Nazareth Home residents paint rocks and spread hope

Nazareth Home residents paint rocks and spread hope

Source: The Record
By Ruby Thomas
March 15, 2021

Click here to view article

A boy held up a “Scripture rock” he found while playing in Seneca Park in early March. The rocks, painted by residents of Nazareth Home, have been scattered around town. (Photo Special to The Record)

Elderly residents of Nazareth Home’s Highland and Clifton campuses are letting their creativity flow out into the community as a way of spreading hope during the pandemic.

The residents have been painting colorful “Scripture rocks” which are hidden around town and as far as Oldham and Meade counties for individuals to find.

“The whole goal was to put a smile on the face of our residents and remind the community that Nazareth Home is still active,” said Roberta Steutermann, development director of Nazareth Home.

They also see it as a chance to spread hope to others during the pandemic, she noted.

“One of our residents at Clifton said it was an ‘opportunity to provide God’s hope to the community,’ ” Steutermann said in a recent interview.

Steutermann, who joined the staff at Nazareth Home last summer, said she had a different perspective of life in the pandemic before meeting the residents. She said she was “humbled” by the way they handled the lockdown.

A year ago, visitation to long-term care facilities was restricted except in situations where sick residents needed special medical or emotional care. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced March 10 that visits to nursing homes may now resume with certain safety guidelines, such as face coverings.

“There’s an increasing sense of peace among them. They’ve had an attitude of ‘this too shall pass … it’s part of God’s plan and we’ll be okay,’ ” said Steuterman. “It has helped the staff to find peace and do what we do every day. It’s been remarkable how strong they are in their resolve for hope and peace.”

Now they are hoping to spread that hope and peace to others.

A resident of Nazareth Home painted a rock in early March. The residents have been painting “Scripture rocks,” which are left in various places throughout the community for individuals to find. (Photo Special to The Record)

Nazareth Home is asking those who find the rocks to take a picture and post it on the home’s Facebook page.

Steutermann, said to the delight of the residents, they’ve heard back from a few individuals who’ve found rocks. A woman hiking on Buttermilk Falls Trail, near Brandenburg, Ky., came across a colorful rock left in a hollow of a tree trunk. A grandmother and her young grandson picked up a blue rock with the message ‘I’m praying for you!’ on the playground in Seneca Park.

“They are excited when the rocks are found,” Steutermann said. “We’re bringing smiles to the elders and people in the community.”

Steutermann said Nazareth Home has always been an active part of the Louisville community. Before the pandemic, Mass at the chapel on the Highlands campus was open to the community.

“They thought of us as their church. We hope to see that come back to life, but for now, this is what we can do. The residents want people to know they are still here and doing great,” she said. The project will continue through the month of March and residents hope to paint and scatter about 100 rocks.

The project has helped some discover their creativity but might have the added benefit of helping them through difficult times.

Lisa Stacy, who serves as activities director at Nazareth Home and came up with the project, said art can help individuals get through hard times. She uses art therapy in many of her activities at the home, she noted.

“Working with art helps,” said Stacy. “They’ve been stuck in their rooms and this is an opportunity to help them feel happiness. One resident said, it ‘made my heart warm to be able to do this.’ ”

In the future, Nazareth Home plans to use art therapy to help residents process what they’ve been through during the pandemic, said Steutermann.

If you find one of these rocks, post a photo to the Nazareth Home Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/NazarethHomes — and tell the residents where you found it.

Share this:

Looking for hope? These elders are hiding painted rocks with messages of hope around city

Looking for hope? These elders are hiding painted rocks with messages of hope around city

Source: Courier-Journal
By Andre Toran
March 8, 2021

Click here to view article

Donna Heicken couldn’t paint the rock like the others.

She couldn’t hold the paintbrush or feel its paint-drenched bristles freely gliding across the rock’s surface, but that didn’t stop her commitment to her artwork as she instructed a staff member at the Nazareth Home to paint out her vision on the stone.

Her message, simply: Have a great day.

“Particularly this year we need a lot of hope,” Heicken, 72, said. “And I just felt like my rock was a good representation that better times are coming.”

With every brushstroke, senior citizens like Heicken at the Nazareth Home Highlands and Clifton campuses — two senior-living facilities in Louisville — paint with the intention of getting closer to the community they love.

After months of being separated from family and friends due to COVID-19 precautions taken in long-term homes for the elderly, residents at the Nazareth homes are using the month of March to paint “scripture rocks” to reconnect with the community.

