Fern Creek Highview United Ministres

Coming Together to Make a Difference!

From Rev. Ron Loughry, Executive Director of FCHUM

FCHUM Ministries News - Volume 13 Issue 4 - Autumn 2011

As September transitions to October, as Summer gives way to Autumn, I am reminded of the writings from Ecclesiastes, “to everything there is a season”. If you are at all familiar with the mission and work of FCHUM, you know that our seasons of serving seem constant because need is constantly growing. Therefore, we must be constantly vigilant in our planning and in the use of resources entrusted to us to serve our neighbors in need. Our summer of heat and drought is not far behind us and we remember our fatigue. It is also easy for us to experience seasons of compassion-drought or giving-fatigue when we are asked every season to help provide for ever increasing need. It is understandable to tire of hearing this need preached, to tire of opening this newsletter and reading of continued need. I, too, get tired. We must, then, remember to drink deeply of God’s Grace, to remember that each act of mercy and giving, each act of providing food, each act of caring for a frail older adult, each act of equipping children to do better in school, each act preventing homelessness are acts of worship. Read more here.

St. Stephens Church Youth help FCHUM during Metro Brightside Event.

In the news

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Here is a wonderful example of the contribution the Louisville Adult Day Center offers to families described in an article from the Today's Wellness Column of the March, 2005 issue of Today's Woman, page 30:

"Tammy Herbert is the librarian at St. Gabriel school, and her 82-year-old mother has been living with her for about 15 months. Tammy's mother, Florence Ballard had lived alone until she suffered a fall and ended up in the hospital. Florence's diagnosis came as Parkinson's and multi-system atrophy. Because she could not walk, Florence went into a nursing home for seven months for therapy to get her moving again.

Once mobile, Tammy and her husband decided to bring Florence to live with them. Because Tammy and her husband both work, Tammy looked into having someone come and care for her mom while she was gone. She realized she had another option when the hospital recommended an adult day care.

Tammy looked at several places, but liked the smaller numbers at the adult day center at Fern Creek [Highview United] Ministries. Florence is one of 17 "frail older adults" who are cared for by a nurse, three aids and a director."

Since 1990, Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries has also provided services to frail older adults and their families through its Adult Day Center. The Louisville Adult Day Center was made possible in part by the generosity of St. Bernard Catholic Church who offered space - a house that had once been a convent. The Adult Day Center which started out as a social model Adult Day Center, is now a state licensed health model Adult Day Center, with a full-time nurse. The Adult Day Center balances cognitive activities with physical activities in a structured fun-filled day. An optional breakfast is offered, along with a hot lunch and an afternoon snack. Activities include exercises, games, music and other entertainment, intergenerational activities, pet visits, and much more. Individuals coming to the Adult Day Center need supervision because of health or cognitive challenges. Some participants have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other type of dementia; others are recovering from strokes, have problems with balance, or have other health related issues such as diabetes, congestive heart failure or depression.

The Louisville Adult Day Center provides a safe environment for care-givers to bring their loved one while they work, or take out time for much needed respite from 24 hour a day care-giving. The Adult Day Center staff become a support team for the care-giver working with doctors and family to provide the best care for the older adult. The Adult Day Center is a fun place, celebrating the strengths of the older adult, helping him or her to function at his or her highest level. The Adult Day Center allows the older adult to remain in his or her home, or that of a loved one for as long as possible, preventing premature nursing home placement. The Adult Day Center works with other community agencies such as the Alzheimer's Association, TRIAD, and KIPDA - the Area Agency On Aging to insure the best service for the frail elderly of our community and their families.