Proposed Trainging program for care-givers

Proposes Training program for Care-givers

Input one:

Eldercare: Perspectives on Aging parents and their adult sons and daughters.

Unput two:

Family caregiving changing roles and responsibilities.

Presented: Rev. Dr. Peter Abas

Proposed Training for care- givers

ADAPTING WITH DIGNITY

Learning objectives:

Identify basic human needs & their impact on aging

Discuss changes that often accompany aging, vision, hearing, mobility and etc...

Identify & assess the individual's needs from multiple perspectives

Preserve self-esteem

Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Peter Abas

Why Drum used for therapy was vandalized?

Why the Drum and the Monstrance?
Six months ago it was a sad morning for the parish priest at Holy Nativity Parish Terawi, Penampang when he found out that his hand-drum and a sacred monstrance were vandalized in the church sacristy.

As he walked down the aisle to celebrate the Holy Mass, his facial expression showed that he was very disappointed and confused with the whole situation. He ended his brief homily that morning, with this profound statement, “Only God knows the inner motive of this person who did this undesirable act.”

Three days prior to that incident, he spoke to a group of elderly individuals and their caregivers about how he utilized his hand-drum to rejuvenate the elderly individuals in his place of work in Rochester, New York.

When he lived there, many elderly individuals joined his group known as “Peaceful Rhythmic Hand Drumming.” One of his programs was known as the “Changes in our lives as told in the Wisdom of the Drums”; where he empowered every elderly person to beat the drum and eventually to share what their feelings were. On that day, he shared about his past session on “Wisdom of the Drums” and he quoted an elderly woman who said, “We can feel our “heartbeats” through the sound of the drums and we all have a sacred story to share.”

He said, “Even though my hand-drum has been vandalized, the memories of it bring tears to my eyes and pain to my heart.” The reason was because the peaceful rhythmic sound of this hand drum soothed many elderly individuals in the nursing home, independently living and in the hospital in Rochester, New York.” He concluded with humility and with a prayerful voice, “It is sad that this person who vandalized this drum did not know its healing power.”

Another unbearable incident that occurred at the same time of the incident with the drum was when Father Peter found out that the monstrance, which is a vessel in which the consecrated Host is exposed for the adoration of the faithful, was smashed. This monstrance was given by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas of the Diocese of Rochester, New York just few weeks before Father Peter left for Malaysia. Father Peter was very upset with this incident and he said, “As if the hand drum was not enough, why was this sacred vessel, this monstrance, vandalized too?” With his empathetic voice, he concluded, “Let’s conquer evil with good.”

Until now the problem is left unsolved and still remains a mystery and an historic event in this newly inaugurated Holy Nativity Terawi Parish, Penampang.
Freelance Writer

Geriatric depression scale

Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week:


1. Are you basically satisfied with your life? YES / NO


2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? YES / NO


3. Do you feel that your life is empty? YES / NO


4. Do you often get bored? YES / NO


5. Are you in good spirits most of the time? YES / NO


6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? YES / NO


7. Do you feel happy most of the time? YES / NO


8. Do you often feel helpless? YES / NO


9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things? YES / NO


10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? YES / NO


11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? YES / NO


12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? YES / NO


13. Do you feel full of energy? YES / NO


14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? YES / NO


15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are? YES / NO

....green, green..green...

Environment with beautiful garden can make an elderly person to be more cheerful! We need more "Green Environment" be a lover of natural beauty of Green-green-green....

...harmony and joy.

Peacefulness in the human heart and soul bring harmony and joy.