Serving Greater Mercer County for 20 years

Transcription

1 3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16 Hamilton, New Jersey (609) NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TRENTON, NJ PERMIT NO. 371 If you wish to receive our newsletter by , please write us at the address above or RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Serving Greater Mercer County for 20 years PUT A CANDLE ON THE CAKE! To Wish Interfaith Caregivers Of Greater Mercer County A Happy 20th Anniversary! In honor of its 20th anniversary, Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County (ICGMC) warmly invites individuals, businesses, and organizations to purchase a special candle to benefit our Angel Fund. This very much needed fund provides financial support to ICGMC care receivers who are experiencing a financial crisis in their lives. Please reserve $200 or $20 candle(s). Total donation amount $ Name(s) and message to be placed in our celebration book Donor Name Address Phone # Address Please send form and check to ICGMC office, attention: Roslyn Dashiell at 3635 Quakerbridge Rd. Suite 16 Hamilton, NJ,

2 Spring/Summer 2014 Mission: To promote the independence and dignity of homebound elderly and people with by matching them with caring volunteers who assist with the tasks of everyday life. A Celebra)on of Life and Health On May 12, 2014, the community room of the Hamilton Township library brimmed with high energy and floral splendor. Project Healthy Bones par@cipants and guests gathered to celebrate Older American s Month and Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Project Healthy Bones (PHB), an osteoporosis preven@on, exercise and educa@on program presented by Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County, is funded through a grant from the Mercer County Office on Aging. Enthusias@c par@cipants spend 24 weeks improving posture, balance, strength, and flexibility while socializing and learning about healthy lifestyles. Jane La@ni of ICGMC, welcomed over 80 PHB par@c- ipants and guests, and Deacon Joe Moore led the invoca@on. Jane congratulated Lead Coordinators, Mary Lou Cimini, Gina Hopkins and Lauri Harbison on a phenomenally successful program with a total of 76 par@cipants in the three Healthy Bones classes which are held at the Hamilton Library and at St. Mary s Cathedral in Trenton. Peer Leaders Joyce Bush, Lucia Perez Delgado, Phyllis DiPersio, Paula Fischer, Robert Kirby, Marilyn LeCerff, Joan O Grady, Doris Petruska and Maria Reyes were also recognized for their contribu@ons. Jane expressed her thanks to the professionals who volunteered their services as guest speakers at sessions throughout the program. Par@cipants benefiked from the exper@se and experience of exercise trainers Marc Bifano, Deborah Lynn Brooks and Peter Beharrysingh, registered nurses AnneKe Dillon Susanne Rose and Cindy Medina, physical therapist Linda Lucuski, pharmacist Joseph La@ni, Registered Die@cians Coleen Mejias, Teresa Kiely and Michelle Summerson, chiropractors Dr. Susan Ford and Dr. Anthony Soriero, podiatrists Dr. James RickeL and Dr. Joyce Jenkins, physician Dr. Jill Young, and community outreach State Coordinator for NJ DHS, educators Linda Buckley Division of Aging Services, (Con@nued on page 3.) Maryann Marian 3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 16, Hamilton, NJ (609)

3 A Le er from Jane s Desk... Dear Friends of Interfaith, We are celebra ng our 20 th Anniversary of Neighbors Helping Neighbors! The blessings keep flowing and I grow in gra tude for the many miracles that affirm and strengthen our mission each day. This past year of growth has exceeded all others. Both our care receivers and volunteers have increased by 22% and our services hours by 27%. How awesome is that! The impact of those living the mission is phenomenal. Truly we are a good neighbor and the goodness from within flows forth to create a more beau ful and caring community. Our care receivers know that someone truly cares about them and our volunteers experience the joy of purpose and fulfillment. To love and be loved is a daily happening at Interfaith. I become awestruck by the privilege to serve as execu ve director. Knowing someone s life has renewed meaning, working fas diously with an unbelievably dedicated staff and board of trustees, receiving encouragement and support at the me you need it most, being li ed in spirit and joy by a note of gra tude, partnering with agencies for resources to cover what we do not do, and knowing that I am doing His holy work gives me great peace of mind and heart. Does it get any be er than this? Each ar cle in our newsle er highlights the magnitude of grace and love that touches lives with hope, healing, empowerment and joy. Find your reading glasses, sit in your most comfortable chair, pour a tall glass of iced tea and visit with your Interfaith family. As always, I thank you for your faithful support of our mission and beseech you to remember us in prayer, volunteer me, referral and monetary contribu on. No gi is too small and all gi s are deeply and gratefully accepted. Peace and gra tude, Execu ve Director BOARD OF TRUSTEES Executive Committee Kathy Anne Lo Bue, Chair *Elizabeth Solan, BSN, MPH, Vice-Chair *Maureen Cozzi, Treasurer Jay Greenberg, Secretary Board Membership Rosemary C. Frascella, M.D. Lore a R. Kuhnert Patricia B. O Neill JoAnne San Paolo, RN, BSN, MSN Eileen P. Thornton *Andrea Topper *John Zimmerman Advisory Board Membership Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong Rev. Samuel Atchison Ann M. Cannon Norma L. Carmichael Paul Jellinek The Very Rev. René Rory John Sondra G. Obstein Jack Parra, PMP Rev. James Pruner * Indicates new or returning Board Member Staff Members Jane M. La ni, Execu ve Director Roslyn Dashiell, Business Mgr./Program Admin. Nancy E. Remer, RN BSN, Case Mgr. Gabriela Sikorski Gill, Bilingual Volunteer Mgr. Do e M. Richardson, Volunteer Mgr. Lauri Harbison, Project Healthy Bones Coord.

