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October 22, 2007
Hogar Update
As our companion Diocese, the Dominican Republic is closely linked to us. One
area that Bishop Holquin, of the D.R., has regarded as a priority is elderly
care. It is for that reason that Hogar Obispo Isaac was created. Opening day
came after 2 years of construction and preparation, and we are now 5 months old.
What a challenge! At this time there are 4
residents
who are being given care by a very compassionate staff. They are an interesting
group of residents – 2 women and 2 men. All are paying a small amount or what
their families can afford. Could you imagine paying $200 a month for elderly
care here in the States!
Albania is blind and stays in bed or a chair most of the day. Teresa has been
known to shed her clothes and dance on the upstairs balcony. Bernardo is into
voodoo, and Titi is a kindly wonderful man. All their families are
appreciative
for what we are doing for their relatives.
We are blessed with 2 doctors who run medical clinics in the hogar and look
after the residents medical problems. They also offer care to the community at a
cost of $4.00 ($2.00 of that goes to the hogar.)
We have an active campaign to find more residents in a country that is used to
taking care of the elderly in their family in their home. The issue is allowing
for the families to work outside their homes to provide for all.
Titi’s Birthday
What a joyous celebration the Hogar was a part of in early October. Titi is the
first resident of the Hogar and is a kindly, gentle man. In his youth he worked
in the sugar cane fields. His family is spread out over the country and they
came to us 5 months ago for help in caring for him. Because of family
circumstances they were only able to pay
$2000
pesos a month (about $60 US), but they also provide his high blood pressure
medication. He is in fairly good health, uses a cane, can climb the stairs, and
even helps with some of the other residents.
We had a promise from the local bakery to provide a cake for the resident’s
birthdays, and Titi’s was the first. An announcement was made in church the week
before inviting
the church community to the hogar for the celebration the next week. What a
surprise for Titi! He had never in his 77 years had a birthday cake or party!
All week long he sat up on the second floor balcony calling to people passing by
on the street to come to his party. As the week passed the anticipation grew,
and it occupied his every conversation. Early the Sunday of the party, a barber
came to the hogar to give him a hair cut and shave and new clothes were ironed.
A HUGE cake came from the bakery, and at 4 o’clock the people started arriving.
There was music, dancing, lots of singing, and the “king” of the party was
beaming. Probably 100 people joined in on the celebration and many hugs were
given to Titi. What joy for him, the church community, and the local community
to see that the hogar is really a nice place to live.
October 14, 2007
September 5, 2007
You can report to the DDG committee that all is going well in the Hogar. We
have made a few staff changes, and now have some wonderful dedicated people (all
working for salaries that people in the States would laugh at because they are
so low). But they are typical of what people earn here. All the residents that
we have now are able to pay some and along with the income from collections of
physician consults in the Hogar, we are able to cover 1/2 of our expenses. I
feel very happy with that situation. The Bishop is still subsidizing us to the
tune of $1,500 a month.
Now that school has started here the neighborhood is more active. The school
underwent lots of renovations as well as the old rectory that is now a
pre-school. I am in charge of Sunday School at the church and have been very
fortunate to have lots of craft supplies left over from the VBS that was here
this summer.
I look forward to coming back to Florida in October and hope to make some visits
to churches to talk about what is going on here.
April 3, 2007
We now have 4 residents and many of the initial opening problems have been
partially solved. Our own generator needs major repairs, but for now we are
hooked up to the church generator. I also purchased rechargable lights for the
rooms (once again my money). The water pump is fixed after being without water
for 4 days and a major leak causing flooding in the kitchen is fixed. We have
had several queries for new residents and one of them is 100 years old. She will
join us as soon as she can rent her home to obtain some money to pay our fee
(that is only $60/month) Can you imagine a full service home for the elderly in
Florida costing that amount!
Last week I was able to purchase a car (7 years old, but I hope reliable) with
funds from SWFL Diocese. This will help me so much since buses were difficult
with groceries.
