MARCH 2015
THE
1150 Hanley Industrial Ct. | St. Louis, MO 63144
314.446.2526 | SeniorConnections.info
CONNECTOR
A PUBLICATION TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN THE SENIOR CONNECTIONS PROGRAM
RECIPES FROM
HONORING THE PAST,
CELEBRATING THE PRESENT, THE HEART
With our 15 anniversary of
& ENVISIONING THE FUTURE Senior Connections fast
th
by Sandra Roeder Singer
On October 18 of this past year, we had a joyful celebration of 15 years of
service by Senior Connections relational volunteers! Lutheran Senior Services’
Meramec Bluffs community in Ballwin was an elegant setting offering delicious
food. “Young at Harp”, a harp quarter of Elaine Pontious, relational volunteer,
and Nancy Collis, Brenda Tripp, and Mary McKenney provided wonderful
music as a backdrop for visiting before the program. The room required little
decorating aside from floral centerpieces provided by some of the senior
communities we serve.
WATCH US GROW!
36
Trained 36 new volunteers
43
Worked with 43 new prospective volunteers
1,605 Visits between volunteers and friends
2,956
13
Tim Butler reading the Proclamation
Hours of time spent in friendly visits.
Restarted 13 Relational Volunteers who were on a break
5
Added 5 Community Partners, including 1 in Illinois
99
upported 99 Active Volunteers and 9 furry friends
S
in 48 communities*
*A complete list of the
communities we serve
can be found at
SeniorConnections.info
SeniorConnections.info
Sandra Roeder Singer, Jennifer Blome, and
Tim Butler
Our theme for the special event was Honoring the Past, Celebrating the
Present, and Envisioning the Future – all of which we did! We were
honored by the participation of Rev. Gerald J Kleba of St. Cronan Parish and
past President of the board who gave the invocation. Tim Butler, outgoing
President of the Board of Directors of The Singer Institute, Jennifer Blome,
Relational Volunteer, and I each took a turn presenting as emcees of our
short program honoring relational volunteers and those who made significant
contributions along this journey. —Story continued on page 7 >
approaching, Ellen Brasunas
brought the idea of a cookbook
of Dr. Suzsanne Singer’s
recipes to life. The group picked
up where Gil Fisher, a friend
of The Singer Institute and Ray
Houston, a relational volunteer left
off some five years earlier when
they typed and edited recipes
from Suzsanne’s recipe box. Like
any rogue cook, we added our
own spice – 18 heartwarming
stories told by our volunteers and
their friends. Each divider in the
cookbook features two stories and
photos of our friends together. In
just shy of two months, we sold
out of our order of 250 and took
a leap to order another 150 to fill
holiday orders. Cookbooks are
still available for just $10 each
by calling
314.446.2526.
A division of Home & Community Based Services, a part of the Lutheran Senior Services network of excellence.
MARCH 2015
FRIENDSHIP IN
ABUNDANCE
YOU CAN BE
A SENIOR
CONNECTIONS
AMBASSADOR!
from Lesley Bissett, Relational Volunteer and Volunteer Mentor
It has been five years since I was introduced to Jessie, my first resident and
friend in a skilled nursing facility. We were matched because she has very
few visitors. She has a stepson who lives in Boston and is not able to travel
due to poor health. Her stepdaughter lives 50 miles from the facility and visits
occasionally. Jessie agreed to my visits with a smile in her face and delight in
her voice.
The best advertisement for Senior
Connections comes from you –
our friends and volunteers! We
hope you will find opportunities
to direct people to our website
www.SeniorConnections.info to
learn more about the program.
Links to our new flyer and
brochure reside on this page as
well as a testimonial from
Chaplain Jake Bennett of
Friendship Village.
Being close in age, we are now more like sisters rather than a volunteer
and resident. During our visits, we play cards with other residents and,
constantly with a twinkle in our eye, accuse each other of cheating. Early on,
I introduced her to my dogs Rosie and Oreo in hopes that they, too, could be
weekly visitors for her. She easily formed an attachment to them and them to
her. She always has a treat for them when they visit.
In being a friend to Jessie, I have received so much more than I have given
– a sense of purpose and being needed. We respect each other’s right to
individuality and an acceptance of the differences. We laugh at ourselves
without the slightest fear of disturbing or destroying the friendship. She knows
that I will always be there for her.
