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The Periodic Midlife/Longlife Update E-newsletter June 2005
The Periodic Midlife/Longlife Update E-newsletter is devoted to sharing information and enhancing excellence in ongoing faith and holistic formation for maturing adults from midlife through end of life.
Bill Prather, Founder and Director
Partners in Pastoral Care
Seeks to provide members with an ongoing flow of practical information that leader/models can use directly with adults of all ages, and by offering training through its educational arm . All opinions expressed herein are those of the author. Permission is granted to reproduce this issue in whole or in part as long as its source is identified.
8695 College Parkway The Renaissance Executive Building
Suite 327 Fort Myers , FL 33919 239 466 8664 Shepardscare@aol.com
In This Issue:
A Senior Adult "2005 Disaster Guide "
Give One Day A Week to God!
Happy Mother’s Day For Grandmas
Capture the Interest of the Baby Boomer
HIPPA Is Not An Animal
1. A most comprehensive disaster guide for Seniors in preparation for 2005. While the guide has been created primarily for Florida Senior use with the latest information on lessons learned from ’04 to meet elders’ needs, I believe it has vital information, applicable to most Seniors throughout our nation.
Highlights include:
· Forecast for 2005 Hurricanes Season
Hurricane Preparation, Tips and Facts
Flood Insurance / Re-entering a Flooded Home
Disaster Supply Kit / Emergency Plan Checklist
Tornadoes 101 / Thunderstorms / Wildfires
Cold Weather / Heat Stress
Hazardous Materials
Terrorism
Pets and Disasters
Manufactured Home and Hurricane Facts
Alzheimer Patients / Lessons Learned
Home Repair Fraud
Motorists’ Safety Tips in Emergencies
Frequently Asked Questions by Older Adults / Individual Assistance
FEMA Application Process / Disaster Recovery Centers
2. A book written by Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, (Zondervan Press, Grand Rapids, MI, 2002) is still somewhat at the forefront of popular culture.
A few weeks ago we read of a man who committed murder, then ran from the police, and later surrendered after a woman read to him from the pages of this book and discussed God and life with him. Once again, last night, I visited a media program that was questioning the premise of the book. Previously, it created a growth industry of personal introspection in many churches. Over the past months, I have passed churches of all denominations across America, each sporting a very large banner easily read by passing motorists: FIND YOUR PURPOSE INSIDE! I have read the book, and even taken a class on it. I find the book provocative in that it confronts the narcissistic notion that finding purpose is a solitary pursuit, i.e., your life’s purpose somehow resides inside of you just waiting for you to be clever enough to extract it. The first sentence of the book is: It’s not about you.
Partners In Pastoral Care has long advocated that retirees give “One day a week to God.” The reason for this is that studies show that when we become retired, we most often develop an undue dwelling on ourselves or attainments, in one way or another. Stop for a moment and try to visualize those in your group to whom this might apply. In your mind’s eye, can you see this tendency in yourself? Certainly we need to surrender our full lives, every day to God, yet what our little slogan “One day a week to God” means is that we offer our services at least one full day per week to do God’s work.
What is God’s work? It is any voluntary act given from your heart for the express and conscious purpose of serving God. The day could be a day of active prayer or a day when you offer yourself in service to God’s children in whatever capacity that builds on your God-given gifts and talents. There is no shortage of work to be done in the vineyards of the world. God needs workers…the harvest is ready! Who knows, you and/or those you minister to may discover life’s purpose by giving one day a week to God.
You will find that all the facilitators at PIPC lead workshops, for the young to senior adults, that bring to the forefront this healthy aspect of personal life purpose. We are all equipped and trained in administering and interpreting inventories. We have an abundance of suggested, practical avenues where each individual can apply their God-given personalities, talents and abilities in giving God the glory due him. Contact us if you would like for us to help your group pursue a wonderful journey of discovery into living out life with purpose.
3.I know that this newsletter is being published after Mother’s Day, but I think you may find the following poem inspirational for grandmothers at other times, as well.
FOR GRANDMAS
If I were granted any wish
I'll tell what I would do—
I would wish my children small again,
Just for a month or two.
To hear their squeals of laughter,
To watch them as they play
And when they ask me to join in,
I would NOT say "Not today.”
I'd hug again their chubby frames,
Kiss away their hurts and tears,
And cherish childhood innocence,
That has washed away with years.
And when it is story time,
I'd stay a little longer,
To answer questions and sing the songs
So their memories would be stronger.
But time is callous, wishes myth
Yet God in all His wisdom,
Has given me another chance
Before I join His kingdom.
The face may not be just the same,
The name is changed 'tis true,
But yet the smile that radiates
Reminds me so of you!
God must have realized that
Mothers need a chance or two,
For many little happy things
She had no time to do.
So God gave love to grandmas
To equal that before,
That in effect embraces,
Those little lives she bore.
(author unknown)
4. With the oldest of the nation’s 76 million baby boomers only a few years from the date when they will be eligible to take early Social Security benefits, the issue of retirement and retirement planning is at the top of these folks’ focus.
If we are interested in capturing the 55- to 65-year-olds’ attention real fast, we as shepherds/leaders can do so. It is a matter of offering them opportunities that give spiritual/emotional and financial hope when it comes to the issue of retirement and retirement planning.
Sponsor, plan, promote and produce a day’s conference on “Retirement.” Provide an array of speakers, facilitators from government, civic, private, and faith-based communities to participate, along with booths, information, and material.
5.Sitting in numerous doctors’ reception and waiting rooms of late, I have learned that most people, and for sure Seniors, do not understand the federal privacy rules that went into effect in 2003.
These rules are part of a law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPPA. The law was drafted to ensure that people who changed jobs would be able to get health insurance through the new employer, even if they had pre-existing conditions. Most important, this law gives every person more control over their health information than ever before.
One provision that benefits us Seniors is that it has required that new privacy rules be written to better protect patients’ medical information. It now is illegal for hospital staff to talk about your condition in the presence of people who have no need to know about you. The rules also prohibit a doctor from talking about you with another doctor unless you have been notified (except for treatment purposes or in the case of an emergency) and forbid health-care workers from leaving records open on desks or on computer screens where anyone can see them.
Just a cautionary word to make your flock aware, although these new rules are working well. First, read any “release form” concerning your medical records that the doctor’s office asks you to sign. Many of these forms completely waive your privacy rights, allowing the doctor or office staff to distribute or talk about your record to anyone. You are not required to sign the form but instead you can sign a release form each time your doctor needs to discuss your case with another health-care professional.
Second , many drugstores have started refusing to allow people to pick up family members’ prescriptions. This practice is wrong. As a personal friend or pastor, you are allowed the same privilege, but rather than cause conflict it is best to get a signed release from the patient. This should be on file with the druggist or pharmacist.
Third, one of the most common problems involves hospitals that refuse to disclose a patient’s health status to a family member. As one giving pastoral care, most of the time you do not need to know the health condition of a patient. Sharing of information is permitted in almost all instances in which the family member or a friend has “relevant” involvement in the patient’s care. Key word: relevant. Also, some hospitals refuse to inform members of the clergy that a parishioner is hospitalized, claming that it violates HIPPA regulations. That’s wrong. The rules clearly state that such disclosure is allowed unless the patient says he/she does not want the clergyperson notified.
Give your group the opportunity of becoming well informed as to HIPPA guidelines by a presentation from a representative in the health field. Encourage many questions. This will facilitate adequate understanding. As a pastoral care provider, keep abreast of these rules.
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