Health Care Ministry of Princeton helps to keep seniors independent
By: Diane Landis Hackett
Take some compassion, sprinkle in a small band of committed staff and volunteers, top it off with food shopping and home visits and you have a recipe that has provided comfort and dignity to elderly Princeton residents for 23 years.
In 1984 The Health Care Ministry of Princeton was founded by Sister Ancilla of the Mount Carmel Guild in Trenton and by the Knights of Columbus of Princeton. At that time, Sister Ancilla recognized that if the elderly were provided basic services, such as transportation to appointments and grocery shopping, they would be able to live in their own homes or apartments rather than spend their remaining days in a nursing home.
Today, Carol Olivieri, the ministry’s executive director, ensures that some of the elderly are provided the services they need to remain independent and at home as they age, regardless of race, creed or ability to pay.
"If the elderly can stay in their community, they can continue to participate in their churches and the businesses that they have gone to for so long. And this keeps our entire community vibrant," says Ms. Olivieri, who has been with the ministry for 14 years.
The organization, which has three part-time staff members and 45 volunteers, provides services to seniors who range in age from 80 to 100 and whose desire it is to live out their lives in their own homes.
"They don’t want to make a change. This is where they are comfortable. But, once their health deteriorates, so much goes wrong. It is like a domino effect," says Ms. Olivieri, who adds that loneliness is also a real problem for those who are homebound.
So this small but feisty organization provides the services that are needed to allow these seniors to remain safe and sound at home.
Health Care Ministry volunteers use their own vehicles to provide clients with transportation to eye exams, dentists and doctors. They focus on nutrition through food shopping, and they provide companionship through home visits and caregiver relief. They also communicate with family members who are not living in the area to ensure that their loved one is provided with the best care possible.
Volunteer Vicki Barry was once a client of the organization. When her mother was ill with Alzheimer’s disease in 1998, she says she was thankful to be offered an hour or two off every few weeks to just clear her head.
"When someone is ill with Alzheimer’s, it is like a 36-hour day," she says.
The program was so important to her, in fact, that she has been volunteering with the ministry since her mother’s death in 1999. Ms. Barry, who briefly moved to a continuing care facility recently with her husband and then chose to return to their home, says she realized quickly the benefits of being back in a familiar and diverse community.
"People have a desire to be in their own communities, not in an age-segregated environment. As long as you feel safe and not threatened, why would you go anywhere else?" she asks.
One reason why people may not be able to stay in their own homes is safety. The ministry provides safety surveys to prevent falls and other disasters. Volunteers go into homes and look for any potential danger. They might notice something as basic as the need for a non-skid shower mat, a shower chair or automatic nightlights for the client to help them to fulfill their basic tasks without falling and injuring themselves.
The ministry’s client list has grown exponentially in the past four years. In 2003, it served 45 clients. Today, it has 72 clients but still only 45 volunteers, who range from retirees to young mothers. They give as much or as little time as their schedules permit. While some volunteers work full time and grocery-shop for clients on the weekends, others are able to visit or provide transportation to clients during the week.
Volunteers are screened by the organization, which conducts a phone interview, an application process, a face-to-face interview, a background check and then an orientation, to ensure they are prepared for the task at hand. With the recent client influx, the ministry is reaching out into the community for volunteers as well as funding.
"We are a charitable organization in need of charity," says Ms. Olivieri, who adds that the ministry operates at low cost and low tech so that donations go directly to the people who need the services. The ministry receives no government support.
Four years ago, the organization began an annual giving campaign. Using its in-house desktop computer and printer, the ministry turned out a black-and-white fundraising brochure. The campaign continues this year.
While the Knights of Columbus provided the original startup funds, the ministry has expanded its funding base, receiving money from individuals, businesses and nonprofits, as well as memorial donations.
"Whether it is $10 or $1,000, the donor has chosen to communicate to us that the work of the organization is important," says Ms. Olivieri.
"One thing we try to do is bring respect and dignity to the elderly after they have lived such rich lives, contributing to their families and communities," she says.
The Health Care Ministry of Princeton primarily serves residents in Princeton Borough and Princeton Township but does have clients who live in West Windsor, Kingston and Rocky Hill. To contact the ministry for more information about services, to find out how to volunteer, or to donate, write to [email protected] or P.O. Box 1517, Princeton 08542-1517, or call 609-921-8888.