Each rock painted will have a short bible scripture or words of encouragement on them and are being placed in parks and public spaces across Louisville as a way to spread joy and hope during tough times.

“Our elders haven’t been able to connect to the outside world,” said Roberta Steutermann, Nazareth Home director of development. “We’ve been in lockdown like everyone else, but this is a facility that believes in ministry and mission. … And not being able to connect to the communities for the last year has been tough.”

Nazareth Home is asking the community to actively search for the rocks and to take a selfie and post the photo with the location of the rock was found on the Nazareth Home Facebook page.

The idea for Nazareth Home to re-connect with the Louisville community was fueled by the Clifton campus’ activities director Lisa Stacy, Steutermann said.

Stacy, who has a background in art and art therapy, approached Nazareth Home leadership with the idea after finding a rock with an inspiring message on it herself that someone left in the community in December.

Now, she is leading senior citizens in the craft as a way to pay it forward. A Catholic facility, the home believes Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, is the opportune time to hand-paint the uplifting messages, and leave them for people to find in areas around the community.

Steutermann has been with the home since July and has watched how the pandemic has had an impact on the facilities, its residents and the outside world. And with the home on lockdown, taking precautions to keep its high-risk residents safe, she was surprised by the hope many ofthe elders possessed and shared, which falls in line with the spirit of Lent.

While the rest of the world mourns the loss of our normalcy, the elders’ perspective “has been one of hope and calm and reminding us that ‘this too shall pass,'” Steutermann said.

“Hope” has been the word that defines the journey through COVID-19 for the Nazareth Home, and that’s the sentiment it aims to share with the world outside its doors, Steutermann told the Courier Journal.

That’s what the smooth, black rock she holds in her hand says. Hope, written in yellow letters outlined with pink and speckle dots of paint. It reminds her of the resiliency of the elders, what the elders aspire to accomplish with each rock found and the people the elders have so much they still want to share with.

“As people get older, we think they have less to give and less to share,” Steutermann said. “And what I can tell you from being here at Nazareth Home is that’s completely untrue. These elders have so much to give. … And they are so excited to provide this little bit of hope to someone out in the community.”

Contact Andre Toran at atoran@gannett.com or follow on Twitter @andretoran.

 

Share this:

Nazareth Homes connects with community through painted rocks

Nazareth Homes connects with community through painted rocks

Source: WDRB
By Kate Springer
March 7, 2021

Click here to view article

Throughout the month of March, residents at the Nazareth Homes are painting “scripture rocks” to leave in parks and public spaces across downtown Louisville as a fun way to spread happiness and connect with the community.

It’s been a tough year for residents at the Nazareth Homes with lock downs, no visitors, and isolation. But now they’ve found a way to connect with the community from afar, a way that rocks.

With a steady hand and a paintbrush dipped in bright yellow, Sister Mary Lee Hansen works quickly transforming a dull gray stone into a vibrant work of art with an inspirational message for all to see.

“I believe that all of us could use a little bit of hope and so the Lord, all we have to do is ask the Lord to give us hope,” said Sister Mary Lee.

Throughout the month of March, residents at the Nazareth Homes are painting “scripture rocks” to leave in parks and public spaces across downtown Louisville as a fun way to spread happiness and connect with the community. The painted rocks are a bright spot in an otherwise dark year.

“So many have been sick. We’ve lost some people and regardless of where we are in life we’re grateful,” said Sister Mary Lee.

The community is invited to search for the rocks, and then take a selfie with it and post the photo to the Nazareth Home Facebook page with the location the rock was found. The person can then keep the rock or re-hide it in another place for someone else to find.

Since the start of the pandemic, the nursing home has been locked down, leaving residents in isolation, away from their loved ones. This is a way to connect with others from a safe distance.

“We’re doing all we can here to keep them connected virtually and through window visits but this has been hard. And this is a tangible way for people to remember that the Nazareth Home is still here,” said Roberta Steutermann with Nazareth Homes.

The elders have jumped at the chance to show off their creative side. Sister Martha Showalter wasn’t too confident in her artistic abilities, but ended up with a masterpiece.

“It gives me a joy that reflects what’s in my heart,” said Sister Martha. “It’s a joy to be able to express yourself in something beautiful.”

A colorful connection to the community, sparking joy, one simple stone at a time.

“With the rocks when somebody reads it hopefully their heart will be moved and they’ll see just how precious they are,” said Sister Mary Lee.

Start looking for the rocks on Monday, March 8. That’s when they’ll be placed around the city. And if you find one, make sure you take a picture and tag Nazareth Homes on Facebook so the residents can see their creations.