4 Spring Workshop Focuses on Healthy Ea ng, Medica ons, Vitamins for Elderly Residents On April 8th, the John O. Wilson Senior Center, in Hamilton, was the site for an energe c and inspira onal talk on Healthy Ea ng for Older Adults given by Registered Die cian and ICGMC volunteer Coleen Mejias. Equipped with ordinary objects, Coleen used visuals to help measure appropriate por on size. Pharmacist Joe La ni consults with a workshop a endee. Consider a golf ball of peanut bu er (2 tbs.), an ipod of chicken, a computer mouse of baked potato, or a postage stamp of bu er. The fun con nued on with a red flag fare strategy for Pharmacist Stephen Okorie meets with a par cipant. avoiding internet misinforma on. Engaged par cipants ended the session with chuckles and a wealth of new knowledge. Following Coleen s presenta on, individual medica on review and consulta on was provided by Pharmacists Joseph La ni and Stephen Okorie from St. Francis Medical Center. What a perfect way to begin the season of spring, with blossoms of health-wise informa on! Jane welcomes guest speaker, Coleen Mejias. Living in New Jersey Know the Cost! ICGMC welcomed Melissa Chalker from the NJ Founda on for Aging to Har Sinai Temple in Pennington to present the NJ Elder Economic Index as part of our quarterly group leader mee ng and community workshop which was held on February 25, First published in 2009 and updated in 2012, the Elder Economic Index report provides a county by county analysis of the actual living costs for seniors in New Jersey. With informa ve sta s cs, Melissa s presenta- on illustrated how this tool measures the amount of income needed for older adults to live modestly in NJ communi es. From Melissa s presenta on, we learned how this wellresearched data can be used to inform local, state and na onal policy-makers in making decisions about programs that assist seniors living independently. For more informa on about the Elder Economic Index in New Jersey, check out the website at: h p://www. njfounda onforaging.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ NJElderEconomicIndex2012.pdf. We graciously thank Rabbi Stuart Pollack and Board Member Jay Greenberg for hos ng the event at Har Sinai Temple, and Melissa Chalker for an informa ve and engaging talk. Guest speaker, Melissa Chalker with Gabriela Gill, and Gaeta Iseicz of St. Gregory the Great Church.

