Elder Religious and Diocesan Priests Workshop

36th Annual Elder Religious & Diocesan Priests Workshop

An intensive workshop that focuses on life long membership.

Click here for a pdf version of the brochure

The 36th Annual Elder Religious and Diocesan Priests 2013 Workshop is already gearing up for next year. The workshop provides information that specializes in practical applications and solutions and a strong support-networking system across the spiritual, psychological, medical, pastoral, and practical aspects of caring and administering to the elders in our religious congregations and dioceses.

View Agenda Faculty What past participants say.

Designed for
• sisters • ministers
• brothers • deacons
• priests • laity

In positions of
• leadership • administrators
• nurses • nurse practitioners
• retirement planners • geriatric personnel
• social workers • recreation therapists
• counselors • outreach workers
• dietitians • chaplains
• pastoral staff • membership personnel

• Mini sabbatical for priests, brothers, and sisters
• Faculty specifically chosen for their expertise and ability to relate to this
focused group
• Integrates the spiritual, psychological, medical, pastoral, and practical
issues concerning the aged
• Opens channels linking you into a strong support and networking
system; you continue to benefit long after the workshop has ended

Faculty

Wayne Fitzpatrick, MM, MA, MS
Wayne earned a master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University and a master’s degree in Theology from Maryknoll School of Theology. He is a certified Retirement Planning Specialist. He has extensive experience working as a geriatric and pastoral consultant with religious communities and is a co-planner of the Elder Religious and Diocesan Priests workshops. Wayne is a member of the Governing Council for the Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging with the American Society on Aging. He is a member of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and resides at the Maryknoll Center in New York.

Mary Hopkins, OP, MS
Mary holds a master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling/Spirituality from Loyola University. A Certified Retirement Planning Specialist and Grief Counselor, Mary has extensive experience working as a geriatric and pastoral consultant with religious congregations and dioceses as well as preaching retreats. She is a co-planner of the Elder Religious and Diocesan Priests workshops. Mary is a member of the Governing Council for the Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging with the American Society on Aging. Past experience includes 10 years as Director of Third Age Retirement Office of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. She resides at the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Motherhouse in Wisconsin.

James Siberski, MS, CMC
Jim holds a graduate degree in Human Resource Development, and is an affiliate member of American Geriatric Psychiatrist Association. Certified in Remotivation Therapy, Activities Therapy, and Gerontology. Jim is the coordinator and assistant professor of Gerontology Education in the Center for Professional Development at Misericordia University. He has experience in activities planning and delivery in geriatric populations, religious communities, and long-term care facilities. Jim lectures on suicide prevention, mood disorders, and personality disorders in the elderly, and is a frequent presenter at professional conferences. He is an author in many journals, including the journal of Psychological Nursing, Directors Guide, and Remotivator. Jim is also a member of the Board of Directors of Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania.

For more information about Elder Religious Diocesan Priests 35th Annual Conference contact Thea Kahn at 570-674-6155 or e-mail at tkahn@misericordia.edu

What Past Participants say.

“In this insightful conference, I learned much from the professional speakers and the opportunities to discuss current challenges with the participants who bring a wealth of wisdom to the experience.”

—Sister Margaret Taylor, Director of Admissions, Regina Health Center, Richfield, OH

“The conference was worth the long journey from Aotearoa, New Zealand to the United States! I return with new insights and energy to explore and develop a spirituality of aging.”
—Sister Anne Campbell, NGA WHAEA ATAWHAI O AOTEAROA, Sisters of Mercy New Zealand

“As a newly appointed religious director of an assisted living facility and an acute care facility I found the presentations very helpful. The networking was invaluable.”

—Brother Thomas P. Cunningham, OFC, Religious Superior, Brothers of Holy Cross, Midwest Province, Notre Dame, IN

“I have been a “regular” at these conferences and each year I leave with new ideas, new insights and new life within. I feel these conferences are a retreat in themselves with outstanding presentations which helps one to grow spiritually. The morning prayers and the Liturgy are something you look forward to each day! The team makes you feel at home and is always aware of your needs during the week!!”

—Sister Johneen Owens, Sisters of Mercy, Omaha, Omaha, NE

“People at the conference really understood the challenges of my ministry. Their practical solutions gave me new tools. Their spiritual wisdom nurtured me.”

—Father Paul Holland, Rector/Campion Center, N.E. Province, Society of Jesus, Weston, MA

“Every day I said to myself “that talk in and of itself was worth coming to the conference. Everything, the topics the sharing the liturgies the food far surpassed my expectations.”

—Br. Vincent J. Vivian, Director (Nurse), Conventual Franciscans, Ellicott City, MD

“These workshops are a wonderful opportunity for renewal. I have been attending for 3 years and I have learned something new each year. These workshops have been a tremendous help to me professionally, personally and spiritually. I recommend the workshop to anyone who is involved in any way in the ministry of health care for elder religious and diocesan priests. Thank You!”

