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CARING IN DuPage
NOV 2018
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Gratitude Requires Open Eyes and Open Hearts
WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?
W hen you find joy in everyday interactions, gratitude comes naturally. I remindmyself of this by making gratitude lists. I sit withmy journal and jot down some of the simple moments that I'm thankful for. It doesn't have to be a profound event; even seemingly trivial ones can bring happiness. The more intentional I amwith my lists, the more gratitude I feel for my family, community, and clients. Everything we do at BrightStar starts with our clients. We don’t have a business unless we can fully understand each patient and customize the best treatment plan to fit their needs. I’m thankful every time the phone rings because it means we've been given the opportunity to help. It's a humbling feeling to guide a client in need through personal struggles. We show them the health support resources available in their area and brainstormon everyday solutions. When we pour our hearts into collaborating with clients on their problems, we develop trust
with them. And because of that trust, our clients feel comfortable filling out surveys that help us find gaps in our work. We give these questionnaires to clients to learn how to better serve them, but along the way, they provide glowing feedback that I’m
genuinely grateful for. Reading the words of gratitude from those we serve makes me proud of what we’re accomplishing. Here are a few examples of client feedback.
“They are understanding and empathetic, and they send caregivers who are appropriate for my needs.” “BrightStar Care frees me up so I can take care of my other responsibilities. And I know that my loved one is in good hands.” “It has made my life easier because they are helping to care for my loved one in ways that I can’t.” “They understandmy situation, and they seem to bend over backwards tomake things work out." The more survey results I read, the more inspired I amby the work our teamdoes. All 10 members of our office staff keep the organization’s nuts and bolts running smoothly so that all our clients receive the best possible care. Our executive team—comprised of Kelly Hohn, Jonathan Gray, Leonard Sanchez, and Diane Thorson—do a fantastic job solving problems. It takes a particular person with a high degree of empathy to do what they do, and I’m amazed by their commitment to excellence. Beyond the amazing team I have the pleasure of working with, I admire those who work on the ground floor with our patients. We have phenomenal caregivers and nursing staff who genuinely care about people. Nursing isn’t for everyone. It requires an emotional investment that goes far beyondmost careers, and I respect the dedication our teampours into their craft. Wherever you are in life, or at this moment, I hope you can take a second to see life’s beauty. Every action and every reaction holds the potential for gratitude; it requires opening your heart andmind to experience it. Happy Thanksgiving from BrightStar Care. —Jim Flickinger President
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SHOULD LAST BEYOND THANKSGIVING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! Why Gratitude Matters As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to negativity and pessimism— “Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,” etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.”
How to Practice Gratitude In the above quotation fromDr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a fewminutes to write down
BrightStar Care Partners With College Church for Their STARS Program
S E RV I NG T H E N E E D S O F AN U N D E R - R E S OU RC E D C OMMU N I T Y
2. How do you accomplish your mission? We meet with each programmember’s parents to learnmore about their specific needs. We train our volunteers tomeet individual needs and help our members feel welcome. For Sunday school, we use adaptive techniques to best help the STARS learn. We take time to get to know them, care for them, and pray for them. And they teach us too. Many of the STARS have taught us important lessons about joy, patience, and love. 3. Where does the BrightStar team come in? We have respite events once a month that involve up to 80 people. Members often have complex medical histories, so we utilize the nursing staff to provide excellent care if and when any kind of medical incident comes up. BrightStar Care has provided excellent care during these events and other respite events we hold throughout the year. The nurses are uniquely prepared to serve people with intellectual disabilities, and sometimes they recognize our STARs fromother community and social events! 4. Why is this program important to our community? For most of us, parenting eventually ends —or at least gets easier. But
when you have a child with an intellectual disability, parenting is a 24/7 job that
Our teamhelps people in the community but not just inside their homes. Our nursing staff is often called upon to assist with health needs at local schools, churches, park districts, and even the county fairgrounds. Because our vibrant community is so diverse andmedical issues are rarely accompanied by quick access to trained health professionals, BrightStar Care offers solutions where and when you need them. 1. What does the STARS program do, and who does it serve? The STARS Ministry is an outreach program through College Church’s Disability Ministries. Our desire is to welcome anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability and to remind them how indispensable they are to our community —we are incomplete without them! Everyone in our ministry is called a STAR, which stands for “Seeking to Always Reflect the Savior,” which is the model we all strive for. The STARS program also helps us avoid labels that are inappropriate for adults like “cutie” and “kiddos.” We provide stand- alone Sunday classes, inclusion buddies, respite programs throughout their lifespans, and two different music programs as well. Right now, our ministry serves people ages 3 to 62 years old.