5 Annual Clergy Luncheon Our Mission Your Ministry Serving our Homebound Together was the theme to our annual clergy luncheon held on March 26 th at Leonardo s II Restaurant in Lawrenceville. Board members, staff and clergy from member and guest congrega ons came together for fellowship, networking and to share their vision for the future of our ministry to the homebound in Greater Mercer County. Director Jane La ni did a power point presenta on highligh ng ICGMC s support to the clergy, strategic alliances and resources, the year of tremendous growth, current growth projec ons and the challenge ahead. The Very Rev. René Rory John from Trinity Episcopal Cathedral moderated the discussion which followed. The Very Rev. René Rory John A Home Run Gi Last year your generosity of purchasing and dona ng an $11.00 Trenton Thunder cket reaped joy for seniors and youth alike. The sales enabled Interfaith to be the recipient of the Thunder s 50/50 drawing. Those who could not a end the games and donated game ckets enabled 126 parents and children of at-risk families with very limited incomes to enjoy a night at the ballpark. Let s do it again. Come to the ballgame, 7:05pm on August 21 st for fun and fireworks. Can t make it? Donate your cket and we ll do the rest. Call for ckets and informa on. Celebra ng Mar n Luther King, Jr. Day Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede and the Hamilton Dr. Mar n Luther King Commi ee presented its annual Dr. King Tribute at Faith Bap st Church on January 17th, featuring music by Isaiah Alston, a finalist on TV s X Factor, and Jacob Rivedal and the church s adult choir. Jane La ni accepted the Dr. King Spirit of Community Service Award on behalf of ICGMC. The keynote address was delivered by Joseph E. Woods, senior pastor of Saint Phillips Bap st Church of Hamilton. From le : Lance Walker, Quincy Hendryx, Gloria Stephens, Eileen P. Thornton, Joseph E. Woods, Jane La ni, Lawrence Boyd III, Marty Flynn Addi onal Community Services There are mes when a care receiver needs more than a volunteer service can provide. Recently ICGMC learned about two addi onal services. Abdul-Hady M. Kheder, MD visited with staff and described services available for seniors who are no longer able to leave the home for medical appointments. An ini al home visit can be provided by Dr. Kheder and addi onal home visits are made by trained nurse prac oners. More informa on is available by calling Dr. Kheder at Americare Medical Associates at Tom Kopp of Caring Senior Services presented a for fied op on for care receivers that need addi- onal support services beyond what a volunteer provides. Quality caregivers can provide nonmedical services such as personal care, nutri on services and environmental management. More informa on is available by calling Caring Senior Service at

6 from page 1.) and Michelle Brill, MPH. Following a healthy lunch, keynote speaker Dr. Sally Fullman who serves on the Interagency Council on Osteoporosis and is an advocate for bone health with the Na@onal Osteoporosis Founda@on, spoke on the importance of bone health. She emphasized senior safety, fall preven@on, and highlighted various safety Dr. Sally Fullman products and techniques for seniors, including posture earrings and impact wear. Maryann Marian, New Jersey State Coordinator at the DHS, Division of Aging Services, recognized ICGMC s Project Healthy Bones as one of the best, most organized, and the only bilingual PHB program in the state and presented ICGMC with a proclama@on signed by Governor Chris Chris@e. Project Healthy Bones is a natural extension of ICGMC s efforts to help seniors age in place safely, independently and with dignity, Project Healthy Bones Coordinators explains Jane. Socializa@on, exercise and nutri@on are crucial to the well-being and independence of older adults, and our staff and volunteers promote the benefits of all of these things, especially as they relate to osteoporosis. Best of all is that the program is fun, free and geared to people of all abili@es and par@cipants love coming! Our Project Healthy Bones program is more than exercise and wellness it is where seniors can feel loved and spiritually renewed!

7 Good News On The Move We ve been sharing the joy of volunteering and the free service available to homebound seniors at Interfaith Caregivers. Perhaps you ve seen Do e at ECHO, ETS, Thomas Edison College, or the RWJ Wellness Center. Jane has spoken at the Hamilton Rotary, Four Seasons Community, Union Bap st Missionary Mee ng, and St. John the Bap- st Church. Together, she and Gabriela Gill joined Pastor Karen Hernandez-Granzen for a celebra- on of The English School at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton. In April, volunteer Gina San ago spoke about our services to families a ending the El Centro event sponsored by Catholic Chari es. If you d like to arrange for a representa- ve to speak with a community group, please contact the office at (609) From le : Gabriela Gill, Pastor Karen Hernandez Granzen, Jane La ni, Joe Landolfi An Evening of Amore Imagine a beau ful summer evening, the aroma of fresh baked bread and delicious sauce, the popping of wine corks and the sweet serenade of Joanna La ni. No, you re not in Rome. You re at Rosa s Restaurant in Hamilton. Join the Interfaith family on July 16 th from 6:00-8:00pm for the most memorable night of the summer! Call the office for reserva ons. Limited sea ng available. On the Path to Impact In December, ICGMC received a $25,000 grant from the Princeton Area Community Founda on for our Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. As a grantee, the Princeton Area Community Founda on engaged a professional consul ng firm to help ICGMC and other grantees understand our needs as nonprofit partners, and iden fy the exper se and resources needed to best support our future growth. As part of the process, we par cipated in the Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT) a 146-ques on survey taken by our Board and management. The ques onnaire was designed to offer a snapshot of our ability to manage the processes and systems that characterize a high-performing organiza on. Following the assessment, ICGMC received a confiden al, individualized report tying our scores to a life-cycle analysis. We also had an opportunity to speak with a consultant by phone for help interpre ng our results. In March, we met with other organiza ons that completed the CCAT to discuss common issues and consider next steps. The CCAT allowed us to spend me addressing report recommenda ons and assessing our progress, including a full presenta on of results and recommenda ons which will be presented to the ICGMC Board of Directors in June. Thank you, PACF!