Share this:

Louisville Community Reflects on Year of COVID-19 Pandemic

Louisville Community Reflects on Year of Covid-19 Pandemic

Source: Courier-Journal By Matt Stone March 3, 2021 Click here to view article

Adele Barry said she wasn’t scared of COVID-19 after it struck Kentucky a year ago.

“I figured if I died, I died and if I didn’t, I didn’t,” said Barry, who was 95 when the virus first struck. “I’ve had a long life and I figured if it was over, it was over.”

For her, the hardest part of the yearlong COVID-19 pandemic was the isolation imposed on nursing home residents because the virus took the heaviest toll on the frail and elderly.

Barry has lived for the past several years at Nazareth Home in Louisville in the Highlands neighborhood. She grew up near Cherokee Park.

At Nazareth, she was used to regular outings and frequent visits with her children. All that stopped abruptly a year ago when COVID-19 struck.

“That was lonesome, that was very lonesome,” Barry said.

Residents accustomed to socializing, playing bingo and having meals together found themselves mostly confined to their rooms as staff worked to prevent infection.

Barry said she passed the time reading books and watching daily Mass on television at the facility affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. She stayed in touch with her family by phone or through video visits, but Barry said she’s not a fan of the latter.

“I don’t like those video visits,” Barry said. “The telephone is the way I stay in touch.”

With time, some restrictions have been lifted at Nazareth, especially after most residents including Barry were recently vaccinated against COVID-19. Residents are able to have meals together again, bingo has resumed and daily Mass is held in the chapel.

Barry said she enjoys those activities but still misses family visits and the freedom to leave Nazareth for outings.

“I like this place, but it’s too much to stay in here all the time,” she said.

In addition to resuming visits with family in the coming year, Barry said she would like to see old friends. A 1942 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Barry said she knows of several classmates who are still living.

“There’s not many people left that I know,” she said.

She also looks forward to warmer weather when she can get outside and sit on the front porch of the facility nestled on a wooded hillside off Newburg Road.

“I like that — I used to sit outside there all the time,” Barry said.

As for advice to others, Barry urges people to make the most of the moment: “You better take advantage of what you are doing now.”

Share this:

Nazareth Home elders paint rocks to interact with community

Nazareth Home elders paint rocks to interact with community

The residents at Nazareth Home Highlands and Clifton have a fun and socially distanced challenge for the greater Louisville community – find our rocks!

Throughout the month of March, elders are painting “scripture rocks” to leave in parks and public spaces across Louisville as a fun way to spread happiness and connect with the community. They are hoping the community will search for the rocks, and then take a selfie with it and post the photo to the Nazareth Home Facebook page with the location the rock was found. The person can then keep the rock or rehide it in another place for someone else to find.

The rocks will have a short scripture quote on them as well as any art that the individual would like to add.

“Since we haven’t been able to have visitors, this is an interesting way to communicate with people out in the community,” said Sister Mary Lee Hansen. “We’re excited to see where our rocks show up and to see who finds them. I hope someone finds mine and posts a photo!”

Roberta Steutermann, Nazareth Home Director of Development, said they’re excited to introduce another option for the elders at Nazareth Home to interact with others.

“We are so excited to embark on this fun project with our elders and with our community,” Steutermann said. “This is a way for one community to engage with another community – all without putting anyone at risk. During this time of isolation, we’re hoping Louisvillians will respond and join in the fun, all while bringing joy to our elders.”The rocks have Nazareth Home’s Facebook name and a request to post a photo. Pictures will be shared on Nazareth Home’s social media accounts.

Share this:

Kindness in our community

Kindness in our community

It has been said that nothing we do or say in our lives will matter as much as the way we love others. At Nazareth Home, we find this to be true. To love and serve the elders and their family members is an honor. We get to see each day how much it makes a difference in someone’s life. We also get to see how our local community loves the elders, showering them with kindness whenever they get a chance.

Recently the Home of the Innocence, a residential and treatment community that enriches children’s lives, contacted us to ask if they could help to bring joy to our elders. To brighten the elders’ day and keep them warm, the children made socks and blankets for those living at Nazareth Home. In return, the elders made Valentine’s Day cards for each of the children. 

Studies show when older and younger people form meaningful relationships, it improves both groups’ well-being. Relationships with adults matter in young people’s lives and relationships with children are a critical ingredient to our health as we age. When nurtured, these elderly and youth relationships are beautiful and beneficial. We are excited to see this relationship expand.

