful smiles.

Marta is unable to wipe her own nose, she’s unable to dress herself, she’s unable to feed herself, and she’s unable to go to the bathroom by herself. These are all the things that the staff at St. Ann Center provides for her along with loving companionship. It really was a very heart warming sight to see!

A Historic Move!

For those who are not aware of it, Shepherd house has some very good news! We will be moving from our home in the convent on South Lake Drive, to our new home in the main building on Morgan Avenue. Our new house will be in what has been known as the Therapy Treatment Clinic. Our clients will have easier access to the swimming pool, art program, hair and nail salon, therapy department, and many other activities that take place at the main center. Many people are sacrificing their time and space to make this happen. And the therapy department is graciously adjusting their treatment space so that this move is possible. Our buildings and grounds department has been working very hard on getting the new addition for this area of the center remodeled and completed. Our move took place in the middle of December since the new construction went very well. Caregivers and transit companies have been informed about all these changes too. Suddenly, the new chapter in the history of Shepherd House–one that we looked forward to for so long–has become a reality!

– Marcia L. Hochstetter, Vice President of Shepherd House

 

This article is reprinted from the St. Ann Center Agency 'Seasons of Life' Newsletter.

Kelly

The following is a poem/ song is written by one of our clients, Darold W.



Kelly
Have you ever met the most beautiful girl I know?
I love to look into her eyes…
Drink in her bright smile and sing with her beautiful laugh.

When I’m down she cheers me up
I need help she’s always there
Kelley, you’re my only love.

Have you ever met the most beautiful girl I know?
I love to look into her eyes…
Drink in her bright smile and sing with her beautiful laugh.

We have fun and do the town
Go to restaurants and have some fun
Kelley, you’re my only love.

Have you ever met the most beautiful girl I know?
I love to look into her eyes…
Drink in her bright smile and sing with her beautiful laugh.
Sing with her beautiful laugh.

A Sign of Peace or a Wink of Peace?

Extending PEACE happens at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care in a special way at Mass.  Traditionally a sign of peace is a hand shake or a hug.  At St. Ann Center it is the famous "wink of peace".  Participants are quite happy to extend this happy sign to one another.

The famous "wink of peace" was introduced by Fr. Byron Haaland, a Sacred Heart priest, during the flu season to avoid spreading germs. The desire was present to acknowledge and extend peace to the each other gathered at Mass, but he wanted to avoid the traditional hand shake.

The "wink" is an affectionate, caring gesture that warms the room and makes everyone feel special as they extend peace to one another.  Mass is held twice weekly at St. Ann Center.

National Philanthropy Day® Official Website - AFP

National Philanthropy Day® Official Website - AFP

"What's the matter? Isn't your hearing aid working?"

I recently attended a networking fair where I met someone from the Center for Communication, Hearing and Deafness.  I asked some generic questions about the center and their services and then we ended up talking about the older clients at St. Ann Center, many who are hearing impaired.  Some people believe that if you just talk louder someone with a hearing loss will hear.  Or, if they wear hearing aids they will be able to hear but there is more to it than needing hearing aids.

In an article I recieved from the center titled, The hearing aid myth, it stated, "many people believe that hearing aids function like eyeglasses.  Most eyeglass wearers achieve 20-20 vision or something close to it with corrected lenses and have their day-to-day visual problems largely eliminated.  Hearing aids, while very helpful for most people who are hard of hearing, do not eliminate hearing problems.  Unlike glasses, the benefits of hearing aids are situation-specific, that is, they are very helpful in some situations, but not in others, such as, in noisy environments."

I also have a son who is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids so I understood this jist of this article but, it made me realize that many people who work with individuals who are hearing impaired don't.  Just because a person is wearing a hearing aid it doesn't mean that they can hear everything.  My son has permanent loss as do most people who wear hearing aids.  This permanent loss affects certain levels of sound and no hearing aid is going to make him hear that sound.

It is very important to remeber that when working or living with someone who is hearing impaired, there are  many different communication tools and strategies to aid and foster understanding and clarity.  The Center for Communication, Hearing and Deafness can help.