Jim Klobuchar: The Confirmand
Below is a new post from Ecumen Guest Blogger Jim Klobuchar. Enjoy.
She was the last to speak in a church ceremony we still call confirmation. There were obligatory hymns, families spread gregariously from end to end in the pews, the up-tempo informalities of the church elders presenting the class, and then Pertinent Remarks by the graduates.
The assembled adults craned nervously for every word from the honored scholars, hoping to be enthralled but bravely prepared for something less.
This was the confirmands' graduation exercise, an ancient rite escorting eight young people into that marvelous and nebulous age that mixes whacky adolescence with an expanding awareness of both the possibilities and the solemnities of life.
It was a reasonable and appealing cross-section of America’s teen society. There was talk of faith and commitment. There were giggles and affirmation, and there were a few frank admissions of doubt about the direction of the spiritual search now supposed to begin in earnest.
My granddaughter concluded the speaking program. She wore a kind of semi-formal dress because this was, well, an occasion; and she needed occasionally to guide her descending hair away from her eyes. She spoke softly, and I regretted missing some of her words because of that.
She was droll and serious by turns, needling her mother’s travel schedule as her state’s only current senator, having fun with her family, telling of her discoveries of another world--and the pain and poverty of that world--on a trip to Guatamala with her schoolmates.
She was Abigail. I remembered the day of her birth, when she almost died of a breathing congestion on the first day. I remembered writing an inscription in a book in which I collected stories of little-known people who lived extraordinary lives, and called it "Heroes Among Us."
"This book is for Abigail," I wrote, "born in 1995 into a world where there is still room for heroes."
And now here she was, not quite an adult, seasoning some of her light-hearted bewilderment with the world with a brief remembrance of her own-of a grandpa who had changed the course of his life and called it "Pursued by Grace."
I didn’t realize she had read it.
Poll Finds Americans See Long-Term Care Services As a Priority for Health Care Reform
It’s coming … it has to … health care reform, that is. And no health care reform is complete without long-term care coverage.
Mark your calendars for another call-in to Congress on June 4th. Each time we’ve had more callers and we need to do it again.
Ecumen participated in on a conference call today with other senior services leaders from around the country and former Minnesota U.S. Rep. Vin Weber, who is lobbying on this effort … . there is more momentum building for reforming long-term care financing than at any time in recent history.
AAHSA-Mellman Group Poll
According to a poll of 1,000 U.S. adults released today by AAHSA and conducted by the Mellman Group, long-term care services are seen as a priority - not an option - for health care reform. Key findings include:
- 85% of Americans believe long-term services and supports should be included in national health care reform.
- More than half of Americans (51 percent) feel strongly that with so many Americans needing help caring for seniors and disabled Americans, no health care reform plan is complete unless it addresses long-term services and supports.
- A majority of adults believe that offerings like care for people with Alzheimer’s disease (61 percent), assisted living (57 percent), and assistance for an older or disabled person in taking their medications (64 percent) will be covered when health care reform is enacted.
Thank You Monsignor Patrick McDowell for Building Community at Ecumen’s Lakeshore and Bayshore Communities in Duluth
Monsignor Pat McDowell and Deacon Alice Olson at Ecumen's Lakeshore Community
Below is a remembrance of Monsignor Patrick McDowell from Deacon Alice Olson, who serves at Ecumen’s Lakeshore and Bayshore communities in Duluth, Minn. "Father Pat" died Wed. morning. He was a superstar to so many. And he was an actual move star, appearing in the movie North Country as a priest. (the role came naturally). Past posts featuring Father Pat are here and here.
Now From Alice …
Yesterday morning Ecumen’s Lakeshore and Bayshore communities in Duluth lost a wonderful friend and a man of God with the passing of Monsignor Pat McDowell. Father Pat lived fully to the very end of life, learning and growing, and empowering and honoring others while doing so.
I remember sitting in the Lakeshore chapel with Father Pat, when I first started serving as chaplain at Lakeshore. We instantly became friends as his gift was his love of all people. We talked about our ministries and how one continues their call to ministry. At that point he wasn’t sure where his would take him, now that he was living in an assisted living community, outside the daily life of his parish. That led us to a discussion about how one’s call to ministry doesn’t have to stop just because of retirement or change in lifestyle.
He loved his life at Lakeshore, I feel it fulfilled him in ways he never imagined. I will miss seeing him at lunch in the café', he would see me and call me over to meet whoever he was with. He would introduce me as Alice Olson, the Chaplain, she’s an Episcopalian Deacon and a Finlander.
Msgr. was unique in his ministry. He loved people for who they were, in his eyes everyone person was equal. Msgr touched everyone’s heart at Lakeshore and Bayshore and we all appreciate how he helped us exercise our value of spirituality and creating welcoming, inclusive communities.
We shared in celebratory interfaith services along with Lutheran Pastor Cy Solberg. These included Stations of the Cross, Good Friday, Blessing of the Animals, a beautiful service honoring our country, and a service honoring our veterans.
Father McDowell had lived on Park Point for many years where there is an Episcopal Church and a Catholic Church. Over the years he made many friends in the Park Point community.
I serve at St. Andrew’s by the Lake Episcopal church on Park Point and recently we celebrated our new remodeling with our Bishop. Father Pat shared in our celebration. It was a grand day as he worshipped with us and had great conversation with our bishop and friends.
I will remember the worship services we shared, the Holy Spirit was with us and around us. Before he died he let me know he will not leave me and will remain with me in spirit as he will be with us all. He opened his heart to everyone he met.
