ConnectionsInterfaith CarePartners® Volume 25, May 2013

A Time to Celebrate

Continued on page 2

On Wednesday, February 27, we held our 25th annual Sweet Charity event in celebration of volunteer caregiving. The ballroom at the

Hilton Americas Hotel was once again filled by friends and supporters of Interfaith CarePartners as we all joined in a celebration of caregiving. The evening featured presentations of the Sustaining Presence Award to CenterPoint Energy and Deloitte LLP, and the Founders’ Award to Connie

Energy and Deloitte LLP for their in-dividual contributions to the Houston community and beyond. Greg Harper accepted the award on behalf of Cen-terPoint, and Wright Moody accepted the award for Deloitte. During his ac-ceptance speech, Mr. Moody spoke about the services his mother-in-law received from volunteers in the Care Team® program of Interfaith CarePart-ners, and showed a slideshow of his mother-in-law enjoying the activities of an Alzheimer’s Care Team® Gathering Place.

Dr. Earl Shelp presented Con-nie Nelson with the Founders’ Award for her significant contributions to the mission and programs of Interfaith CarePartners. He spoke about the pow-erful impact Connie has had on the life of Interfaith CarePartners for 23 years, her loyalty as a friend, and her deter-mined efforts as an advocate for the or-ganization. Connie accepted the award and spoke movingly about her long, personal association with Interfaith CarePartners and her affection for the work the organization does. Actress Morgan Fairchild then spoke about her friendship with Connie, as well as

was brought to a joyful conclusion with a brief set by musician Johnny Rivers, who paid his own tribute to friend Con-nie before playing such hits as “Poor Side of Town” and “Mountain of Love.” He closed the eve-ning with an auc-tion of

Nelson. Guest stars Morgan Fairchild and Johnny Rivers were in attendance to honor Connie Nelson, while Richard Alderman, Associate Dean and Dwight Olds Chair in Law at the University of Houston, and “The People’s Lawyer” for Houston, did another wonderful job as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. David Jewell and Wright Moody served as co-chairs for the evening, and David McClanahan and Anne Taylor served as honorary chairs.

A warm welcome was extended to guests by Richard Alderman and David Jewell offered the invocation for the evening. Following remarks by Chair-man of the Board, Steve Hinchman, and a video highlighting the services offered by Interfaith CarePartners, Dr. John Burk paid tribute to CenterPoint

John K. Burk, Ph.D. with Greg Harper from CenterPoint.

John K. Burk, Ph.D. with Wright Moody from Deloitte.

his signature song, “Secret Agent Man,” which had the crowd singing along be-fore they departed with boxes full of delicious desserts provided for the sig-nature Dessert Fair by The International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Houston, Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant, C h u r r a s c o ’s , Fiesta Mart, Inc., and Trevi-sio Restaurant and Conference Center. Guests also took home the floral table cente rp ieces provided by Mark Anthony Florist.

Silent auc-tion items this year featured acoustic guitars signed by country legends Dolly Parton, Wil-lie Nelson, George Strait, and Dwight Yoakum, a basketball signed by all cur-

Connie Nelson and Earl E. Shelp, Ph.D.

her own awareness of the needs of family caregivers and the immeasur-able impact of the services offered by Interfaith CarePartners. The evening

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Sweet CharityContinued from page 1rent Houston Rockets players, a fruit basket donated by River City Produce of San Antonio, four tickets to see the Houston Symphony’s POPS for a spring performance, and a six month member-ship donated by the YMCA.

Major underwriters for the evening included CenterPoint Energy and South-western Energy. Additionally, Baker Hughes, Pyramid Tubular and U.S. Steel Tubular Products, Deloitte LLP, Jes and John Hagale & The Shackouls Family Foundation, Peggy and Steve Hinch-man, Carol and Randy Limbacher, Mara-thon Oil, the John P. McGovern Foun-dation, and Anita and Steve Mueller, and 24 other individuals and companies all joined in making the evening a suc-cess by helping to support the caregiv-

ing programs of Interfaith CarePartners with their generous gifts.