8 New Congrega ons ICGMC welcomed two new congrega ons recently! Kingston United Methodist Church, under the guidance of Pastor Trey Wince, joined Interfaith this past November. Two new Group Leaders, Jon Wasson and Deborah Westbrook, and 9 volunteers have been trained to assist the homebound elderly and disabled. KUMC Volunteers are serving Princeton, West Windsor and the Plainsboro communi es. St. John the Bap st Church, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Brian Woodrow, joined the Interfaith family in April. Deacon Joe Hepp and a dozen volunteers were in the first class of volunteers that were trained at the Allentown Church. St. John s volunteers will serve the Allentown-Cream Ridge area. At present, we are recrui ng for two Group Leaders to shepherd their volunteers. Gi s of Spring The Lawrence Township Community Founda- on, Inc. awarded Interfaith Caregivers with a grant of $2,000 to recruit, train and support the volunteer network in Lawrence Township. To date Interfaith Caregivers has served 279 Lawrence seniors who received 16,065 hours of free service, a value of $406,918. Jane La ni was invited to speak at the Annual Pro-Life Baby Shower/Breakfast in April. Sharing from her personal experience, Jane highlighted the circle of life from motherhood through caring for aged parents with compassion and love, emphasizing the mission of Interfaith Caregivers. Dona ons from several Knights of Columbus councils and a endees amounted to $1305 in support of Interfaith s mission. Every gi to Interfaith sustains life and we are deeply grateful. Upcoming Events June 10, 2014 June 17, 2014 June 17, 2014 July 15, 2014 July 16, 2014 Aug. 12, 2014 Aug. 21, 2014 Sept. 9, 2014 Sept. 23, 2014 Sept. 23, 2014 Oct. 7, 2014 Oct. 23, 2014 Nov. 4, 2014 Dec. 4, 2014 Dec. 9, 2014 Dec. 12, 2014 Group Leader Mee ng Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville Community Workshop: Hoarding Disorder Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, 7:30 pm An Evening of Amore with Joanna at Rosa s 6 8 pm, Rosa s Restaurant Trenton Thunder Baseball Game, Fireworks & 50/50 Raffle, 7:05 pm Group Leader Mee ng Loca on TBD Community Workshop: Alzheimer s Educa on Loca on TBD, 7:30 pm 20 th Anniversary Shining Lights Gala, Hya Regency Hotel, 6 9 pm Holiday Open House and 50/50 Raffle Drawing, ICGMC Office, 5:30 8 pm Group Leader Holiday Breakfast, Mastoris Restaurant

9 WE CELEBRATE THOSE WHO GIFT ICGMC WITH THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE LeS: Abby Wasson of DaVita Dialysis presents ICGMC with a $1,000 dona@on. Right: Mary Ann Lindner, Jane La@ni, Mary Lou Cimini, and Nancy Remer admire food gis baskets. LeS: Pat Weitz of Community Chris@an Choir presents Jane with the Good Will offering of $1, from their concert at St. James, Pennington. Right: Jane and Board Member Eileen Thornton meet with Congressman Chris Smith. LeS: Teachers from Grover Middle School in West Windsor gis ICGMC with fes@ve Spring care packages for our care receivers. Right: Project Health Bones coordinators Mary Lou Cimini, Jane La@ni, and Lucia Perez Delgado (r.) with guest speaker, Cindy Medina, RN, MSW, at PHB Health Wellness event LeS: Lucylle Walker, Eileen Thornton, Cathy DiCostanzo, Senator Linda Greenstein, Jane La@ni, Kathy Lo Bue, Mercer County Surrogate Diane Gerofsky, and Rosemary Durkin at ICGMC s Open House Right: Annual Group Leader Breakfast