Another local organization spreading kindness to the elders is Southeast Christian Church. They have provided Valentine’s personal care packages for the elders at our Clifton campus. What joy these packages brought to the elders. 

With the COVID-19 restrictions, the elders can feel a sense of disconnection from the outside world. We know the elders are getting to connect with their loved ones, but it is also special to make new connections during this time. The additional love bestowed to the elders from local businesses and organizations brings joy and happiness to all. 

Share this:

KAHCF/KCAL welcomes Lisa Biddle-Puffer as its new Director of Regulatory Affairs

KAHCF/KCAL welcomes Lisa Biddle-Puffer as its new Director of Regulatory Affairs

Source: The Lane Report
February 15, 2021

Click here to view article

Lisa Biddle-Puffer is an accomplished healthcare professional, serving as the Administrator for Quality and Compliance for Nazareth Home after five years as an Administrator for the Nazareth Home Clifton campus.

She has also been a dedicated and active member of the KAHCF/KCAL board of directors and has served in several committee roles in the past. In 2019, she was among the “Future Leaders” for the American Health Care Association, the national organization representing KAHCF/KCAL’s members on a federal level.

Lisa has a long-standing relationship with the long-term care community in Louisville and throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

 
Share this:

A Note From Our CEO: The Year of Grit, Gratitude and Grace

A Note From Our CEO: The Year of Grit, Gratitude and Grace

It is hard to believe that we are already into February. While 2020 was a year filled with uncertainty and hardship, the one thing that never wavered was the true grit of our elders and staff, the grace of our families, and the gratitude shown by all. While it may feel as though we are still deep into the unknown of COVID, we have several things that we do know.  

We have faced multiple COVID-19 focused Infection Control Surveys by the State Office of Inspector General this past year, and we have passed each one. Thank you to Kim Hobson, director of nursing at our Highlands campus, Alison Snow, director of nursing at our Clifton campus, and their outstanding teams for ensuring that we are continuing to provide the same level of care and excellence the elders deserve.

We have completed our second round of COVID-19 vaccines at both campuses, and we are eager to keep moving forward.

We have seen such determination and commitment from our staff, families and elders. Despite the upheaval that COVID-19 has brought to our worlds, you have never wavered in your support. For this, we will always be grateful. No matter the obstacles our team has faced, they have shown up every day and provided love, care and compassion to our elders. We can not say enough good about our team members.  

Finally, we come to the grace that we have received from each of our families and elders. You stood by us, and you supported our hard decisions. You understood that protecting our elders must come first, and you have truly shown compassion beyond expectation. While we do not have a road map for the next few months, I ask that you continue to extend grace and know we are doing all we can to regain some normalcy. This is something the staff craves as much as the families and elders.  

I know without question that if we can continue to dig deep, show our grit, live with gratitude and grace, we will come out of this pandemic a stronger community than we have ever imagined. As always, my phone is always open to you, and I am here to serve.

Mary Haynes
President & CEO

Share this:

Nazareth Home hosting used shoe drive to help provide safe water to people around the world

Nazareth Home hosting used shoe drive to help provide safe water to people around the world

Nazareth Home is helping to provide safe water to people around the world by hosting a shoe drive from Feb 1 – 28. Shoes of any size and condition can be dropped off in the vestibules at either Nazareth Home campus, between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. We will donate the shoes to WaterStep, a nonprofit that uses training and technology to create long-lasting water solutions for developing countries.

Once the shoes are collected and donated to WaterStep, they are sold to an exporter. The funds raised from the sale of the shoes go to WaterStep’s work of providing safe water solutions to people in third world communities and disaster hit areas. The shoes are then repurposed and re-sold in marketplaces providing affordable footwear to those in need. WaterStep collects on average 30,000 pounds of shoes each month. That’s 30,000 pounds of waste kept from going into landfills.

The global drinking water crisis is the world’s most pressing health emergency. Nearly 800 million people lack access to safe drinking water, and every 60 seconds, a child dies from waterborne illness. By donating your new or used shoes to WaterStep, your family will help provide a sustainable supply of safe drinking water to thousands of children and families who desperately need it. Just a few minutes spent collecting shoes from your closets, basement or garage can make a real difference — a difference that ultimately saves lives.

Nazareth Home was established in 1976 as a healthcare ministry sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. WaterSteps is part of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth’s Care for the Earth mission.

We appreciate your participation in helping bring safe drinking water to children and families around the world.

Drop-off Locations:

Nazareth Home Highlands
2000 Newburg Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40205

Nazareth Home Clifton
2120 Payne Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40206

Share this:
X