St. Patrick’s Hosts Presentation called ‘Caregiving to Maximize the Quality of Life’
St. Patrick’s Residence will welcome the public to a special presentation titled “Caregiving to Maximize the Quality of Life” from 7-8:30PM Tues., April 24.
Sister Peter Lillian DiMaria, O. Carm. returns to St. Patrick’s to provide her insights while addressing another important topic for caregivers. In June 2011, Sister Peter gave a well received presentation, “Effective Communication Techniques in Elder Care: Supporting Loved Ones with Dementia.”
The upcoming program will address how to give care at home and maximize the quality; the toll on primary caregivers and how to cope; and end-of-life care and giving comfort.
Sister Peter is the Director of the Avila Institute of Gerontology in Germantown, NY., with more than 30 years experience in the continuum care ministry as a Carmelite Sister for the Aged and Infirm.
“The presentation is open to the community and promises to be an insightful and educational topic for anyone who is a care giver to an aging parent or a loved one,” said Madelene Bernar, Director of Development at St. Patrick’s Residence.
The program will be held in the St. Patrick’s Chapel. Immediately following the presentation, Sister Peter will be available to answer questions.
St. Patrick’s Residence is located at 1400 Brookdale Road.
To pre-register, call (630) 416-6565 by Fri., April 20 or email msteffel@stpatricksresidence.org.
Residents enjoy springtime at St. Patrick’s Residence
During a visit to St. Patrick’s Residence on April 4, the Ron Buonauro Memorial Garden was bloomin’ beautifully with the renewal of springtime.
Last fall, the garden was created and funded by the Rotary Club of Naperville/Sunrise with funding assistance from the Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown, Rotary District 6450 and the Ron Buonauro Memorial Fund.
Inside the residence, members of St. Patrick’s Art Club had participated in an art project titled “Umbrellas for Peace.” The large banner in rainbow colors read, “Can art change the world? Absolutely!”
Umbrellas for Peace is a global art project involving painting and decorating umbrellas by children and adults.
The idea was created by artist, Matt Lamb after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as a way to help individuals deal with grief and promote world peace. Participating art club residents, as well as others who wanted to be a part of this fun project, painted their umbrellas with lovely expressions of peace, love and hope. Their interpretation of peace stems from their belief in the power of prayer, noted Bernar.
“The Art Club received a grant from Saint Margaret Mary that has allowed us to purchase the supplies we need to create unique and fun projects,” said Bernar. ” Our residents enjoy the program that gives them the opportunity to express themselves and to tap into their creative side.”
There was no singing in the rain on April 4 when residents paraded under glorious sunshine with their colorful umbrellas from St. Patrick’s to St. Thomas the Apostle Church to express their love and hope for world peace. Several of the fun-loving Sisters did observe, however, the strong winds that day would have helped Mary Poppins.
