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Grant supports new parish-health center partnership |
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By Pat Norby
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Wednesday, 28 July 2010 |
St. John the Baptist and Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck create innovative program
The enthusiasm bubbles in Mary Trisko’s voice as she talks about the proposed partnership between her parish, St. John the Baptist, and the Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck, both in New Brighton.
Mary Trisko of St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, who has visited the elderly for 30 years, expects to be on the receiving end of care one day. Gina Dolski / The Catholic Spirit
When her pastor, Father Michael Skluzacek, asked her to be on a committee to help create a model to provide services to seniors and keep them connected to parishes, Trisko was eager to get on board.
“We have so many people in that age group that are forced to leave their
homes because they don’t have assistance and they have physical needs,”
she said. “I thought if we could help them out and face the needs they
have, it would be a wonderful thing to stimulate the old community,
family spirit of the church.”
Parishes may be growing in membership numbers, but connections between members are not, she said.
“I wish I were younger so I could be very active in it,” said Trisko,
who is 79 years old and has been a nursing home minister for about 30
years. “It’s something I’ve enjoyed doing and find very satisfying. I
get more out of it than they do.”
Father Skluzacek said that Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck
approached the parish about pursuing a $30,000 matching grant from the
Benedictine Health System Foundation to help fund the partnership.
“When they proposed it, I thought it would be great because of our older
population,” he said. “A lot of our parishioners are in their homes,
but within one to 10 years they are going to be needing some help, and a
lot of folks want to stay in their homes rather than go to a nursing
home.”
Although only a fraction of the parishioners answered a survey from the
parish, he said, but the people who responded were very interested in
the proposed services, especially transportation.
“A lot of times people are in their homes but they can’t get to Mass.
They would be able to, if they could get a ride,” Father Skluzacek said.
“One of the things that sold me on the partnership with Benedictine
Health Care Center is that they are a Catholic-sponsored organization.
They already have that dimension.”
Meeting the challenge
One of the greatest challenges facing the model is the need for volunteers, Father Skluzacek said.
“There are volunteers out there and a lot of willing volunteers,” he
said. “But for the younger people, their time is limited because they
are often working more than one job.”
Many of the older people who already volunteer, like Trisko, will eventually be the ones who need the services.
“It’s inevitable that I’m going to be there, too,” Trisko said.
She added that the committee is trying to “churn up interest” with
groups such as confirmation students or Scouts, who may be able to help
with minor chores in the homes of elderly people.
“I often think of the old Lutheran ‘Circles’ that they used to have. It
would be similar to that, so we would have more awareness of people that
are in need,” she said.
The partnership project grant proposal, as written by Susan Ager,
administrator and CEO of Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck,
“places health, independence and choice at the heart of its vision.”
The proposed services are centered on maintaining quality of life. The
model project will attempt to provide full services and life care
management, such as help with light medical or nursing care, diabetes
care or therapies.
Parish health and wellness objectives
The Parish Health and Wellness Model Planning Project is a
partnership of St. John the Baptist Catholic parish and Benedictine
Health Center at Innsbruck, both in New Brighton.
The project objectives written in the grant are:
» Determine the numbers and the needs of older members from St. John
and collect data on services available in the northern metro regions.
» Identify community partners who have an interest in supporting
elders through informational sessions, group meetings and individual
meetings.
» Develop a model for providing support to older people so they have the choice of staying in their homes.
» Pilot the model to a sample population.
Source: Benedictine Health Center
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Services support values
Ager said she is currently interviewing prospective candidates to lead
the project, deliver some of the health care services and train
volunteers. The partnership has been nicknamed ABLE, for Assisting
Better Lives for Elders.
Ager said representatives of Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck
will be at the parish health fair in September, offer monthly health
clinics and printed materials, and develop a website as part of the
model health project.
Benedictine Health System is an innovative company, she said. Although
last year was the first time the company gave out grants for proposals
such as ABLE through its foundation, the company has always supported
creative ideas to help elders in the community, she said.
“Our core values and the support of the Sisters of St. Benedict are
important,” said Ager, who is a member of Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis
Park. The center’s chapel, which was built about five years ago, is the
heart of the facility, she said.
Although BHC at Innsbruck has a strong Catholic identity, it also welcomes people of other faiths, Ager added.
Father Skluzacek said his hope for the partnership is that other parishes could also be connected with ABLE.
A Catholic mission
“I told BHC that it should not be open to just our parishioners,” he
said. “Visiting the sick and the homebound are corporal works of mercy
to make sure people are being taken care of. Also, they are spiritual
works of mercy.”
Lowell Larson, president of Benedictine Health System Foundation,
said, “This project is the first of what we hope will be many to promote
innovative approaches to elder care and establish strong community
partnerships.”
It is part of the foundation’s Catholic identity to provide for those in
need, give back to the community and promote the common good, he said.
Many elderly people do not reside in a care facility, but they still
need services, and it is best to meet their needs in their homes.
“What I like most about this program is that it doesn’t focus on only
the medical needs of an individual. It provides for the whole person,”
he said.
“This was one of two programs awarded funds to launch innovative
programs that aligned with BHS’ vision: ‘Creating Benedictine Living
Communities where health, independence and choice come to life.’”
The second grant was awarded for a similar project proposed by Prince of
Peace Care Center in Ellendale, N.D. Twenty-six facilities applied for
grants, he noted.
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