BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Under the direction of Regina Harris, Catholic Personal Care Homes sponsored an in-service training session June 9 for caregivers to the elderly.

The event at the Catholic Center in Atlanta provided caregivers with information and a time for renewal to better serve the elderly.

Harris completed her first year as director of Catholic Housing Initiatives, Inc. and Catholic Personal Care Homes, Inc., both under the umbrella of Catholic Charities. Catholic Housing Initiatives provides affordable housing for low- and moderate-income retirees at complexes in Atlanta and Cumming. Catholic Personal Care Homes is a nonprofit organization that oversees three assisted-living communities. St. Teresa Manor in Riverdale and St. Thomas Manor, identical one-story stucco buildings, opened in 1989 and 1988 respectively. Marian Manor in Atlanta opened in 1984.

“Our goal is that we are all family ... It’s a home-like environment and that’s where family lives--in a home-like environment,” said Harris, who is a past manager of St. Teresa Manor and has served at the home for nine years. “You have to be committed and you have to love your job.”

Harris, who will be helped in her role by the addition of assistant director Margo Burke, said there is a need for training and renewal.

“It is most important to provide our staff with in-service days because it gives the staff the opportunity to meet in a central location, to ask questions and discuss and receive valuable information pertaining to their jobs. Some role playing is done during the in-service that gives the staff insight on how to handle certain situations which may arise at their perspective manors,” she said.

At the training event Patricia Lett, St. Teresa’s manager, reminded workers of the personal and civil rights of all residents which must be observed. Those rights include the freedom to make their own choices, privacy in their bedrooms, the right to be treated with respect and privacy when given personal care and to practice any religion as they choose. They may have their own telephone and visitors at any time. They have the right to manage their finances and choose and retain the services of any health care professional or service and can plan their own care. Patients cannot be transferred to another facility without 30 days’ notice.

As caregivers may become impatient or discuss job affairs with residents, Lett said it’s important to speak in a caring tone, avoiding matters not concerning them.

Sister Helen Mick, CSJ, is past director of Catholic Personal Care Homes and is in her 10th year of managing St. Thomas Manor in East Point.

She noted that residents could report to the government at any time if they feel they are unfairly treated.

“We are there to treat them with dignity and respect,” she said.

Connie Sambrone, an advanced catechist and consultant for Sambrone Enterprises, which offers personal development programs, encouraged caregivers to care for themselves as they serve the elderly. Sambrone said that some might feel angry and burned out when they don’t take care of themselves but must care for the elderly, their families and their children. Also, they may not listen for God’s guidance.

“There’s no way that you can take care of anybody effectively if you don’t take care of yourself. If you don’t love yourself, you can’t take care of anything else,” she said. “You really do have to love yourself in order to be able to do the wonderful job you do.”

She also reminded them to have fun.

“The number one priority has to be you and what you’ve done for yourself and how you’ve made yourself happy and what gives you peace and joy,” she continued. “What prevents you from doing something that gives you happiness, peace and joy?”

Through time management, she said that people must find a balance in their lives between work, families and themselves, always centered in God. Referring to the books “One Day My Soul Just Opened Up” by Iyanla Vazant and “When I Relax I Feel Guilty” by Tim Hansel, she urged people to find a quiet place for prayer and reflection to gain insight into desires for their lives, writing a mission statement if necessary.

“You can take care of the elderly the best that you can (if) you also continue to take care of yourselves the best that you can,” she said. “I applaud you for the good (work) that you do and I encourage you to do that good for yourselves.”

Catholic Charities secretary Betti Knott applauded the efforts of the caregivers.

“I’m really proud of Catholic Personal Care Homes. I think that you guys are the best kept secret of Catholic Charities and I’d like it not to be a secret anymore,” she said. “I’d like to congratulate you for doing such a wonderful job and I’d like to encourage you to keep doing a wonderful job.”

Fourteen-year Marian Manor employee Sharleen Baker, who also holds another full-time job, is one employee who seeks private time to avoid burnout.

“You do get a little burned out because you give so much more--the rewards are not always there because the residents can’t give you that, so you have to get whatever you need from inside. So in order to continue you have to be centered,” she said. “I do have to take time for myself even if it’s just reading 30 minutes of Scripture.”

She also struggles with getting attached to residents who get sick and die or must leave, yet she finds humor a healing remedy.

“I enjoy working with people and they (the elderly) are a special population,” she said. “It’s not all work. There’s fun. We have laughter.”

The home-like facility at the manors include well-kept gardens, private bedrooms with an emergency call button or pull cord, nutritious home-style meals, housekeeping and laundry services, a game room, a parlor and a beauty salon with foot care services. All three homes have peaceful chapels where Communion services are offered.

Sister Mick said the homes require dedicated staff members.

“We need people who really care about the elderly--who are more concerned about doing a ministry than about getting a big pay check because the money is not great.”

She said that it is important to also treat those unable to communicate with love.

“You can’t treat them like they’re unaware. Even people who can’t respond know what’s going on,” she said. “They are children of God too. They are all part of this wonderful family that God has created. Because they lose their mental ability that doesn’t mean they’re less human.”

Activities director Sister Jodi Creten, CSJ, said that to serve residents it “takes insight to know what residents need sometimes and it takes an interior looking at them, not just (on the exterior).”

She spends time talking with residents to determine their needs, praying with them and bringing humor in her ministry.

“It’s just sitting one-on-one with them--just listening to them and seeing them cry. And I just sit with them and listen to them when they cry,” she said. “What I try to do is to talk in a caring manner at all times because sometimes we just speak in a voice that’s harsh or demeaning because we’re not thinking.”

“Humor is a big part of what I do with the residents and the staff. I try to keep things light,” she said.

Harris said that the staff provides watchful care and protective oversight to residents, who are about 50 percent Catholic. They must be ambulatory, able to get around on their own and feed and provide personal care for themselves independently. Scholarship money is available for residents through the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation.

The director believes that the manors are also able to achieve a home-like environment through their smaller size, each holding up to 15 people, and caring staff.

As director, she enjoys working at all three homes and meeting individually with residents and staff members. While many think of the elderly as facing loneliness, depression and sickness, she noted that many residents are aging gracefully, living full and rewarding lives.

One of her biggest challenges at the manor is helping residents to adjust to independent living as they leave behind their former homes.

“You don’t look down on them. You treat them the same way you treat others. It’s hard for these elderly people. It’s a home away from home.”

Harris has found fulfillment in her vocation to care for the elderly.

“What was once a job has become a blessing in my life,” she continued. “It’s very rewarding to know that on any given day the staff at Catholic Personal Care Homes has and will continue to make a significant difference in so many lives.”

Harris said the training event provided valuable information that she hopes workers would apply to their jobs.