By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

At one time grey-robed nuns wandered through its rooms and coordinators. For many years the building had that special use. Now it will have another special use. No longer a convent, the sisters’ home at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish will become a unique place of ministry. It will be a Personal Care Home for the frail elderly called Marian Manor.

One of the special projects designated by the Campaign ’83 Capital Funds Drive was a home for the elderly. The drive for $7.2 million was a success so the home was initiated.

Sister Teresa Termini C.S.J. is director of Services for the Elderly for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. For a long time Sister Teresa has looked forward to the completion of this first home. “We are very excited,” says Sister from her office at the Catholic Center. “We have worked for this day when finally we could see the completion and operation of this facility for the elderly.”

Steve Brazen, executive assistant, Catholic Social Services, is the executive supervisor of the project and has also patiently waited for this day when the facility would become a reality. “The conversion from a convent to personal care home has been very satisfactory,” says Brazen. “The features of the new home are excellent and admired by all.”

“First we have an elaborate security system putting us in contact with police and fire departments. Two ground floor rooms have been devised for the handicapped. In other words, they can be used by wheelchair elderly or those who may have impaired sight. So we are very pleased with our home.”

Sister Teresa is anxious to further explain the concept of a Personal Care Home. “It is a new concept and one that is encouraged by most authorities. It is not a nursing home where the elderly are patients nor is it an apartment house for senior citizens. Personal care is in between. They may not be able to live alone in their apartments but they don’t need nursing care either. Personal care is in between apartment living and nursing home.”

Immaculate Heart of Mary’s former convent is that kind of facility.

Many services will be offered to the 15 who have been accepted as the first residents. “We will have a cook to take care of their meals,” says Sister Teresa. “Breakfast will be flexible – we will provide it if they wish – lunch will definitely be served and so will dinner. They will eat together and we know they enjoy having meals together.”

“The rooms upstairs are small and this is not a drawback as we see it,” says Sister. “It will encourage them to be together. While their rooms are small, they are very comfortable with space for their own television if they wish and other personal belongings. They will be most comfortable.”

Sister Teresa explains that 65 applications were made for the new home. “We selected 25 as suitable,” says the nun, “so already we have a waiting list, since we are at capacity at 15. This kind of living is most attractive to the elderly. It gives them good care but also a greater degree of self-determination. The atmosphere in a home like this one is very healthy because it is an atmosphere of support. They support each other. Those who are coming to us want to come and that is important. They are not being institutionalized.”

As much as possible the new residents on Briarcliff Road will be a part of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish. “We will have Mass in the home at times,” says Sister Teresa, “but we want them to attend Mass at the parish too. They will be a part of that community and let me say that many of the people of the parish have already been most kind and welcoming to us.”

A new staff has been hired to run the Personal Care Home. Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart, Sister Carol Bartol, who once lived in the house as a member of the religious community, will be manager of the home. In that capacity she will order food and supplies and arrange menus. A nurse will live in the house and a domestic staff will also be there. Marsha Bond is the social worker who has already worked with those who will live in the new home for the elderly.

The new home for the elderly will be dedicated and opened by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. “We are looking forward to this time,” says Sister Teresa Termini. “Many people have worked hard to bring about this beginning. We hope a lot of our Catholic parishioners and our friends will be with us for this great new beginning.”

The ministry starts. It is an holistic approach to care for the elderly. Physically, spiritually and emotionally, they will find their needs met. For all, those who serve and those who are served, the adventure begins.