10 Wrap-Around Services with the United Aging and Disabili es Partnership It takes a village and some mes it takes a family of agencies to provide the necessary services to help our care receivers with mul ple needs remain at home safely and independently. ICGMC is fortunate to provide the suppor ve wrap-around services for eligible care receivers through our partnership with the United Way of Greater Mercer County s UADP. Working together with our community agencies o en makes the decisive transforma on to renewed independence and security in a care receiver s life. Our Interfaith volunteers provide: shopping and errands, transporta on to appointments, friendly visits, indoor/outdoor chores, minor household repairs, occasional meal prepara on, clerical assistance, short-term respite care, telephone reassurance, links to community services, and a health and wellness program. Our partners and addi onal services include: American Red Cross (meals), Greater Mercer TMA -Ride Provide (transporta on), Greenwood House (home health aide), Jewish Family & Children s Service (case management), Meals on Wheels of Trenton/Ewing (meals), Mount Carmel Guild of Trenton (skilled nursing care) and Medical Care Alert (life alert). Home safety/ modifica on and referral to even more resources are also a benefit. Care receivers interested in obtaining any of the addi onal services available through our UADP partnership should call their Group Leader or call the ICGMC office at June Group Leader Mee ng and Community Workshop on Hoarding The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville will host our Group Leader Dinner Mee ng and Community Workshop on Tuesday evening, June 17 th. This season s workshop, Hoarding Behavior: From Clu er to Chaos, will be presented by na onally renowned speaker, Marcie Cooper, LSW and is sponsored by Brandywine Senior Living. CEU credits will be available for those reques ng them. Mark your calendars for this free and informa ve program which addresses an increasingly prevalent issue. The community workshop por on of this evening will begin at 7:30pm immediately following the Group Leader mee ng. Light refreshments will be served. Please call (609) to register for the workshop and for more informa on. Tribute for Bob Brownlee ICGMC Board Member, Robert Joseph Brownlee, of Country Lakes in Browns Mills, NJ, passed away recently. Bob was a re red Army Aviator and Vietnam Veteran. During his honorable service to our country he was awarded the Silver Star, Dis nguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and Air Medal (Vietnam, First Calvary Division). He was also re red from the State of New Jersey Department of Health. ICGMC is grateful for Bob s tenure as an Advisory Board Member since He served on our Strategic Planning Commi ee and enriched our organiza on by helping to further our mission to the elderly and disabled homebound. We will miss him greatly.

11 Thank you, ICGMC Volunteers! In honor of Volunteer Month, ICGMC held its Annual Volunteer Dinner, Inspire By Example, at NoLngham Ballroom in Hamilton Square on April 29th. Dr. Shannon M. Mason Jane Director, welcomed and expressed to all volunteers, staff, board members, and guests. This annual event honored the outstanding work of our more than 300 volunteers who help nearly 400 homebound elderly and disabled persons throughout Greater Mercer County. In 2013, 15,015 hours of service were provided! The program included an message from keynote speaker, Dr. Shannon M. Mason, Director of Mercer Street Friends. She stressed the importance of being present in each moment of our lives. She reminded us that while we may pride ourselves on our ability Board Member Eileen Thornton to all of life s challenges, it is important to remember the beauty in each moment and to ensure that we also to savor life, itself. She stressed the importance of being good to ourselves. Board member Eileen Thornton shared her recipe for for@fying our Angel Fund which supports ICGMC care receivers in crisis. Begin with an act of kindness, put a candle on the cake in celebra@on of, in honor of, or in memory of someone you love with a dona@on of $20 or $200 It s a perfect way to give a gis that keeps giving. Hmm! Now that s real Angel Food Cake! Stepping up the evening with addi@onal fun were the young ladies of Rince O Chroi Irish Dance School, whose dancers regaled the audience with tradi@onal Irish dances in full Cel@c costumes. Over 25 giss were donated from area businesses, board members, and staff of ICGMC to be given out as door prizes to our wonderful volunteers. Much thanks to Rev. Kim Mayner of Union Bap@st Church in Trenton who began the

12 evening with the Deacon Joe Moore for providing the photography for the evening, to Pam Baumley who designed and donated the Rev. Kim Mayner floral centerpieces, and to Deacon Joe Hepp of St. John the Church in Allentown, for giving the closing blessing. Each year this event grows in abundance of akendees and good fellowship! ICGMC is ever grateful Deacon Joe Hepp to have the opportunity to recognize our volunteers who to inspire by example! Special thanks to our event sponsors including Kathy Anne and Tony Lo Bue Sponsors), Paul Jellinek and Stark & Stark (Hope Sponsors), Rosa s Restaurant & Catering, Elizabeth Liz Williams, John Zimmerman, and The Church of St. Gregory the Great (Sunlight Sponsors). What an inspiring evening! ICGMC Board of Directors Jane La@ni thanks Advisory Board Member Norma Carmichael for her dedica@on. Amazing Grace! Jane enjoys a moment with Grace Mazzatelli, Group Leader of Our Lady of Angels Parish, Trenton. Grace has been a leader in her parish s ministry Caregivers of Hope since its incep@on in With a career in social services, Grace has shared talent, and treasure, and has given over 4,000 hours of service to the Interfaith family. Simply Amazing!