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Appleton woman is new president of Bethany HomeBY FERN SMITHPost-Crescent staff wrlftrWAUPACA - Mrs. Howell Lane, a member of the First English Lutheran Church, Appleton, was elected president of the Bethany Home Auxilianr thisweek at the annual meeting of the 28 congregations which serve Bethany Home. Mrs. Lane was treasurer and co-chairwoman of the Bethany Day committee.Also chosen for the new official team were Mrs. Eugene Anderson, vice president, Grace Lutheran Church, Winchester; Mrs. Gordon Bubolz, secretary, First English Lutheran Church, Appleton, and Margaret Miller, treasurer, Trinity Lutheran Church, Waupaca.Three new directors were elected to three-year terms on the board: Mrs. Richard Scheller, Prince of Peace, Appleton; Mrs. Luther Olsen, First Lutheran Church, Poy Sippi, and Mrs Eugene Anderson, Grace Lutheran Church, Winchester.Guest speaker, Dianne Freehill, MSW, social service consultant for Bethany Home, employed by Lutheran Social Service, Appleton, talked with the 80 members about the role of socialservices at Bethany.“The general role of social services is to point out problems, aid in their solu* t tions and program prevention,” Mrs. Freehill began. “More specifically, we work to enhance or restore the residents’ social functions and capabilities.“In the health care field we counsel, assist hospitals with discharge planning, follow up and aid in coordinating services,” she explained.“We deal with anxieties,” she continued. “People seriously ill need most of all someone with whom to share their feelings. We find many men and women seldom see the need for money as the root of many of their anxieties, and we can help.“Fear of dying is another common anxiety among the terminally ill, and it can dramatically affect a patient’s feelings,” the social worker pinpointed.“Would it overwhelm you to talk with a person who is dying? They often appreciate the chance to talk openly abouithe prospect of death, and the social worker provides that chance,” Mrs Freehill said.She added, “I recently lost my mother. One day she wanted to talk with me about her little tokens and who was going to get them when she died. I dismissed the subject; she looked well, and I missed the opportunity. I could have sat down and shared with her.“We all have the gift of ourselves,” she said. “If we can comfortably reach out to people — we need no special skill. Take the time to listen; go with what the patient says; share an interest in what is being said. It is rewarding for both.“If you are willing to begin making your role as a staff member or volunteer more meaningful for the residents here at Bethany Home, ask yourselves such questions as: ’How would you feel if suddenly left alone, if you were told you had a terminal illness, if you had left your home to live with strangers and given up your independence and were dependent upon someone else to look after your physical, medical and social needs?' ” At present 10 per cent of this nation’s population is over 65 years of age and 2 per cent of the psychiatric outpatient services are being used for the aging, she cited.“There is a whole new approach to the well being of the aging.” she concluded. “Keep them involved, ambulatory, interested, challenged. An aging person confined to a wheelchair will respond to new horizons, stimulated by staff and volunteers to use a walker, move out ofthe room, take an interest in others living here.”Mrs. Freehill works with Faye Somers, director of social services at Bethany Home to continue training staff to meet social and emotional needs of Bethany residents in individual and group counseling. She said there will be more work done in the coming year to identify social and emotional needs of Bethany residents. Medicare, 10 months ago, made it mandatory that a nursing home have a full-time social worker or provide services supervised by a social worker. This is Mrs. Freehill’s position at Bethany.The annual business meeting was conducted by Mrs. LaVerne Brooks, St. John Lutheran Church Saxeville, retiring president.Mrs. Lane’s treasurers’s report showed that the Auxiliary raised and spent $6,800 during 1975, at the Home.The scholarship fund, which offers extension courses for staff, equipment and supplies, in addition to scholarships, spent $1,892 the past year, Mrs. Gordon Bulbolz, chairman, reported.Bethany Day this summer, attracted 100 more persons, and 1,600 chickens were served. Bethany’s Fall Fair is this Saturday.A gift of thanksFaye Sommers, staff member at Bethany Home, presents a token of the Auxiliary’s appreciation to Mrs. Donald Woodford, Trinity Lutheran Church, Stevens Point, and Mrs. LaVerne Brooks, retiring president from St. John Lutheran Church, Saxeville. Each woman served two terms, the maximum, onfvl
Newspaper Details
Appleton Post Crescent
Appleton, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Oct 09, 1975
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
T W.
NA, 05 Aug 2021
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