The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Although much of Sister Bernadette’s time is spent serving seniors, she does not confine her work exclusively to the elderly. She is available to anyone who can benefit from her services.

It is a brisk Monday morning in Wilsonville, Oregon, and Sister Bernadette Brazil is on her way to visit Wanda Eustis—an eighty-two-year-old woman who lives alone. Wanda is widowed and, although she has a son and two daughters, none of them live nearby. The days can be long and lonely for Wanda and everyday tasks aren’t as easy for her as they used to be. Wanda’s children have suggested that she might benefit from a retirement home; however, Wanda doesn’t agree. That time might come soon, she admits, but until then she is determined to stay in her house and maintain as much independence as her health allows.

Wanda welcomes Sister Bernadette warmly when she arrives. The two chat about this and that for a few minutes before Sister Bernadette reminds Wanda that a taxi will be arriving at two o’clock Wednesday afternoon to take her to a doctor’s appointment and that a team of volunteers will be coming to her home to do yard cleanup the following weekend. Sister Bernadette also offers to take Wanda on a tour of a local assisted- living facility that she feels might be a good option for her when Wanda is ready to make that step.

The visit with Wanda is the first of about forty that Sister Bernadette will make this week in her role as Client Service Coordinator for the City of Wilsonville—a job that has her coordinating services, making referrals, and providing support for the many seniors who don’t have access to the help they need from family and friends. “Calls come to me from churches, hospital discharge planners, neighbors, the police, family members, and sometimes even the senior him or herself,” said Sister Bernadette. “After that my job is to establish a rapport, assess the need, and make sure those needs are met.”

Getting personal

For Sister Bernadette, the job of looking out for seniors goes well beyond simply hooking people up with drivers or making sure their autumn leaves are raked. Those who know her say it is the personal touch she brings to her work that is her hallmark. “She is an amazing combination of compassionate presence, tireless listener, and strong decision maker,” said Peggy Watters, Wilsonville’s Community Service Director. “She develops real relationships with people, she walks with them as they make difficult choices, and she can be a tough cookie when she needs to be.”

Although many seniors are grateful for a friendly visitor, Sister Bernadette also encounters clients who are reluctant to let a stranger into their lives. It is those times in particular when Sister Bernadette’s special blend of kindness and tenacity really pays off. “I remember going to one gentleman’s house day after day,” said Sister Bernadette. “Each time I saw his eyes peeking through the screen but he would not answer the door.” Sister Bernadette called in from the porch, assuring the man that she just wanted to talk. There was no answer. She brought a picnic lunch and two lawn chairs and invited him to eat with her on his front lawn. Still nothing. Then one day, paramedics responded to a call that the man had fallen down his steps. “When the paramedics saw the terrible state of this man and his home, they called me to come in behind them,” remembers Sister Bernadette. “I realized then that this man had been too embarrassed to let me in. It took a long time to build trust with him but eventually he let me help him.”

In that man’s case, assistance came in the form of a massive cleanup. Sister Bernadette hired a garbage truck and recruited several volunteers to help her scour the house and haul away the many years worth of refuse that had collected there. “In time, that man became a very good friend of mine,” said Sister Bernadette. “He is deceased now but he died happy, clean, and with a renewed sense of humor.”

Volunteers like Dale Powell (top) also help keep the Community Center running smoothly. They prepare the meals that are delivered to the homebound, organize the donated medical equipment that is distributed to those who need it, and help with administrative work.

Filling Needs

A situation like that is unusual but even for more typical seniors, the difficulties are very real. Many seniors find they are unable to cook for themselves, do basic household maintenance, drive themselves to doctor’s appointments, or make informed decisions about housing or long-term care opportunities. Sister Bernadette makes referrals to County Assistance for those who are eligible and connects others with agencies or volunteers who can help meet those needs. “The list of needs is almost endless,” said Sister Bernadette. “The seniors I meet need housekeepers, bath aid, transportation, home-delivered meals, help with finances, a friendly visitor, housing, Hospice, and a host of other services. After I connect them with help, I follow up to make sure their needs are being met.”

Although much of her time is spent on intervention, Sister Bernadette makes a point of encouraging seniors to take steps before a crisis develops. For some seniors that means assessing their financial situation; for others it means looking at assisted living situations that they may need down the line; for still others it is as simple as learning to ride the bus in preparation for the time when driving is no longer an option. “I try to suggest these things before the problem is at their heels and they are too emotionally charged to deal with it,” said Sister Bernadette.