In the very near future, we will
be posting to the website a
3-4 minute promotional video
highlighting conversations
between our Relational
Volunteers and their friends.
Since January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014
Bethesda Dilworth
Bethesda Meadow
Bethesda Orchard
Bethesda Southgate
Brooking Park & The Willows
Ms. Alvia Chambers
Catherine Manley Gaylord Foundation
Delmar Gardens of Creve Coeur
Delmar Gardens of Meramec Valley
Delmar Gardens North
Delmar Gardens of O’Fallon
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Drey
Ethical Society of St. Louis
Friendship Village of West County
Ms. Lynn Goode
Rev. and Mrs. John R. Kotovsky
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Laffey
Lutheran Senior Services
at Breeze Park
Lutheran Senior Services
at Hilltop Manor
Lutheran Senior Services
at Laclede Groves
Lutheran Senior Services
at Meridian Village
Lutheran Senior Services
at Richmond Terrace
Lutheran Senior Services
at Rose Hills House
Ms. Pat Martens
Mary Ryder Home
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mulholland
Ronna M. Pohlman
Mr. Allen Serfas
Spencer Place Assisted Living
The Singer Institute
Ms. Lila Traeger
Trinity Presbyterian
The Webb Foundation
IN MEMORY OF FRIENDS
Rev. Dennis Lindberg
If you would like to be notified
of its availability, please email
Pam Gordon at PGordon@
LSSLiving.org or visit the website
in early April.
Even if there comes a time when she does not know me, I will be there
because I know her. When I head home after a visit, I feel blessed to have
the opportunity to give of myself and receive so much more. Each week I look
forward to my visits with Jessie and the many residents I have come to know
at the community. It is the highlight of my week!
Ray share
Lenora and
our video
their story in
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IN GRATITUDE FOR DONORS
I feel blessed to have the opportunity to participate in the Senior Connections
program. What started out as an opportunity to be a friendly visitor has
evolved into a lovely, comforting journey.
Senior Connections | 314.446.2526 | SeniorConnections.info
Mr. and Mrs. James Buck
Ms. Kim Coleman
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gerth
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kugler
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Kugler
Ms. Linda Lewis
Ms. Eileen Lischer
Ms. Peggy Marshall
Mr. Ted McDonald
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Notch
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. John Nourse
Ms. Sandra Roeder Singer
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Ritter
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Savage
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Self
Mr. and Mrs. James Spieldloch
Ms. Patricia Wirth
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Young
Grace Lisk
Mr. and Mrs. James Buck
Ms. Kim Coleman
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gerth
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Ku
IN HONOR OF FRIENDS
Lesley Bissett
KNOW A
CHURCH OR
COMMUNITY
GROUP
WHO WANTS
TO LEARN
MORE?
The Senior Connections program
had a strong start thanks in part to
the dedication of eleven “pioneer
volunteers from Kingshighway
Baptist Church in St. Louis. They
answered the call to be the first
to participate in training and
start visits with older adults. This
group included: Bill Jones, Juanita
Svatek, Stella Kirkman, Dolores
Halley, Bonnie Anderson, Beatrice
Bobbitt, Linda and Louis Bryant,
ValDeane Faires and David and
Mary Smith.
Do you know a group who
would be interested in learning
more about the program? We
would be delighted to bring a
20-30 minute presentation about
building purposeful relationships
with seniors and the Senior
Connections program to
your group.
For more information, contact
Sandra Roeder Singer at
314.446.2526.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fulton
A division of Home & Community Based Services, a part of the Lutheran Senior Services network of excellence.
77
MARCH 2015
PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE
REVEREND DENNIS’
LEGACY
—continued from front page.
In June 2014, we lost a dear friend and
supporter of Senior Connections.
Rev. Dennis Lindberg was a
husband, father, grandfather,
pastor, and longtime volunteer
for the program. His roles
included board member,
relational volunteer, and a
trainer of volunteers. His niche
was presenting “Building
Purposeful Relationships” and
“Tips and Triggers for Reaching
Your Friend” to each new class
of volunteers.
HONORING OUR
PAST LEADERSHIP
AND WELCOMING
THE NEW
Tim Butler formally presented a proclamation from Mayor
We were honored to have someone with ties to both
Francis Slay declaring the week of October 19-25, 2014
organizations, Rev. Walt Schoedel, Director of Church
as Senior Connections Week in the City of St. Louis. The
Relations for LSS, give our benediction. Rev. Schoedel
proclamation and this honor was secured by Harold
was introduced to The Singer Institute 35 years earlier.
