Newspaper Page Text
♦ FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2006
6A
Perry Hospital's chaplaincy program has renewed spirit
Special to the Journal .
The new head chaplain of
Perry Hospital’s Chaplaincy
Program is on a missio - a
mission that includes revi
talizing the program and
educating the hospital staff,
patients and community
about its purpose.
“The goal is to improve
communications between
the chaplains and the staff
of Perry Hospital,” explains
head chaplain Pastor David
Smith. Margie Cox, direc
tor of Volunteer Services for
Houston Healthcare, agrees.
“Communication has been
a factor in the past,” she
says. “Part of the improve
ment process is educating
our medical staff that the
chaplains are here for them
as well as our patients.”
Cox explains that nurses
and physicians experience
emotional and spiritual pain
along with their patients and
the patient’s family, and can
benefit from the spiritual
healing that the chaplains
can offer. “It is of utmost
importance that our staff
Perry seniors learn self-defense at Senior Care
Special to the Journal
Over 50 participants
attending Houston
Healthcare’s Senior Care
program recently learned
self-defense tips and maneu
vers from Lt. James Buck,
a state-certified instructor
and head of the Perry Police
Department’s Community
Services and Training
Division.
“When it comes to self
defense, commonsense is
important,” says Buck.
“Think about and notice
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Jim Henderson, member of the Perry Senior Care pro
gram, helps Lt. James Buck demonstrate a self-defense
move.
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Pastor David Smith talks with Evelyn Hughes, patient representative at Perry Hospital.
knows the chaplains are
available to them in their
time of need too,” she says.
Perry Hospital’s
Chaplaincy program cur
what is going on around you.
Don’t make yourself a tar
get.” He also says that most
attacks happen at night in
dark or poorly lighted areas.
Buck offered safety tips
for seniors when exercising
outdoors and shopping after
dark. When walking in the
evening, he says to wear a
reflective vest or belt, and
carry a flashlight and a walk
ing stick. Seniors should also
carry a whistle, preferably
one with a high decibel level.
When shopping after dark,
rently consists of nine chap
lains who volunteer their
time on a weekly basis to
attend to the physical and
spiritual needs of patients,
park close to the entrance in
a well-lighted area he says.
If possible, be escorted to the
car when leaving the store
by a security guard or store
employee. Also, have the car
keys readily available while
walking to the car.
“The most important
thing to remember if you
are attacked is not to panic,”
warns Buck.
“Look for an avenue of
escape, not a confrontation
with your attacker. The mis
sion is to get away and get
away safely.”
Sponsored by Houston
Healthcare, Senior Care is
a special program designed
just for senior adults. It
offers free weekly strength
and flexibility exercise class
es led by certified instructors
as well as monthly health
screenings such as blood
pressure, cholesterol and
glucose checks. Free exer
’ ,,. •
Your physician wants ajjlpgnostic test.
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HEALTH
families and staff. Various
denominations are rep
resented in the program
including Lutheran, Baptist,
Methodist and Assembly of
cise classes and screenings
are offered in Perry, Warner
Robins, and Centerville.
Perry’s Senior Care pro
gram meets at Rozar Park
Recreation Department.
Exercise classes are held
Mondays and Fridays at 10
a.m., and Wednesdays at
9:30 a.m. Line dancing is
offered on Monday’s at 1
p.m. Perry’s program also
offers a nutritious lunch for
$5 and an educational speak
er on Fridays at 11 a.m.
Warner Robins’ Senior Care
meets for exercise at Houston
County’s YMCA on Tuesdays
and Thursdays at 9 a.m.
Centerville’s Senior Care
meets for exercise at
Centerville City Hall every
Monday, Wednesday and
Friday at 8:30 a.m.
For more information
on Houston Healthcare’s
Senior Care program, please
call 923-9771.
■■
TP
Houston Healthcare
Houston Medical Center • Perry Hospital • Houston Heart Institute • hhc.org
God.
“If there is a need for a par
ticular denomination that is
not represented through the
program, a chaplain can be
located,” explains Smith. “I
am always speaking with
other pastors in the com
munity about joining the
chaplaincy prograin at Perry
Hospital.”
Perry Hospitals Quiet
Room is also open as needed
for patients, family and staff
to use for prayer br respite,
adds Evelyn Hughes, patient
representative ht Perry
Hospital. Established in
2002 through community
and employee donations,
the room is located outside
the Emergency Department
entrance in the hospital.
“A comment box will soon
be available in ihe Quiet
Room for and staff
to place prayer requests or
suggestions,” she Says.
According to Hughes, the
hope is that patients and
staff will begin to see the
improvements being made
in the chaplaincy program
and realize that the chap
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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
lains are available at Perry
Hospital.
“Some of our staff didn’t
really know we had an active
chaplaincy program here,”
comments Hughes. She says
that hospital employees are
invited to attend the chap
lain’s monthly meetings
which are held the third
Monday of each month at
noon in the Perry Hospital
cafeteria. “Employees are
encouraged to come meet
the chaplains and ask ques
tions or share concerns and
suggestions,” she adds.
According to Cox, an
active chaplaincy program is
what the Perry community
and Perry Hospital needs.
“Chaplains are a vital part
of the healing process for
our patients,” she says. “We
are excited about Pastor
Smith’s efforts to revamp
the chaplaincy program and
make it a thriving part ,of
Perry Hospital once again.”
For more information on
the chaplaincy program or
to volunteer as a chaplain,
call Smith at 988-3020 or
Hughes at 988-1626.
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