We are in Holy Week here with services every day. Palm Sunday produced a "full
house (probably 150 people). We started out by marching and singing in the
streets, waving palms for maybe 4 blocks. Very impressive! The Easter service is
very beautiful and all the people come in their very best clothes. The young
little girls and especially dressy and cute!
The seniors in the hogar have been participating in the evening prayer service
in the chapel of the hogar. Along with them are usually 4-5 teen volunteers who
come every afternoon to play dominoes, watch movies, serve snacks, or just talk
to the seniors. They have been very helpful.
April 2, 2007
Well, we are going into our 3rd week and I haven't had any time off (am taking a
few hours this a.m.) We had 4 residents, but I had to send one back home over
the week-end. We have a clause in the agreement of admission for a 2 month
trial. He had some very bad behaviors, and was more than we could handle. Over
the past week, though, there have been many inquiries for admission and I think
that many more people will come forward (maybe even some who can pay a little).
Most of the problems of the first week have been resolved (after spending much
money). Our generator needs major repairs, so we are hooked up to the church's
generator for now, but able to use it only 2 hours a night because of the cost.
The water pump has been repaired after leaving us without water for 4 days.
Today the plumber is repairing a major leak in a bathroom that is causing a
flood in the kitchen below.
We are very fortunate to have a volunteer physician to take care of our
residents. She even has made a "house call" on one person with hypertension.
I bought a car last week. It is a 1999 Honda Civic with only 50,000 miles.
Anything newer cost too much and I had this one checked up mechanically. It is a
very freeing feeling to be able to drive, but I am so careful (especially since
this is Holy Week and all the crazy people have come to the beach). The car is
in my name and will be a perfect car to pass on to a new priest when I leave.
With tax and insurance the cost was close to $10,000 (prices are very high here
now). The balance of the money I will use for gas and repairs as needed.
March, 2007
Well, we are in day #3 of operations of Hogar
Obispo Isaac and what an emotional time it has been!
The first 3 residents are wonderful and so appreciative of the good food, nice
staff, clean facilities and comfortable beds. We have 2 men in their 70's and a
woman who at this point is not spending the night in the hogar because she
doesn't want to be alone with two male residents, the night guard and male
helper. We are looking for more female residents. I know they will come
forward now that we are open (no one wants to be first).
My
staff of 6 is fantastic and I feel so lucky to have them. There is my assistant
who fields the phone calls, helps keep the books, is my advisor, and makes me
laugh a lot, a night guard, a day handyman, a housekeeper, cook, and assistant
cook. It is really a bare bones staff and we all do everything. Editor's
Note - The photo on the left shows Karen with Fr.
Felix
Encarnación, the priest in charge of the Hogar as well as the adjacent San José
school and church,
I have been spending my time putting out fires (not literally). The first day
the two men came with canes made from broomsticks, and one fell on the slippery
tile (if anyone has a source for canes - send them on). The generator and the
water pump broke today and have left the home without water or light tonight,
but hopefully by tomorrow that will be fixed. Cable TV got installed today and
I am told that will be an incentive for the volunteers who don't have access to
power and cable. Everyday teen volunteers have shown up to lend a hand in
serving meals or whatever chores there are. We have made connection with a
physician who will volunteer once a week for check-ups with the residents and
may set up a clinic on site to help us generate some income. Also we are
considering doing day care for seniors soon. My days have been long, but
rewarding (I think I am putting in more time than I did in my other life when I
had a paying job at All Children's Hospital)
We also have made connections with the First Lady of the DR and there is a
strong possibility she will donate an ambulance to us. This would also be a
money-generating source for us.
On Saturday will be a celebration of our opening with a cake and punch party
with about 80 invited guests (this culture goes by the custom of having parties
at any excuse).
Our expenses in the first three days have included $250 for generator repair,
$300 to install a water tank to wash clothes, $150 cable TV for a year, $150 to
repair the water pump, $600 to stock the kitchen and food pantry for a month,
and that is only the first 3 days. If anyone has a source for help it would be
greatly appreciated.
Please keep us in your prayers. My adventures continue.
Many blessings,
Karen