In addition to being a source of support for Interfaith CarePartners’ caregiving programs, Sweet Charity has long been a way for the organization to pay homage to the many and varied contributions made to our community by other worthy organizations, indi-viduals, and volun-teers in our caregiv-ing programs. Every year we are grateful for the opportunity to come together in celebration with others who hold the same vision that we do to “create car-ing communities” and to highlight the

Morgan Fairchild

Johnny Rivers

The recipient of the 2013 Dr. Ronald H. Sunderland Care Team Member Award is Jean Johnston of First Presbyterian Church, Pasadena. This annual award is presented to a Care Team® member whose consummate service and sacrificial spirit reflect the caring spirit of Dr. Ronald H. Sunderland, co-founder of Interfaith CarePartners. Jean’s tireless service and invaluable leadership on the Alzheimer’s Care Team Gathering Place was duly recognized by many of the volunteers with whom she works and who nominated her for this prestigious award. Comments from those who nominated her included the recognition that Jean can be relied on “to do the right thing in her usual gracious and selfless manner,” and that “the spirit with which Jean goes about this work is inspiring.” As a Care Team leader, Jean helps coordinate each of the Gathering

2013 Sunderland Award WinnerPlace activity times for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, works with team members who assume various roles in the Care Team ministry, and works closely with her Care Team Coordinator from Interfaith CarePartners. Jean’s loving heart and warm embrace to those with memory loss and their family caregivers is a true personification of the mission of Interfaith CarePartners to care for weak and vulnerable people. She has personal experience as both a caregiver

and care recipient, having cared for her late husband and having survived a heart attack of her own. Jean and her daughter were special guests at this year’s Sweet Charity, where the award was announced. The formal presentation of the award was made by Dr. Burk during a worship service at Jean’s church on March 10. Family, friends, and Care Team volunteers were present to celebrate with Jean as she received the award.

In 2012, we presented seven caregiver conferences for over 1,600 people in various locations around Greater Houston. These free, educational conferences provide an opportunity for family caregivers to participate in up to three, one-hour workshops on a wide range of caregiving topics. At the conferences, an opening assembly and lecture by Dr. Shelp is followed by workshops in the morning, a free lunch, and more workshops in the afternoon. The conferences are hosted by partner congregations, and area agencies are given the opportunity to set up a booth in an exhibition space for family caregivers to browse. Underwriters make significant financial contributions to the conferences and help enable us to offer them for free. Conferences are presented in the Spring and Fall. So far, we have presented three conferences in 2013, with five more still to occur between now and November.

In addition to the conferences, we also provide intensive workshops for family caregivers. These workshops, presented by an expert in caregiving, offer a 2.5 hour time devoted to a particular topic of interest that can be covered in-depth for a group of approximately 50 people. In 2013, we are presenting eight intensive workshops for family caregivers. For more information on either the conferences or intensive workshops, please see our website at www.interfaithcarepartners.org, or call the office at (713) 682-5995.

Caregiver Conferences and Intensive Workshops

Jean Johnston

important roles that so many around us assume to make that vision a reality. We will continue to look forward to these times of joy!

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We are excited to announce the continuation of some of our newer programs as well as new additions to our program offerings.

Preparing and Sharing. In 2011, we launched a pilot program at Southwestern Energy called Preparing and Sharing, which is designed to help prepare employed family caregivers for their roles providing care, and to further strengthen the efforts of those family caregivers who are already serving in those roles. At a monthly lunch meeting, representatives from Interfaith CarePartners, or an area expert on a particular topic will make a free presentation to employees on topics ranging from “Living Wills and Trusts” to “The Emotional Rollercoaster of Caregiving.” This is an opportunity for education and a time for those who are in their roles as caregivers to share with one another in a safe environment about the challenges or struggles they face in caregiving.

In March of this year, an article on the program was printed in the business section of the Houston Chronicle. As was noted in the article, “Several years ago, many companies launched programs to help employees find child care…Now, elder care is the hot topic, especially among baby boomers who are struggling to handle the medical, residential and other concerns challenging their aging parents, friends and other relatives.” Others have begun to express interest in starting a Preparing and Sharing program at their place of work as a result of having read the Chronicle article.

The need for family caregiver edu-cation is increasing. As a result, the need

Program Development at Interfaith CarePartners

for programs like Preparing and Sharing which take support and education to the caregiver is also going to grow. We are excited to be able to pro-vide this invalu-able service at a time of increas-ing need.

E x p e r t Panel. In the Fall of 2012, Inter-faith CarePart-ners announced

the newly-developed Expert Panel. The Expert Panel is designed to provide members of area congregations who are serving in their roles of caregiver an educational opportunity to enhance their abilities as caregivers. As with the Preparing and Sharing program, Expert Panel presentations are led by a repre-sentative from Interfaith CarePartners or an area subject matter expert in top-ics ranging from “Keeping Peace in the Family” to “Stretching Your Caregiving $$$.” Workshops are free, hosted at a congregation’s campus, and can be of-fered as a single educational opportu-nity, or as a series. The first workshop was offered in the Spring of 2013 and was a great success. We are excited about the possibilities associated with this innovative program, and are look-ing forward to more workshops in 2013.