Senior Connections.
Before we said our farewells, a couple friends of the
Many thanks to our retiring board members:
Tim Butler, Liz Nelson, Paul Kieselhorst,
Bradley Tolpen and Allen Serfas.
We gave thanks to Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) for
to share how Senior Connections makes a difference
In April we will welcome the following
people as members of the Senior
Connections Advisory Committee:
Williams, relational volunteer and volunteer mentor for
adding the Senior Connections program to its network in
January 2014. The union has been a great fit as we seek
to improve the quality of life of the residents, volunteers
and staff of senior communities – a focus shared by LSS
program were compelled to step up to the microphone
for the older adults we serve and, in the words of Jane
Lindberg (wife of the late Rev. Dennis Lindberg), how
much the program means to the volunteer too! n
whose mission is to help seniors “live life to the fullest”.
Jennifer Blome, Director of Humane
Education, APA
As a relational volunteer, Dennis knew the struggles and joys
of developing a relationship. In fact, it took several visits before
he found his new friend’s “trigger” – model airplanes. You see,
his friend’s room was filled with model airplanes. When Dennis
inquired about the airplanes, he learned that his friend had built
each and every one himself and the interest in the planes came
from his service in the military.
Tim Butler, Executive Director,
Mary Ryder Home
Dennis decided to explore this connection and, on his next visit, he
brought a model airplane and suggested that they build it together.
The friend was thrilled because the plane they would build was the
very type this veteran had flown while in the service. Building on the
success of their first model airplane build together, Dennis continued
to bring new model plane kits to tackle. With each new project, the
gentleman offered new stories about his life, including experiences
from the war that he had never shared with another soul.
Mary Lazare, Vice President,
LSS Home & Community Based Services
Dennis’ words of wisdom about building relationships with our
senior friends will forever resonate with us. We will continue
to share his relational volunteer story as an example of how
persistence and creativity can make all the difference in building
a purposeful relationship.
Elizabeth Pawloski, RSVP Coordinator,
OASIS Institute
Carlene Davis, Community Advocate, AARP
Pam Gordon, Director, LSS Volunteer Program
Barth Holohan, President, Continuum
Catherine Klostermeier, Founder,
Aging Transitions
Kris Stark and Jo Scheller
look at the cookbook
Judy Promnitz, Bill Aul, Jill Aul, and
Catherine Klostermeier
Paul Kieselhorst, Sandra Roeder Singer - Volunteer
Coordinator for Senior Connections, Allen Serfas, and
Rev. Gerald Kleba
Kate Lovelady, Leader, Ethical Society
of St. Louis
Carol Melka, Director,
LSS Outreach Social Services
Maria Miskovic, Owner and Certified Care
Manager, Care Choice Care
Susan Morse, Larry Brown, and Alvia Chambers
Terry Jones-Signaigo and Leslie Simon,
Community Partners
Senior Connections Volunteers - Harold Williams,
Jocelyn Anderson, Lesley Bissett, and Lynn Goode
Sandra Roeder Singer,
Volunteer Coordinator,
LSS Senior Connections Program
Allen Serfas, President,
Assistance Home Care
66
Young At Harp played beautiful music for the event
Senior Connections | 314.446.2526 | SeniorConnections.info
Lonzetta Taylor, Sister Sue Rogers,SL, Roberta Kilstram,
and Garnet Thies.
A division of Home & Community Based Services, a part of the Lutheran Senior Services network of excellence.
33
MARCH 2015
SPRING & SUMMER
ENRICHMENT GROUP MEETINGS
Saturday, March 7, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Spend some time in fellowship and self-discovery as we
create a collage that reflects the heart and soul of our Senior
Connections experience. This activity will be facilitated by Kathi
Bell, Relational Volunteer and Creative Director at Lutheran
Senior Services.
Location: Home Office of Lutheran Senior Services,
1150 Hanley Industrial Ct., St. Louis, MO
Saturday, March 7, 1-2:30 p.m.
Kathy Ratino, Relational Volunteer and professor of
communications classes in St. Louis, will guide us in a refresher
on active listening skills.
Location: Breeze Park Senior Living Community, Chapel/
Community Room, 600 Breeze Park, Drive, St. Charles, MO
Saturday, June 6, 10-11:30 a.m.