Despite her willingness to give suggestions, however, Sister Bernadette is always conscious of the importance of respecting the wishes of her clients and keeping them in charge of as many decisions as they are able to handle. “Sometimes we think we know what is best for people but we have to find out what they want,” said Sister Bernadette. “I can advise them of their options but if their minds are still alert, they are the ones who make the choices.”

Joining Forces

Of course, even when seniors know what they want, not all of them have the resources to make it happen. When one of Sister Bernadette’s long-time clients recently became wheelchair-bound but couldn’t afford to have a ramp installed on the front of his house, Sister Bernadette sprang into action. She called a gentleman she knew from the local Rotary Club who donated the lumber needed to build the ramp. She contacted students from a high school design class who drew up plans for the structure. And she worked with a nearby women’s prison that provided inmates participating in a job skills program to do the construction. “It was a huge success for everybody and everybody benefitted,” said Sister Bernadette.

Relying on others in that way is an essential strategy for Sister Bernadette. Although she likes to see as many clients herself as she can, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day for her to fill all the needs personally. That’s why she has many volunteers who work with her, doing things like cleaning yards in the spring and fall, delivering meals to seniors’ homes, and driving people to appointments. Some volunteers even take part in six weeks of training to become “senior mentors.” At the end of the training, each mentor “adopts” a particular individual, usually spending a few hours each week with him or her. Whether it is just paying a visit, helping with grocery shopping, or going out to lunch, the mentors provide an important connection in the lives of the seniors with whom they pair.

“Volunteers are my support system,” said Sister Bernadette. “They are my extra

sets of hands, eyes, and ears.” Even with all that help, Sister Bernadette is always available should a serious crisis arise. The volunteers who work with her know that they need only call Sister Bernadette with a concern about a client to have her arrive at that senior’s doorstep within hours, even minutes.

Charlie Porter is thrilled with the ramp that allows him to come and go from his home easily. The construction of the ramp was a community-wide effort initiated by Sister Bernadette. It combined the efforts of a local man who donated the lumber, a group of high school students who designed the structure, and several inmates from a nearby minimum security correctional facility who did the actual building.

Building Community

For many seniors, the most important services Sister Bernadette connects them with are not those that come to them. Eager to keep her clients active and involved, Sister Bernadette encourages those who are able to take part in the social and enrichment activities available at the Wilsonville Community Center. About sixty seniors a day come to the center to share meals, spend time with one another, or take one of the many free classes that are offered. In addition to structured offerings like Spanish, yoga, and woodcarving, the center also schedules musicians and speakers for those who prefer to simply drop in. “There is a welcoming family atmosphere here,” said Peggy. “It is hard to get from the front door to the dining room without receiving a greeting or a hug.”

In addition to the paid staff who work in the center, the seniors themselves perform many tasks that make the center a friendly and smoothly run operation. One group of women manages the gift shop, several people volunteer as receptionists, and one man serves as the center’s doorman and greeter—making everyone who enters feel right at home. “He started out by opening the door for the ladies as they came in and eventually we gave him the job,” said Peggy. “He puts on a shirt, tie, and hat each day; comes into the center; and takes his post. The work he does is nice for the center and essential for his own sense of purpose.”

Linking Lives

Seemingly everywhere at once, Sister Bernadette is herself another friendly face at the center. Despite her tight visiting schedule, Sister Bernadette makes it a priority to be at the center during lunchtime so that the seniors will get to know her and feel comfortable using her as a resource. “Because of Sister Bernadette, the seniors in Wilsonville get more personal attention than I suspect they do in a lot of other places,” said Peggy. “Sister Bernadette does home visits rather than phone calls. She sits down with each of her clients and gets to know them all as human beings. She is more than a link to services. She is an emotional link. I don’t think you can measure that.”

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HOW YOU CAN HELP...

• Make a special effort to keep in touch with the seniors in your life. Telephone an elderly relative or friend who is far away or invite those who live nearby to join you for a meal, accompany you to the mall, or go with you to a show. A couple of hours of your time can make a huge difference for seniors who live alone or have a difficult time getting out.
• Offer your time and talent at a senior center or nursing home. Give an afternoon piano recital, present a craft workshop, or teach seniors how to tango.
• Support legislation that helps seniors. Make your voice heard on issues such as Medicare prescription drug benefits, predatory lending, and retirement security.
• Donate medical equipment that you are no longer using to an organization that will distribute it to those who need it.
• Offer to provide relief for a caregiver. The stress of caring for an elderly relative can be both physically and psychologically exhausting. An afternoon of free time can give a caregiver a new lease on life.