The Parish Nurse Ministry is really a framework for our wellness & a means to achieve the maximum potential of our spirituality to help ourselves. The concept integrates all dimensions of the entire person.  It celebrates our wholeness: our mental, emotional, social, & spiritual selves, within the context of our Armenian faith.  Parish nursing is caring for the mind, body & spirit by combining the knowledge & skills of nursing practice with an understanding of spiritual & religious beliefs that underlie health…(Denton)

Under the guidance of Der Aved & the advice & assistance of the Church Health & Wellness Committee, our parish nurse Sona Aslanian-Hargrove usually works from 5–10 hours per week. Our achievements this year include  496  telephone calls,  379  face to face  contacts in addition to many  meetings & programs. The attendance at  the many programs offered through the year ranged from 30 – 70 people for each presentation with a total of 860 return group participants. Hundreds of individuals benefited from the following programs, services & assistance provided & facilitated by the parish nurse,  the Health & Wellness committee & other  very valuable volunteers.  

Regular visits to Avaks;  Health education &  personal counseling, guest presentations on topics such as: Long term care & Medicaid planning; Health Care Proxy, & End of Life issues, Social Security;  Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS); Diet, Nutrition & Exercise;  Transportation Services for Elders; Emergency Room Changes & Usage;  Communication challenges with  the HIPPA laws; Outreach to homebound elders  living alone, in nursing homes & assisted living facilities & as in-patients in  hospitals  Advocacy on behalf of individuals & families  through case conferences, discharge planning; Liaison & meetings  with social workers, physicians & other agencies; Relocation assistance & guidance; Interpretation with health care professionals for non-English speaking elders;  Protective Services;  Escort & transportation to doctors appointments; Visits to emergency room; Information & referral to community agencies for services such as emergency food &  fuel assistance & Hospice;   Delivery of Thanksgiving baskets & Christmas gifts & ornaments made by the Sunday School students;  Help with accessing legal advice & addressing immigration issues;  Medication monitoring; Caregiver support;  Distribution of written materials on relevant elder issues;  Therapeutic touch; Spiritual support  & bible reading; and  Monthly services offered by Der Aved & Der Khatchadour at Odd Fellows & Holy Trinity Nursing Homes.

We know that many more elders want continued contact & connection with the Church.   Therefore, the primary goals for the coming year will be to 1) coordinate & increase the number of volunteer friendly visitors to homebound elders in particular 2) facilitate transportation for them to Sunday Badarak & Church events; 3) Continue to bring people together for  monthly programs on health & wellness; 4) Continue outreach efforts. Additional volunteers are needed to visit, and make telephone calls to elders.  Please call Sona if you are able and wish to serve in this capacity.

The Parish is very grateful to the following members of the Church  Health & Wellness Committee:  Der Aved; Dr. Richard Bedrosian; Barry Bilzerian; Christine Corff; Dr. H. Martin Deranian; Dr. Charles Garabedian; Judy Garabedian; Sonia Gebeshian; Cheryl Halloran; Janet Monroy, Sharon  Sendrowski, & Archie Torosian.  Additional members are always  welcome  to serve on this advisory committee. 

•      Blood Pressure Screenings – monthly on Monday at  Avak  by  Anne Kachaian   RN  at special programs or fellowship, or as needed
•      Ongoing distribution of materials to parishioners, (in particular elders and caregivers) on  health and wellness and  community resources
•      Visits to Avaks on Mondays with updates on subjects such as, the new Medicare law and cards and accessing flu vaccines.   Individual          counseling to members of Avaks 
•      Parish Nurse and volunteer visits to parishioners in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living and  private homes  with Mas and Church          bulletin 
•      Help to coordinate and participate in monthly services offered by Der Aved and Der Khatchadour at Holy Trinity Nursing Home.   Facilitate         attendance and inclusion of Armenian residents
•      Health and Wellness Committee reviewed Church members list to begin to identify  individuals who: 1) are residents of  nursing homes, 2)         that would benefit from home visits and 3) those that may need a visit or support in the near future
•      Health and Wellness Committee members sent holiday cards to homebound elders. Fresh flowers and pictures were delivered to some as         well.
•      Spoke to Sunday school students who donated food for thanksgiving baskets and reinforced the importance of giving and caring.  Again met         with those students that made holiday decorations and cards that were distributed to our elders.
•       Community networking -  introduction and information to professionals of Holy Trinity, Odd Fellows,  St Francis Home,   Clark Manor and          Sunrise Nursing Home and other community agencies.  Attended professional meetings - with local Parish Nurses and PNM Inc

Assessment and therapeutic touch; health system guidance and advocacy; information  and referrals to community agencies for social services,  legal, housing and relocation, immigration, transportation; medical and mental health services; advocacy and discharge planning; health education and counseling; medication access; faith discussion; emotional and spiritual support to parishioners and families; distribution of materials on health and wellness, community resources and end of life issues; anxiety reduction; socialization enhancement; trip information; emergency assistance; Thanksgiving baskets; caregiver support and services; bibliotherapy; self esteem enhancement; on-going distribution of materials – such as caregiver manual, health and wellness information, Medicare and Medicaid  

               Our goals for the next year are to:

1)   Further identify isolated and ill parishioners with a focus on elders to offer services, spiritual support and continued connection to the church through outreach visits

2)      Create an audiotape of favorite hymns from the Badarak, a sermon from Der Aved, to share with elders who can no longer attend church 

3)      Recruit, schedule meetings, train and assign additional  professional and non- professional volunteers of all ages  to assist with this ministry

4)     Seek additional funding for the program

5)       Offer additional educational programs to the parish community

We are confident that with God’s guidance and grace and your support, our Parish Nurse Ministry program will continue to grow and will eventually serve as a model for other Armenian Churches in the Country. We pledge to work together toward our goal of bringing about a greater understanding of the relationship between our strong faith, lifestyle, personal habits, attitudes, and well being and in continuing in God’s service to love and care for one another.

The Parish Nurse is available from 3 - 8 hours per week and can be reached by calling the Church Office. Please call if you would like to volunteer in some capacity with this program