Art of Caring 2011

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Art of Caring 2011

In celebration and support of Older Americans and their caregivers, Iona expanded its advocacy efforts and hosted Art of Caring 2011 - an array of community events, training seminars, education and information sessions held throughout the month of May. Thanks to the support and involvement of sponsors, business executives, health care practitioners, public officials, community activists, and neighbors, Iona’s Art of Caring has had and will continue to have a significant impact on family caregiving, the greater Washington community, and even our nation’s ability to manage the complex social and economic impact of caregiving today and far into the future.

Iona provided a wonderful slate of inspiring and substantive events to over 2,500 people, who will carry the information and messages to an even larger population - their workforce, public officials, congregations, clients, and neighbors. That means that the seeds of action have been planted to advocate for caregivers and older persons in our community to ensure the opportunity for all to have the resources, support and information they need to age well and live well!

Thank you to all who participated in and embraced the best practices, messages, and spirit of these Art of Caring events:

The Art of Caring month-long advocacy effort was kicked off when Iona hosted the gifted Mosaic Harmony Chorus and welcomed the public to a free concert at the historic City Church on May 1 to set the tone of celebration and thanksgiving for family caregivers;

On May 4^th, Iona’s Art of Caring Benefit Luncheon filled the grand ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel with more than 300 business and community leaders standing together with caregivers to show them that their needs are recognized and their devotion is respected.

The luncheon speakers and special honorees made our event unforgettable, including these special moments:

The inspiration of Dick and Lois England by their decades-long service to community, to Iona, and their vitality in calling for us to join them in service
The humor and grace of Mark Shriver accepting recognition on behalf of his exemplary family and recalling the lessons of caring for community, especially the most vulnerable, that he and his siblings learned from their parents
The unvarnished testimony of keynote speaker and author Jane Gross on the stark realities of aging, gaps in service, and the terrifying prospects of being without resources or community in one’s senior years
The hope embodied in Iona social work intern Malika Moore who carries out her work with a sparkle, one senior at a time, and gives us comfort to know that gifted young people are choosing to serve older people through social work
The account of love, loyalty, and companionship end shared by Mary Frances McGuiness, who returned in full measure the love of her childhood nanny and lifelong friend Paralee Thomas by being her sole caregiver and relying on Iona
The loving words of His Eminence Cardinal McCarrick, who called on us all to ensure a community that cares for and supports caregivers on their journey
The generous outpouring of support from sponsors and attendees who embraced the spirit of the Art of Caring and provided additional gifts to Iona’s Client Care Fund so we can serve a dramatically rising number of seniors who are all alone

Everyone at the luncheon left with a new or deepened understanding of the devastating consequences of poorly meeting the needs of vulnerable seniors and their struggling caregivers, and the urgency of their companies, congregations, and neighbors advocating for older Americans and their families and caregivers in our community.

On May 11, Iona board member Sharon Smith of Wells Fargo Advisors, with partner Allianz, hosted an Eldercare training for 30 financial advisors at the Mayflower Hotel. This training empowered participants to recognize diminished capacity in clients and take the proper steps to protect their safety and security. By raising awareness and providing tools to identify needs, Iona has potentially impacted thousands of family members served by these financial advisors in the years to come.

On May 17^th, Iona staff presented at a gathering of human resource directors hosted at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in downtown Washington. Participants from small, medium, and large organizations discussed the workforce productivity issues arising from working caregivers and learned about Iona’s resources that can help organizations support these employees as well as their own bottom line. As conduits to their workforce and professional networks, these HR professionals will reach thousands of working caregivers with information and support.

Iona hosted the first community-wide Education, Advocacy and Engagement Awards on May 19^th, featuring a panel discussion on volunteerism to help meet the gaps in services, and honoring over 20 volunteers age 60 and better for their exemplary service. DC Office on Aging Deputy Director Ms. Donna Dunston presented the awards. The event, attended by 100 city leaders and citizens, ended with a special presentation of the life’sDHA™ "Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential" award to Iona yoga instructor Sally Craig. The Beautiful Minds campaign was sponsored by Martek Biosciences Corporation in conjunction with National Center for Creative Aging.

On May 20^th Iona, along with partners Seabury Resources for Aging and the National Catholic School of Social Services (NCSSS) Center on Global Aging, sponsored a six- hour CEU training for social workers entitled “Effective Social Work Practice with Vulnerable Adults” led by NCSSS professor and longtime Iona colleague, Dr. Barbara Soniat. There were 135 area social workers in attendance, a testament to the rising need for this innovative training. This training will have immediate impact on hundreds of vulnerable seniors, especially those who are evaluated by social workers for independent living, and has the potential, as part of the core training for all social workers, to impact self-determination, independence and quality of life for the millions of baby boomers who wish to age in place.

Iona is grateful to our Art of Caring 2011 sponsors who sustain our work through their generosity and partnership:

Caring Partners

Arent Fox www.arentfox.com

Capital City Nurses www.capitalcitynurses.com

Carefirst www.carefirst.com

Clark Construction www.clarkconstruction.com

KPMG www.kpmg.com

Marshfield Associates www.marshfieldinc.com

The Mayhood Company www.mayhoodcompany.com

The Sanford & Doris Slavin Foundation

Sharon L. Smith, Wells Fargo Advisors www.wellsfargoadvisors.com

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Tompkins