The Episcopal Home
Puts the "personal" in personal care
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Thank you, Women At The Well!
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The Women At The Well group from St. John's, Carlisle faithfully visits each year. They bring refreshments, gifts for our residents, and engage them in conversation. It is always a delight to welcome them as they provide a bright spot in our day and help to chase away the winter doldrums. Pictured at the left with residents Dolly and Frank, are Connie Middleton, Phyllis Lebo, Meghan McDermott, Holly Gwozdecki, Debbie Kendrick, Carla Fisher, and Carolyn Freberg.
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RESIDENTS
April 17 - Shirley
April 28 - Mary S
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The
Partnership for Better Health
is a community foundation that works collaboratively throughout parts of Cumberland, Perry, Adams and Franklin Counties to positively influence the lives of its neighbors.
Recently, Executive Director Mary Grace Shearer applied for, and was awarded, two grants. One grant helped to defray the cost of replacing flooring in an upstairs hallway. The old, well worn flooring had been in place since 1959. The new flooring provides a clean, safe, even surface for the residents living in that hallway.The second grant was awarded so that Mary Grace, a trained social worker and Family Decision Making Group facilitator, could implement a program aimed at helping families or friends decide the best ways to support an aging member.
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We are all thrilled with the new flooring in one of our upstairs hallway.
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There is help available for families and friends searching for the best ways to support an aging loved one. For more detailed information on FGDM click below.
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Recently I attended a conference concerning positive aging. We took a quiz and afterward there was some push back on some of the questions. One question in particular asked if the older population was a drain on the economy, including health systems. Many in the room answered "yes," but the answer was "no." Aging people make significant contributions to our society, many of which go unrecognized. For example, many older people provide child care, strengthen communities, and provide economic support to their children and grandchildren. Aren't legacy donations usually given toward the end of life rather than in younger years?
Another question on the quiz dealt with ageism. The question asked, "Could I be ageist and not know it?" Most of us, since we work with the aging, thought, "No, we could not possibly be ageist." Upon discussion, though, it seemed that even we could be.The quiz explanation was that most of the time, we are not aware of our negative attitudes toward older people and about getting older. A global survey of 57 countries found that 60% of people felt that older adults were not respected and that negative attitudes abound. Greeting cards commonly make jokes about getting older. Advertising focuses on getting rid of wrinkles, gray hair, etc. and how to look younger. We tend to praise older people who are slim, supple, and exercise every day for hours by saying, "You look so good!" or "You don't look 85 - you seem so much younger!" - as if being 85 looks a certain way.
Aging is something to be treasured. I once saw a poster that read "Aging is a privilege denied to many." We need to stop talking about older individuals in a condescending manner or without thought. Aging people are us in a few years, and most importantly, they need the love and respect that all God's creatures should have.
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Our sweet Bertha turned 100 on March 28. Born in the Midwest, she grew up in Chicago,
but has lived in Pennsylvania long enough to consider it home.
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Frank is 100% Italian except on St. Patrick's Day.
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Effie and Vivian led St. Patty's Day festivities and even danced a jig.
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Juanita is always perfectly color coordinated and St. Patty's Day was no exception
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The Episcopal Home Board met for its first meeting of 2019 on March 23, where we welcomed new members.
The meeting began with a Board orientation talking about the responsibilities to be good stewards of the Home, including communicating about what the Home does and also raising money to support The Episcopal Home. We toured the physical facility, meeting some of the residents.
We also visited St. Andrew's Church, which is connected to the home. A unique aspect of The Episcopal Home is the provision of spiritual care provided by Mother Barbara Hutchinson, who is also Chaplain of the Home, and by the members of St. Andrew's.
The business meeting included not only reviewing the various financial reports, and minutes of the October meeting, but also talking about our efforts to market the Home to potential residents and to raise funds so every resident is well cared-for, regardless of their ability to pay the full cost. A fundraising letter will be mailed soon and Board members will add personal messages to the letters.
The Board is reviewing revisions to their By-Laws, which were written in 1991.
An exciting development was receiving two grants from Partnership for Better Health. One grant has been used to replace some flooring at the Home. The second grant is to conduct at least 75 Family Group Decision Making sessions. These sessions allow families and friends to come together to decide how best to support someone who is aging. This process has been used for many years in the area of child welfare and Mary Grace Shearer, Executive Director, received the training and conducted these sessions in the child welfare arena. She believes this same process will be extremely helpful to those who are aging and their family and friends.
- Rebecca Myers
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Who Serves on the EH Board of Trustees?
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Board President
The Rev. Rebecca Myers
Nativity and St. Stephen, Newport
New Members This Year
Barbara Cross
St. John's, Carlisle
Deacon Jack Hoffer
Trinity, Tyrone
Lisa Loring
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg
Jane Miller
St. James, Lancaster
Jim Robertson
St. Andrew's, Shippensburg
Continuing Board Members
Judy Funk
St. Luke's, Mt. Joy
Gerry Garber
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg
David Luo
St. Andrew's, Shippensburg
Jo Mitchell
Mt. Calvary, Camp Hill
Kathy Magaro
St. Andrew's, Shippensburg
Harry Snell
St. John's, York
Jeffrey Thoms
All Saints, Hershey
Sophia Ann Talbot
Mt. Calvary, Camp Hill
The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan
Bishop
The Rev. Barbara Hutchinson
Chaplain
Mary Grace Shearer,
Executive Director
Retiring Members
Mary Alleman
Trinity, Chambersburg
Imogene Schofield
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg
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Spring Gardening Tip
Buy a bird feeder to introduce movement and the activities of birds into your yard.
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The Shippensburg Garden Club meets at the Episcopal Home on the third Tuesday evening of every month, except December and January. The main objective of the club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, and to aid in protecting native trees, plants, and birds, especially within the community.
The club is funded through donations from local organizations and member dues. Their most visible project is caring for the summer hanging baskets in downtown Shippensburg. Club members also clean and tidy the Mary Garden at the Episcopal Home in appreciation for the Home providing them a meeting space.
Members are encouraged to "adopt" a project. Different members currently plant and maintain plants and flowers at the Shippensburg Library, the information kiosk at the post office, and in front of the Select Restaurant. There are plenty of areas eagerly awaiting someone to care for them. Membership is open to all.
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Your Support is Vital
Your generosity helps our residents who need financial assistance.
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If you are on our mailing list, look for our spring fundraising
mailer - a great way to support our residents.
As always, we are thankful to all of you who support our residents
with your kind and compassionate donations.
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Donations are tax deductible
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The Episcopal Home is a place where residents receive friendship, spiritual nurture, rest, recreation and excellent physical care in a peaceful setting which allows them to live in a place of safety, warmth and love. The Home is able to care for those with limited financial means because parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania support the facility. Through the ministry of the Episcopal Home, the Church is engaged in God's mission to value life and care for others.
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Contact Us:
206 E. Burd St.
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717)532-4612
episcopalhome@comcast.net
www.episcopalhome.com
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