—Sr. Mary Anne Sharron, ASCJ, Administrator, Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hamden, CT

ERDP WORKSHOP AGENDA
Friday, June 21 through Thursday, June 27, 2013

JUNE 21, FRIDAY

Registration: 1:00 p.m.

Welcoming and Orientation: 6:30-7:00 p.m.

Caring for the Caregiver:

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Myles Sheehan, SJ, MD

Caregivers can undergo a crisis of meaning similar to those who are ill and for whom they care. Caring for the frail and ill older person is a challenge on the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual domains for the caregiver. The challengers faced by the caregiver will be considered as well as opportunities for healthy caregiving, assistance to caregivers, and developing a spirituality for those who are caring for others.

Welcoming Reception: 9:00 p.m.

JUNE 22, SATURDAY

Healthy Aging for Priests and Religious:

9:00-11:30am

Myles, Sheehan, SJ, MD

The aging process presents both opportunity and peril. Aging is risky, modifiable, has external and intrinsic determinants, and variable. What this means and a framework for healthy aging in priests and religious that focuses on vocation and fulfillment will be the topics considered.

Palliative Care for Older Priests and Religious:

2:30-5:00 p.m.

Myles, Sheehan, SJ, MD

Palliative care aims to provide relief of the suffering associated with life threatening illness and decline as well as allow the best possible life in the setting of sickness. Topics to be covered include declining palliative care,explaining the overlap and differences with hospice care, understanding the trajectory of illness in considering when palliative care is appropriate,and elements of good palliative care.

The Aging Brain: Keeping It Healthy and Rehabilitation of the Aging Brain:

6:30-8:30 p.m.

James Siberski, MS, CMC

This session will cover such topics as diet and the aging brain,Neuroplasticity,Neurogenesis,Synaptogenesis, exercise and the brain,types of memory and medications that help and hurt the aging brain.Rehabilitation of life style will be discussed and many other proven useful techniques to help your brain span equals your life span.

JUNE 23, SUNDAY

Creating a Life Review (Understanding Person Centered Care):

9:00-11:30 a.m.

Mary Peter Lillian Di Maria, O. Carm., BA

Understanding our story and how we have come to live or vocations is critical to accepting the many gifts we experience when we are called “elders.” This presentation provides a framework that encourages us to tell our story, which allows us to identify the importance of caring for one another that embraces person centered care.

Challenging Behaviors – Positive Solutions:

2:30-5:00 p.m.

Mary Peter Lillian Di Maria, O. Carm., BA

The presentation will help Community members and Diocesan clergy to gain an understanding behind the behavior they may witness from those who may have a memory impairment. We will explore a person’s need and want and discuss the importance of describing behavioral concerns.The more accurate we are concerning the behavior the more accurate the intervention.

Networking Opportunity with Workshop Staff: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

JUNE 24, MONDAY

Engaging the Sense: Adapting the Environment to Enhance Function:

9:00-11:30 a.m.

Christine L. Hischmann, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA

About Function: Practical Suggestions for Aging in Place

Michael Moran, PT, DPT, ScD

The Modernization of the Dementias: What you really need to know!: 2:30-5:00 p.m.

James Siberski, MS, CMC

Dementia gone, its replacement will be discussed. Medications for the various dementias will be listed. The various dementias will be outlined, since not all dementia is Alzheimer's. Yes, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and how does that affect your memory and dementia, or should I say, Neurocognitive disorder?

JUNE 25, TUESDAY

Behavioral Problems Among Elder Clergy and Religious:

9:00-11:30 a.m.

Paul Midden, PhD

This segment will focus on common behavioral problems among older religious and clergy including addictions, anger, interpersonal problems,and isolation. We will discuss the impact of these on diocesan and community life and identify possible ways to manage problematic members.

2:30-5:00pm Affective Disorders Among Elder Clergy and Religious

Paul Midden, PhD
This segment will focus on the presence of depression and other affective disorders among the elders. We will discuss ways to identify depression and to differentiate it from various types of cognitive decline or disarray, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment approaches and behavioral interventions will also be discussed.

JUNE 26, WEDNESDAY

9:00-11:30am Impact of Loss and Diminishment in Healthy and Holy Aging

Gerard J. McGlone, SJ, PhD & Mary M. Lindsay, SSJ, PhD

As pastoral ministers, religious and clergy face the loss and grief that others experience with pastoral professionalism, sensitivity and tenderness. We do this well. However, these same clergy and religious often fail to grieve well – if at all – when they experience loss. Why might this be the case? This workshop will explore the challenging dynamics of loss and diminishment. We will explore and discuss more effective strategies for individuals, dioceses, and communities to better manage this health crisis.

2:30-5:00pm Impact of Loss and Diminishment in Healthy and Holy Aging

Gerard J. McGlone, SJ, PhD & Mary M. Lindsay, SSJ, PhD

Continuation from morning session
.

5:30pm Social/Dinner Reception

JUNE 27, THURSDAY

Breakfast and Departure