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The Four Year Run with Jim

A Caregiver's Reflections
By Fred Pueringer

When I first met Jim on November 8, 2004 he had been dealing with the recent loss of his wife of 59 years, and to make matters worse, he was no longer able to drive. Fortunately, Jim had a wonderful, caring live-in caregiver, Maryann, who was extremely supportive, but she did not drive.

Being unable to drive was very tough on Jim as he is a man of accomplishment - a father of five successful children, a graduate of University of California at Berkeley (chemical engineering) where he played on the basketball team, a commissioned army officer having served in the Philippines, a career executive with Chevron, and upon retirement he led the United Way campaign in the greater Bay Area for seven years.

Initially, we spent some one-on-one time getting to know each other. Eventually Maryann joined us and was most welcome on our Wednesday afternoon errands. We would do some shopping, visit the senior center, the cemetery, do some mall walking, and often stop at any one of the several Starbuck's locations around town for our grande caramel frappucinos! Jim really enjoyed the XM satellite radio system in my Honda because of the music from the 1930's and 40's, and my wife and I attended several incredible birthday parties for Jim given by his five wonderful children. On November 3, 2008 age and dementia caught up with Jim and he moved into a board and care home with 12 residents - and apparently he's fitting right in...It was a really great four-year run with Jim and Maryann!

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Celebrating Ten Years!

On Thursday, February 26 Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program celebrated ten years of service to seniors in our community at John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus.

It was a wonderful evening with more than 140 people in attendance. Volunteers who gave nearly 20,000 hours of service in 2008 to frail, isolated, and disabled seniors living in our community were recognized as well as donors who make this program possible. Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, and top John Muir Health administrators including Milt Smith, President of the John Muir Health Foundation, and Jane Willemsen, President of John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus, were in attendance to express their gratitude for such a dedicated group of volunteers and the generosity of our donors.

"Caring Hands has grown steadily each year to serve more seniors; expanded our social services support to our seniors as well as our volunteers; established our Hispanic Outreach Program whose mission is to provide the Caring Hands Program to our Spanish speaking community; created the Senior Transportation Program whose purpose is to provide occasional transportation services to medical appointments; created the "Community Action Team" to expand our volunteer recruitment efforts to the community-at-large; and so much more!," said Carol Louisell, Program Manager of Caring Hands.

Our roots are in the John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus' Pastoral Care Program and we are a Faith in Action Program. "We are so grateful for the support we have received over the years from our interfaith partners in Contra Costa County. This program would not be possible without their involvement," said Dwane Michael, Director of Pastoral Care. "You have been the foundation for our success."

Carolyn Schick, a Caring Hands Caregiver since 1999, was invited to share her Caring Hands story. "At 98 my Amazing Grace is still living on her own and had marked her calendar with BIG BOLD letters "Caring Hands Dinner." However, due to a fall a few days ago she's unable to be with us tonight. We share so many interests and we are always on the go." Unfortunately, Grace passed away on March 2nd. She will be missed by her family and many friends, especially Carolyn... Eighteen volunteers surpassed 1,000 hours accumulatively in 2008, and nine were in attendance: Mike Taflinger, Tiffany Than, Ray Van Stralen, Carl Kimmel, Ollie Anderson, Evelyn Ternstrom, Harry Jayasingha, Robin Gordon, and Carolyn Schick. Roxanne Foster, Director of Volunteer Services and founding program manager of Caring Hands saw many of the same faces she recruited ten years ago. "This speaks volumes of your dedication to this program, and your commitment warms my heart!"

It would be impossible to recognize all of the individuals, corporations, and foundations who have supported our program financially over the years, but seven were in attendance: Pastor Bill Barrett (Saint Matthew Lutheran Church), Dick Clancy (Security Pacific Real Estate), Bob Clough, Donna Lawson (City of Concord), Joy Moore, Sandra Nelson, and Rick San Vicente (Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging). Without their combined gifts and with those of other funders Caring Hands would not be in existence.

A few of our founding benefactors who deserve special recognition include Ruth Arnhold Steiner, Miriam Lar Rieu, John Muir Medical Center Auxiliary, and of course, John Muir Health. "We are so thankful for your continued support and belief in our program," said Carol Louisell. She added, "We are truly blessed by the Caring Hands staff, our volunteers who give so generously of their time, and our donors who are able to share their financial resources. It is my honor and privilege to be associated with such an incredible group of people. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"

Caring Hands Advisory Committee
Rafael Quintero Security	Pacific Real Estate, Chair
Sandra Lemmons	Companion Care / ResCare Home Services, Vice Chair
Ray Zenoni	Pleasant Hill Community, Secretary
Angelica Ariza	Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Joe Bettencourt	Interim Healthcare Staffing
Bob Fairbanks	Walnut Creek Community
Roxanne Foster	Volunteer Services, John Muir Health
John Gardella	Walnut Creek Community
Nancy Lewis, LCSW	Senior Alternatives
Rev. Dwane Michael	Pastoral Care, John Muir Medical Center-Walnut Creek Campus
Marge Perez	Catholic Charities of the East Bay
Cathie Ramey	Walnut Creek Senior Club
Mary Roberts	Saint John Vianney Catholic Church
Grala Warren	Saint Matthew Lutheran Chuch
Caring Hands Staff
Carol Louisell	Program Manager
Lilian Kotz	Department Secretary
Linda Groobin	Volunteer Coordinator
Maria Tataru, LCSW	Intake Coordinator
Nancy Ramirez	Hispanic Outreach Coordinator
Kathy Friend, LCSW	Social Services Coordinator

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