Diabetes

Everyone gets sick now and then. There are special considerations for those people with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association encourages those persons with diabetes to work out a plan of action ahead of time for sick days. This plan will allow you to have supplies on hand and feel safe on how to manage the illness.
To make a Sick Day plan, work with your doctor, or a diabetes educator. The plan will include when to call your diabetes team, how often to measure blood sugar and urine ketones, what medicines to take, and how to eat. It’s a good idea to attach to your plan a list of phone numbers for your doctor, diabetes educator, and dietitian. Make sure you also know how to reach them at night and on weekends and holidays. Then when illness strikes, you will be ready.

If you get sick, call your doctor if:
You've been sick or have had a fever for a couple of days and aren't getting better.

• You've been vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
• Your blood sugar is higher than the doctor suggested even though you are following your sick day plan.
• You have symptoms that might signal ketoacidosis or dehydration or some other serious condition (for example, your chest hurts, you are having trouble breathing, your breath smells fruity, or your lips or tongue are dry and cracked).
• You aren't certain what to do to take care of yourself.
  
  The doctor will want to know what medicines you’ve taken, how long you’ve been sick, if you’re keeping food and drink down, your temperature, if you’ve lost weight and what your blood sugar level has been running. Keep written records.
  
  
  It’s difficult to eat and drink when you aren’t feeling well. It’s important to stick with your normal meal plan if possible. It’s also important to drink a lot of non-caloric liquids to keep from getting dehydrated. Try to take in your normal number of calories by eating easy-on-the-stomach foods like regular (non-diet) gelatin, crackers, soups, and applesauce. If all you can keep down is liquids, your sick day plan may include regular (not diet) soft drinks, juice, frozen juice bars, sherbet, pudding, creamed soups or broth.
  
  So plan ahead, especially if you are diabetic. Work out a sick day plan with your doctor or diabetes educator. Have phone numbers written down and easy to find. Have on hand at home a small stock of non-diet soft drinks, broth, applesauce, and regular gelatin.
  
  November is National Diabetes Month. Take good care of yourself and share this information with others.
  
  Blessings to you,
  Kathy
  Kathy Anderson, RN, Parish Nurse
  

Pastoral Care at Faith
At Faith Presbyterian Church there are four persons that share in the pastoral care responsibilities (Dave Van Arsdale, Kathryn Pyke, Patty Mason and Kathy Anderson). We have some assistance from a Stephen Minister and the Deacons. Those who do pastoral care are in touch with each other almost every day including the weekends. The policy of releasing names to churches by Banner Health has changed. Faith Church will no longer be receiving the “faxed” list. If you or someone you know is a patient at any hospital other than the former “Sun Health” hospitals, the Church Office needs to be notified by a friend or family member as we will no longer receive notice from the hospital.

Often things change from the early morning fax to the normal visitation time in the afternoon. We sometimes find members in the Emergency Room. Dave does the visitation on Saturday with Kathryn making the visits on Sunday. Our Parish Nurse, Kathy Anderson, regularly follows up with people who have been hospitalized, with the help of Kathryn, Patty, and Dave.

If you ever hear of anyone in the hospital, please give the Church Office a call, because the present system misses people occasionally. If you know someone who enters another hospital, we definitely will not know unless a friend or family member calls the Church Office. If you ever hear a comment from a member that they wonder why a pastor has not called, please call the Church Office. The pastoral care staff at Faith Presbyterian Church takes their calling and ministry of care and support with the members of the congregation as a major priority of the ministry we share together.

Parish Nurse Update …

Health consultation or questions with the Parish Nurse available     Sunday, June 7th.  Kathy will be available after the 10:00 a.m. worship service, in Illingworth Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Stop by to introduce yourself and ask any health-related questions or concerns.

Lightbeams Low Vision Support Group is a group for those with vision impairment or those who want more information about living with vision impairment.  The Lightbeams will be taking the summer off and reassemble on the second Thursday in October. Any questions, call Kathy Anderson 623-974-3611.