Family Caregiver Training. In 2012, Interfaith CarePartners secured a license from an Arkansas group called the Schmieding Center for Senior Health & Education. This group, affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has developed curriculum for family caregivers which focuses on providing a strong foundation for the skills necessary to family caregiving. Our license allows us to offer eight-hour educational sessions for family caregivers, presented by area nurses who have experience with home health care. These sessions can be broken up into two sessions at four hours each, or one, longer, eight-hour session. Currently we offer two types of the course. The first is for general physical skills in which family caregivers learn

and practice things like lifting, transfers, and body mechanics with training aids and mannequins. The second is for family caregivers who are giving care to a loved-one with dementia. This course focuses on topics such as communication and behavioral issues that one is likely to encounter when giving care to someone with dementia.

Enrolment for the course is kept small (8-12 people) in order to facilitate an intimate atmosphere for family caregivers to have their questions and concerns addressed. The only cost for interested participants is $25 for the workbook.

We are eager to be good stewards of all that we have learned about caregiving over the years, and are excited to provide these program initiatives to the community. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in any of the above program offerings, please contact the office at (713) 682-5995, or send an email to John Burk at jburk@interfaithcarepartners.org.

Last year we unveiled the Founders’ Circle as a part of the celebration of Interfaith CarePartners’ 25th anniversary, the vision of founders Dr. Earl Shelp and Dr. Ron Sunderland, and in recognition of the over 2 million hours of volunteer service provided by Care Team members. The Founders’ Circle is open to anyone who appreciates and values the educational and caregiving programs of Interfaith CarePartners, and who would like to give a $500 annual gift of support. Membership benefits include name recognition in the annual report and an invitation to a private reception at year-end, during which time a report will be given on all ongoing and planned activities for the programs of Interfaith CarePartners.

Our annual goal for the Founders’ Circle is for 50 members to join for a total contribution of $25,000. We have already received several members into the Founders’ Circle for 2013. If you are interested in membership, please designate on your check or include a note that your gift is for the Founders’ Circle. You may make your payment at one time, or in installments.

Founders’ Circle Membership

The monthly elder care seminars at Southwestern Energy attract 10 to 20 employees. CEO Steve Mueller says he would like to see a bigger turnout.

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Connections is the newsletter ofInterfaith CarePartners®

Email: info@interfaithcarepartners.orgWeb Page: www.interfaithcarepartners.org

Earl. E Shelp, Ph.D. PresidentRonald H. Sunderland, Ed.D Co-FounderJanie Alderman Design Layout and Design

“Creating Caring Communities”

The National Alliance on Caregiving in collaboration with the AARP conducted a survey funded by the MetLife Foundation in 2009 to determine what the landscape of family caregiving looked like in the United States. Below are just some of their findings:

• At the time of the survey, approximately 3 in 10 households reported that someone had served as an unpaid family caregiver within the previous twelve months. • Approximately 2/3 of all family caregivers are female.• Caregivers are 48 years old on average.• 1/3 of all caregivers take care of more than one person. • At the time of the survey, caregivers had been offering care for an average of 4.6 years, with 3/10 caregivers having offered care for over 5 years. • Advanced age and Alzheimer’s were the top two reported problems or illnesses care recipients suffered, according to their family caregivers.

SOURCE: Caregiving in The U.S., Executive Summary, National Alliance for Caregiving in Collaboration with the AARP, November 2009, Funded by the MetLife Foundation, found at http://www.caregiving.org/pdf/research/

Facts to Consider

CaregivingUSAllAgesExecSum.pdf Accessed 04/16/2013.

This small sampling of findings only serves to demonstrate the growing prevalence of family caregivers in the U.S. In November, National Caregiver’s Month, the President noted that, “Across America, daughters and sons balance the work of caring for aging parents with the demands of their careers and raising their own children. Spouses and partners become caregivers to the ones they love even as they navigate their own health challenges. Mothers and fathers resume care for children returning home as wounded warriors. Friends and relatives form networks to support loved ones with disabilities. All of them give selflessly to bring comfort, social engagement,

and stability to those they love.”

The role of the caregiver can assume many different forms, and the needs of the care recipient can be numerous. It is the joy and privilege of Interfaith CarePartners to support, nurture, and educate volunteers as they stand alongside both caregivers and care recipients during

their moments of need. Our programs are only made possible by the generous support of countless resources such as time, talent, or money that we receive from people like you. Thank you for helping us celebrate 26 years of caregiving, and please continue to support us as you are able.