CUMC Senior Adult Ministry Announcements

Senior Adult Ministry
Announcements

From your SAM coordinator - Ellen Neiman.

S.M.I.L.E. (Simple Meetings Involving Likable Elders) Program Update - Currently, there are 11 homebound participants who have a confirmed volunteer visitor in the program. A few volunteers however, have not been able to follow through with the initial commitment, so there are several participants who still need a volunteer. Also, additional participants will be identified during the summer. Please call Ellen if you are interested in being a part of this very important outreach program to our homebound members. This basic commitment is at least one visit a month, plus phone calls and cards/notes as appropriate. Please call Ellen at (520) 327-4296 for more information.
Resource of the Week - "Give-a-Car" program. Sponsored by the Pima Council on Aging, proceeds from this program buy meals (19,871 since 1993) for homebound community members.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Senior Adult Ministries (SAM) program area is going through a redevelopment phase. Four special programs are highlighted in this article which will be available on an on-going basis. Let me know how I can serve you.

Health Devotionals and orientations to SAM ministries - I am available to speak to any group here at CUMC about the SAM programs and ministries. I can also do health-related devotionals. They are about 10 minutes in length and are accompanied by pertinent scriptural references.
Golden Rule Volunteer Network - I am in the process of developing a volunteer database. If you have not had a chance to fill out a survey form about your volunteer activities, there are blank copies in the Catalina UMO office or on the Senior Ministries Information Table in the hallway near the chapel. They can be returned to the office staff. By having the database, volunteers can be found quickly to meet identified needs. A big thanks to all the wonderful volunteers at Catalina UMO on behalf of all who benefit from the services rendered.
Resource of the Week - CUMC medical equipment loan closet - If you have a need for a walker or cane, check out our loan closet first as there is a large collection of these items located there. Also in the collection are a few shower chairs and a very limited number of wheelchairs. Call or email Ellen with your request. SPECIAL NOTE: Be sure to have your health provider, usually a physical or occupational therapist, examine the equipment to make sure it is adjusted properly and is safe and suitable for your use.
Pet Ministry - My pet, Samantha, is a Yorkshire Terrier ("Yorkie"). Some of you have already met her as I bring her to work on some days. She is available to make visits to our homebound members if they desire. When I set up a time to visit, let me know if you would like Samantha to come along. It has been shown that petting a dog or simply being in the same room with a dog, has a calming effect on people, reducing blood pressure and heart rate. Also there is something psychically healing about being with dogs (and other pets too). There is even a book currently available about "The Healing Power of Pets" by Dr. Marty Becker.

Thank you for all your support to this program area and let me or other congregational care committee members know how we can better serve you!!

Ellen Neiman, Coordinator

S.M.I.L.E.

Simple Meetings Involving Likeable Elders The Senior Adult Ministries at Catalina UMC is introducing a new program, which will provide opportunities for individuals, families, Sunday School classes, Day School classes, etc. to minister to homebound congregation members. This might be in their homes, in an Adult Care Home, Assisted Living Facility, or Nursing Home. The ultimate goal of this program is to reduce the sense of isolation from the church that many older homebound members feel. People in this ministry will "adopt" homebound CUMC members, having some contact with them 3-4 times a month. The contact can be through phone calls, cards, or in-home visits, short or long. It will be an opportunity for you to help reduce the isolation of many church members as well as to learn from their wisdom. Look for information about informational meetings and training. If you want more information, please call the church office, (520) 327-4296.

Are you no longer able to get out to church or to other activities? Is shopping becoming something very difficult to do? Would you like to have more of a connection to the church?

	a regular visitor?
	someone to bring you communion once a month?
	someone to call you daily or once in awhile?
	someone to help with errands, shopping occasionally?
	help with yardwork or heavy chores occasionally?

If this is your situation, please call the church, (520) 327-4296.

There is a literature rack with brochures about many services, programs, assisted living communities, etc. It's in the Education Building, across from the Senior Adult Ministry office.

Also, there is a bulletin board across from the library that is devoted to information of interest to older people. Examples of current materials are: flyer from Bashas' about their new delivery service, brochure about Talking Books, schedule of classes and activities for the Senior Olympics and Armory Park Senior Center.