Kathy Ratino, Relational Volunteer and professor of
communications classes in St. Louis, will guide us in a refresher
on active listening skills.
Location: Home Office of Lutheran Senior Services,
1150 Hanley Industrial Ct., St. Louis, MO
Saturday, June 6, 1-3:00 p.m.
Spend some time in fellowship and self-discovery as we
create a collage that reflects the heart and soul of our Senior
Connections experience. This activity will be facilitated
by Kathi Bell, Relational Volunteer and Creative Director at
Lutheran Senior Services.
TRAINING &
SUPPORTING
KEYS TO
SUCCESS
During the transition to Lutheran Senior
Services, we took some time to bring our
volunteer trainers together for a review of
training. It was our opportunity to make
some great additions to content and format
while reducing the training from two 4-hour
Saturday sessions to one 6-hour session with
lunch provided. This allows our volunteers to
dedicate their extra time to their friends!
Trainings will be offered quarterly with new
volunteers getting a “mini orientation” from
Sandra while waiting for their comprehensive
training. Our next training is scheduled for
Saturday, May 2.
Additional support is offered to volunteers at
Enrichment Meetings. We hosted five of these
in 2014 with two hosted in St. Charles to
accommodate our volunteers in west St. Louis
County. Guest speakers provided information
on dementia, the side effects of stroke, and
the power of love in a friendship. We will
host group gatherings each quarter. While the
main audience for these meetings is current
volunteers, all friends of Senior Connections
are welcome.
Location: Breeze Park Senior Living Community, Chapel/
Community Room, 600 Breeze Park, Drive, St. Charles, MO
PLEASE RSVP to Sandra Roeder Singer at
314.446.2526 or [email protected].
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Senior Connections | 314.446.2526 | SeniorConnections.info
MEET LUTHERAN
SENIOR SERVICES
by Pam Gordon - Director of Volunteers
On January 20, 2014, Lutheran
Senior Services (LSS) welcomed
Senior Connections into the family.
I cannot tell you how excited we were to add this program to
the list of opportunities enabling our older adults to live life to
the fullest.
Senior Connections is a program of the LSS Volunteer Program and has support
from me, the Director of Volunteers for Lutheran Senior Services. Relational
volunteers join a corps of more than 1,600 regularly-scheduled volunteers and
6,000 one-time volunteers assisting our older adults each year. Many assist with
social and spiritual activities with groups of residents. Senior Connections provides
an opportunity for individual residents to have one-on-one time with someone
outside the structured schedule and group and is something we cherish.
I wanted to take a moment to help you get acquainted with LSS as I anticipate
you may have someone in your friend and family circle who can benefit from
something we offer older adults and their families. Seniors in need of supportive
housing make their home in one of our 9 Senior Living Communities, our Assisted
Living Community or 9 Affordable Housing Communities. Older adults who wish
to remain independent in their home receive support from Home & Community
Based Services: Home Health, Private Duty, Hospice, Outreach Social Services,
Good Neighbor Program, and Volunteer Money Management programs. The
latter three programs are funded in part by the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
Services provided by the organization are offered in communities around Peoria,
Springfield and Glen Carbon, IL, in the Metro St. Louis Area, and in communities
around Lebanon, Columbia and Jefferson City, MO. We serve more than 9,000
older adults and families each year.
Senior Connections has joined an organization with a big heart and strong
network of support and resources. The needs are great, and the budget is greater
and many times tight! Each day we look for ways to serve more seniors while
minimizing the cost to those seniors. Last year alone, we spent nearly $7 million
to those who have outlived their financial resources. As you might imagine,
donations of time, talent and treasure are always needed to continue a mission
of this magnitude.
We are blessed to have
a champion for Senior
Connections in Bill
McShane, Media Relations
Manager for LSS. While
we worked hard to develop
recruitment materials,
revise the training, support
our volunteers and more,
Bill was looking for
opportunities to highlight
the program in radio and
print.
We participated in
interviews on KFUO, 107.3
FM, and Minds Eye Radio
and had the program and
the cookbook featured by
Janice Denham in the
St. Post-Dispatch on
November 25.
He is always in pursuit of
an opportunity to share
news of the blessings of
the program and welcomes
ideas from our friends.
You can reach Bill at
314.446.2466 or
[email protected].
The program’s future with Lutheran Senior Services is bright!
A division of Home & Community Based Services, a part of the Lutheran Senior Services network of excellence.
5