Denver Catholic

17 DENVER CATHOLIC | SEPTEMBER 9-22, 2017 Our beautiful 10 acre campus offers seniors five choices of carefree living with month to month rent and no buy in fee. Enjoy beautiful gardens, walkways, fine dining, friendly people and so much more! Patio Homes • Independent Apartments • Independent Apartments with Services (303) 429-8857 5000 West 75th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80030 Arbors of San Marino Assisted Living & Memory Care Apartments (303) 426-9090 7425 Xavier Street, Westminster, CO 80030 www.SanMarinoRetirement.com SERVING THE DENVER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SINCE 1890. The heritage behind our mortuaries and cemeteries is one of history and tradition. For more than a century, Catholic families have trusted Olinger Mortuaries and Cemeteries to care for their loved ones because respect for traditions, understanding the needs of the Catholic faith, and providing affordable options is at the heart of what we do. With more than a 85 years of combined experience, parishioners Harry Stevenson and Matt Whale have assisted families with care and compassion. Their expertise combined with those who provide professional services in 11 Olinger neighborhood chapels is virtually unprecedented in serving the Denver Catholic community. (303) 455-3663 www.denverfuneralproviders.com Harry Stevenson 55 Years Matt Whaley 30 Years mutually beneficial, psychologically and socially, Holloway said. While youths gain self-esteem, respect for others, life and academic skills, elders get companionship, intellectual stimulation and the chance to feel useful. "The training is what makes our work so successful for youths and elders," Holloway said, adding that among other skills, participants learn how to be present by looking into the elder's eyes, to slow down their speaking pace and to empower elders by doing activities with them, not for them. Sixty percent of nursing home residents don't receive visitors, Holloway said. "It's not the nursing home's fault that people are estranged from their families by distance," she said. "But we're attacking that percentage." Through the program, participants said, youths learn empathy and to calm high energy, while elders seem to come to life. "I look forward to seeing those young people," Mijee Mumaugh, 89, a resident of Denver's Gardens at St. Elizabeth, said about visits from Escuela de Gua- dalupe School students through Bes- sie's Hope. "It's a good outlet for us to be with someone other than our own age group. "I have my own piece of refrigerator art," she added. "That's something special since I don't have grandkids!" Escuela student Alexis Ibarra, 11, enjoyed his visits as a third-grader at the Gardens so much, that he asked permission to take part the following year as well. "I was happy because … we'd go and cheer them up and they'd be happy — not in their rooms lonely," he explained. "They were very nice and would com- pliment us." Lauren Carranza, third grade teacher at Escuela, has had her classes participate with Bessie's Hope monthly during the school year for the past several years as part of their first Communion preparation to make their community service requirement a "living, breathing," meaningful experience. "It happens that third-graders and elders have the same interests," she said with a laugh. Ibarra agreed. "They like to do what we like to do!" he said. Holloway noted that St. Mother Teresa called being unloved, unwanted and forgotten the greatest poverty. "Bessie's Hope was created to try to make a difference in the lives of those who feel unloved and unwanted," she said. Carranza said her students relish doing their part. "The kids know they … can share themselves with others and learn from others," she said. "They're surprised by how much they connect with the elders and form relationships with them. It's like they give each other a gift back and forth. "That's their 'love in action.'" BESSIE'S HOPE For information on programs and/or upcoming events, including Bessie's Hope 14th annual Bowl-a- Rama fundraiser to benefi t at-risk youth and nursing home residents, visit BessiesHope.org. i Bessie's Hope is a nonprofi t organiza- tion that o˜ ers programs to help foster rela- tionships between youth and the elderly. PHOTOS PROVIDED

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