Msgr. McDowell brought Mass to the people at Bayshore for many years and continued to do the same at Lakeshore. He said Mass 5 days a week and brought communion to those in our short-term rehabilitation center. He let everyone know how happy he was living at Lakeshore, and he was a truly a Patriarch in our community.
Last week Msgr. and I discussed the lesson appointed for the 6th Sunday of Easter.
John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."
Msgr. talked about his priesthood and realized in this lesson that God chose him. And for that I say thank you.
Have You Ever Experienced Volunteer’s High?
You’ve probably heard about "runner’s high" … but what about "volunteer’s high?" Is there such a thing?
I think I sensed it in Ecumen’s Home Office recently when Ecumen colleague Linda Willard shared at our all-employee meeting the personal reflection above about the volunteer work she does at the care center at Ecumen’s Parmly LifePointes community in Chisago City, Minn.
Richard Adler wrote an article several years ago posted here at Civic Ventures about research that highlights the positive effects of volunteering on life quality and aging, especially in older adults. Volunteer’s High - it’s a good thing.
Could Work be an Answer to Preventing Alzheimer’s?
It’s the beginning of the work week. Do you think working longer could help you prevent Alzheimer’s?
New research from Great Britain suggests that working later in life could help delay it.
According to the BBC, Researchers at King’s College in London analysed data from 1,320 dementia patients, including 382 men. They found that for the men, continuing to work late in life helped keep the brain sharp enough to delay dementia taking hold.
Those people who retired late developed Alzheimer’s at a later stage than those who opted not to work on.
Each additional year of employment was associated with around a six week later age of onset.
Researcher Dr John Powell said: "The possibility that a person’s cognitive reserve could still be modified later in life adds weight to the "use it or lose it" concept where keeping active later in life has important health benefits, including reducing dementia risk."
Two years ago when we conducted a study on Minnesota baby boomers' views on aging, most boomers said they were going to continue working and many said tha t they’d work because of the intellectual stimulation.
Thanks for Your Calls to Congress
A quick update on yesterday’s long-term care services and supports calls to Congress. More than 7,000 calls were made and nearly 2,000 emails.
THANK YOU!
We’ll update you on another call-in day being planned for August. The goal: Make long-term care financing reform part of health care reform.
Please Tell Congress to Make Long-Term Care Part of Health Care Reform
Ecumen Team Members in Mankato, Minn.
Please take 3 minutes today (Wed., May 13th) and join us, people across the nation and organizations from AAHSA to AARP to Easter Seals in asking your congress person to support making long-term care reform part of health care reform so that people can live well in the places they most want to call home.
Making your voice heard is easy:
1. Call (800) 687-3813 from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. EST. You will be asked where you live and then you will be patched to one of your Senator’s offices, where you can leave a message (sample message below).
2. After you make your call, go online to this link and you can send an easy, ready-made email to your Representative and Senators. Sample Script:
"Hello. I’m calling to ask the senator to help make sure long-term services and supports are part of health care reform. Including long-term services and supports in health care reform will achieve greater efficiency, promote personal responsibility and sustain our safety net programs like Medicaid. We need a national solution for this national problem. I thank the senator in advance for demonstrating leadership on this issue. We must make it affordable to care. Thank you."
THANK YOU!
What’s Your Idea of a Next-Generation Retirement Community?
Ecumen-Managed Church Senior Housing in Sandpoint, Idaho
Five Next-Generation Retirement Communities. That’s U.S. News and World Report’s new article that outlines five niche communities for baby boomers [See Below].
Question For Changing Aging Readers: What other opportunities do you see for "retirement" housing?
Five Next-Generation Retirement Communities According to U.S. News and World Report:
1. Senior housing on college campuses
2. Feng Shui senior housing
3. Senior housing specializing in gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender residents
4. Senior housing for country music lovers
5. Assisted living RV communities
Congregational senior housing is missing from this list. Also fitness and wellness are increasingly becoming parts of people’s lives. What about welllness senior housing? NASCAR senior housing???? … .
The Alzheimer's Project: May 10, 11 and 12
It’s the second most feared disease behind cancer Alzheimer’s.
"The Alzheimer’s Project," a four-part HBO documentary, looks at the faces behind the disease and the hope for a cure. It will air May 10, 11 and 12. This series dramatically raises awareness of the Alzheimer crisis facing our nation and the need for urgent action.
Maria Shriver narrates Monday’s entitled "Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am." Her father Sargent Shriver has Alzheimer’s. He, of course, was a leading shaper of The Great Society in the Lyndon Baines Johnson administration, which led to Medicare and Medicaid. We sent pe
May 13: Mark Your Calendars for Another Long-Term Care Financing Call to Congress
Please join us on May 13th for our next call-in to Congress re: making long-term care services and supports part of health care reform. Last time you helped generate 5,000 calls to Congress. We can do even better on May 13th…
Congressional committees are drafting health care reform legislation, and we expect to see their proposals over the next month. In order to ensure long-term services and supports are included in these proposals, we are inviting you to join us in a Congressional Call-In Day on May 13, 2009.
Beginning at 8 a.m. Eastern time, please call toll-free to (800) 687-3813. Tell your legislators why long-term services and supports are a must for both you and the people you serve.
Sample Phone Script
"Hello. I’m calling to ask the senator to help make sure long-term services and supports are part of health care reform. Including long-term services and supports in health care reform will achieve greater efficiency, promote personal responsibility and sustain our safety net programs like Medicaid. We need a national solution for this national problem. I thank the senator in advance for demonstrating his leadership. We must make it affordable to care. Thank you."