never ends. These parents and their children also have individual needs, but they might be isolated from the community due to their circumstances. When the STARs come into College Church, they know they are valued and loved here. Our respite programs give parents a break for the evening, so they can take time to strengthen their marriages. Parents return refreshed and excited to see what their STAR did for the evening. Our music programs consist of two performances a year: a Christmas program and the Special Olympics concert in the spring. The STARS love this program and know they are valued, especially since this event gathers over 700-plus people. This year, the event is on Dec.16 at 6 p.m. You are invited to enjoy this faith celebration and tradition with our STARS. For more information, reach out to Julie Clemens, Director of Disability Ministries at College Church at 630-668-0878 ext. 115 or visit college-church.org/disabilities .
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the acts, people, andmoments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small —but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of goodmemories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say
This Podcast Is Helping People Everywhere Fall Asleep Faster
“Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful.
“SLEEP WITH ME” IS SATISFYINGLY BORING
We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older,
According to Greek mythology, the clever god, Hermes, used his inimitable wit to tell stories so long-winded they lulled monsters into a deep slumber. Using that same logic, the insomniacs of today’s world are advised to read material that will bore them to sleep. Unfortunately, for the people who toss and turn all night, studies show that the traditional techniques — like reading the phone book or counting sheep — aren’t effective. Patients who counted sheep for a study at Oxford University had no better luck falling asleep than the control group. Researchers found that insomniacs didn’t require sheer boredom to sleep; they needed a specific type of narrative that managed to be mildly amusing but not overly stimulating. Enter Drew Ackerman, the creator and host of the popular podcast “Sleep With Me.” Ackerman, a 41-year-old librarian in the Bay Area, created this podcast in 2013 to offer people who are experiencing sleep issues “a lulling, droning, boring bedtime story to distract their racing minds.” His podcast narratives are interesting in the way that they balance the act of intriguing listeners and soothing them to sleep. The stories are delivered in Ackerman’s meticulously unmodulated, drawling voice, which he spends loads of time working to perfect. To accompany the calming sound, Ackerman tells stories that function more like a stream of consciousness than a narrative with a start and end. Over time, his listeners have testified that his ability to jump from one unrelated topic to the next helps them fall asleep more quickly, and Ackerman continues to do just that. If you find that you constantly experience difficulty falling asleep and none of the classic tricks have helped, be sure to check out “Sleep With Me.” You can listen to it either on your home computer or on your smartphone and subscribe through Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, RadioPublic, or Spotify. For more information, go to sleepwithmepodcast.com.
and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more?
Have You Heard the Good News?
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Matthew11:28-30 Come tome, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn fromme, for I amgentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy andmy burden is light. Phil. 4:6-7, 9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ... the God of peace will be with you.
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CARING IN DUPAGE SUBSCRIPTION
INSIDE
Thankfulness for Thanksgiving 1
How to Give Thanks Year-Round How the STARS Program Serves Our Community 2
Have You Heard the Good News? Do You Have Trouble Falling Asleep? 3
A Historic Veterans Day 4
If you know someone in need of care, give them the insert inside this newsletter to see if BrightStar is right for them.
A HISTORIC VETERANS DAY Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the End of World War I
This year, Veterans Day takes on particular historic significance: Nov. 11, 2018, marks the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First WorldWar. Countries around the world will commemorate the signing of this peace agreement withmoments of silence, centennial ceremonies, and historical exhibits. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a celebration of life. It’s a day to honor the power of peace and the living veterans across the globe who have served their countries. This November, take a moment to remember the war that helped shape the international community’s dedication to peace and thank the individuals who served to defend it. The Great War By 1914, a world war had been years in the making, but the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire by a Serbian nationalist provided the spark that would eventually burn downmuch of Europe. A chain reaction of land disputes, pre-emptive attacks, and
strategic alliances brought over 30 countries intoWorldWar I.
The Great War that ravaged Europe resulted in a devastating loss of life, but from those ashes rose a renewed appreciation for the importance of peace and a global effort to ensure its place in the future. The Restoration of Peace In 1918, Germany surrendered unconditionally, and the armistice ended the fighting at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11thmonth in 1918, though the war did not officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles the following July. An estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians died in just four years, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history. Veterans Day Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day was first observed on Nov. 11, 1919, to honor the one-year anniversary of the armistice, and it became a U.S. holiday in 1938. Today, Veterans Day celebrates veterans who served their country honorably. The U.K., France, Australia, and Canada also commemorate their veterans in November. If you know a veteran, thank them for their service this month.
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