Remember to get your blood pressure checked on Sunday, June 21 in the Iona room after the 10:00 a.m. Worship Service.  Blood pressure clinic will be open from 11:00-11:30 a.m. Put a little prevention in your life!

Exercise at Faith Church: Classes are held at 9:00 a.m. in Illingworth Hall, $3:00 suggested donation.

MORE RESOURSES!
Check out the new resource information in the display cabinets in Illingworth Hall:  Support group information, Interfaith Community Care resources, and Lifeline alert systems information and activation coupons.  Help yourself!

E-mail Addresses To receive a regular update of the changes in the Pastoral Care needs of Faith Presbyterian Church or other concerns related to the Faith Presbyterian Church family, submit your e-mail address to Roda Wright and follow the regular updates (2 or 3 times a week). Roda’s address: rwright@scfaith.org.

Alzheimer’s Disease: You’re Not Alone

While Alzheimer’s disease may not be affecting you, it may be affecting your spouse, neighbor or a family member. It can be a long process in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. You are not
alone. There is help as close as your telephone. There are many who share your experiences and can be a support. The Alzheimer’s Association is just one of many resources. Here are some of the helps offered through this organization:

Helpline The Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest's Helpline is a toll-free number, offered free of charge, that you can call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to get information about Alzheimer's disease. Through their National office, they have the ability to serve individuals in 140 different languages by accessing translation services. Call 1-800-272-3900 to speak with a trained Helpline specialist, many of whom are former caregivers themselves, who will provide emotional support and appropriate referrals to local resources in your area.

Information and Referral Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest's Information & Referral program provides information
about Alzheimer's Disease and the resources available in the local community. Questions such as "Does your facility accept" dementia patients, wanderers, combativeness, short term respite or ALTCS pending, are asked. Facilities are noted whether they have a dementia unit, wanderguard, door alarms, key pad locks or a secured/enclosed outdoor area. The list covers institutions in Maricopa, Gila and Pinal Counties

MedicAlert + Safe Return Alzheimer's Association's MedicAlert + Safe Return® is a nation-wide identification, support and enrollment program that provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, nation-wide.

Desert Southwest Chapter Office
1028 E McDowell Rd, Phoenix AZ 85006
602.528.0545 telephone, 602.528.0546 fax

This recipe is good for any person:
Alzheimer’s or not! Recipe for a Healthy Brain: Serves:Everyone

Ingredients
1 daily dose of 30-minute exercise
1 daily dose heart healthy diet
1 daily dose of mental activity
3 weekly doses of social activity
1 daily dose of positive thinking
1 daily does of 7-8 hours of sleep
Mix together on a routine basis and enjoy a
longer, happier life!
-from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute

Blessings,
Kathy Anderson, RN
Parish Nurse

Congregational Care
Do you know of any recent hospitalizations, serious illness, celebrations or other important information?  Please be our eyes and ears that will help us stay connected to all of our members and friends.  Your Pastors want to be with you to share struggles and joys. Please call one of the Pastors, the Parish Nurse or the Church Office as soon as you are able.

Caring for physical and emotional health is part of our spiritual concern, as spirituality and healing are inseparable. Here at Faith Church we are blessed to have an exceptional Care Ministry. The Care Ministry council which assesses the congregational needs and coordinates services, consists of an Associate Pastor, our Parish Nurse, an Elder, Stephen Ministry Coordinator, Moderator of the Deacons, Friendly Visitor Coordinator, a representative of the Lightbeams and an RN or LPN from the congregation.

Prayer Shawl Ministy at Faith Church

A shawl represents warmth - the warmth of
church family and friends.

As a shawl is draped around one’s
shoulders it represents
encouragement and hope.

We don’t hear much about this ministry, however. Thanks to a small group of dedicated knitters and crocheters, who create our shawls with nimble fingers and prayerful hearts, we are able to provide shawls to anyone who needs one, or asks for one. Shawls are knitted and crocheted in silent prayer for all who are in need within our church family. Our parish nurse, Betty Flower, is often the person who offers a shawl; however, anyone of us can deliver one to a friend in need of comfort. If you would like a shawl, please call the Parish Nurse Kathy Anderson or the church office: 974-3611.