Caregiving with Presence

Jack O'Callaghan S.J. Wellness Space

On September 18, the Loyola Medicine community dedicated the Jack O'Callaghan, S.J. Wellness Space at Loyola University Medical Center.

Named in honor of Father Jack O'Callaghan, this space was designed to promote togetherness and build a community that supports residents and fellows during their rigorous medical training.

For nearly 25 years, Father Jack has been passionate about improving the wellness of medical residents and fellows training at Loyola. After successive careers as a Jesuit teacher and administrator, he was assigned in 1995 to University Ministry in the Stritch School of Medicine and later became vice president, mission integration at Loyola University Medical Center.

Ahead of his time, Father Jack understood that healthcare organizations must embrace their responsibility to foster a culture of wellness and support physicians' efforts to improve their own resilience.

As a Jesuit, he became aware that the medical residents needed a gathering space, a necessary element of building community and promoting wholeness, a basic characteristic of the Jesuit educational tradition since the 16th century.

The Jack O'Callaghan, S.J. Wellness Space includes a living room, kitchen, sleeping quarters and outdoor patio, a welcoming environment for residents and fellows to recharge their minds, bodies and souls.

This new space was made possible through the generous philanthropic support of donors, each of whom welcomed the opportunity to honor Father Jack and make his vision a reality.

The new residency wellness space was dedicated by Shawn P. Vincent, President and CEO of Loyola Medicine and Tad Gomez, President, Loyola University Medical Center. Both spoke of Father Jack's dedication and career of serving the health and well-being of others.

Tad Gomez, President, Loyola University Medical Center, Father Jack O'Callaghan and Shawn P. Vincent, President and CEO, Loyola Medicine
(Left to right: Tad Gomez, President, Loyola University Medical Center, Father Jack O'Callaghan and Shawn P. Vincent, President and CEO, Loyola Medicine)

Mr. Gomez noted, "Father Jack's passion for creating a strong community for our trainees enables our residents and fellows to take better care of those we have the privilege of serving."

Greg Ozark, MD, Vice President, Graduate Medical Education, who trained as a medical resident at Loyola, spoke to the major impact this space will have on the more than 700 current residents and fellows.

Dr. Ozark said, "Creating programs to build resiliency for medical professionals is critical to prevent burnout and professional fulfillment, a nationwide epidemic significantly affecting healthcare."

Mr. Vincent noted, "You have helped so many young people as they embark on their career of serving the health and well-being of others. This space is a fitting tribute to your dedication and service in these endeavors

HOME ... JACK O'CALLAGHAN S.J. WELLNESS SPACE
Jack O'Callaghan S.J. Wellness Space

To know even one life has breathed easier becuase you have lived, this is to have succeeded!

JOY COMES WHEN WE START CREATING NEW THOUGHTS BASED ON LOVE FOR ALL AND EXPERIENCING THROUGH THEM. YOU ARE HERE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK AND TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THAN IT WAS BEFORE YOU CAME. START WHERE YOU ARE! THE WORLD NEEDS YOU💖

No matter what age you are now, Life is a journey through beautiful inside seasons, full of continuous discovery and dynamic cadence. Embrace each season of your life and learn to live it fully with grace and anticipation.

Caregiver Skills

#1 Communication: listening and responding with patience rather than battling against another.

#2 Problem Solving: having the ability to understand the challenges patients face and feel compassion for their situation. If you are someone helping a family member or loved one, you need to recognize that no one can provide superior care by themselves.

Hey Everyone! I started a GROUP called
Conscious Caregiving
I would love for all of you to join in and share your experiences, ask questions, make suggestions for caregiving facilities, home healthcare businesses, or any other caregiving health related issues, personal concerns or experiences you might have.

Presence is witnessing what is happening without mental commentary or any investment in the outcome, whether favorable or unfavorable. The practice is just that.
A practice that helps us become proficient at controlling the mind.

CO-VID - 19 REVEALS THE CAREGIVING MYSTIQUE

America’s 66 million (pre-Covid-19) family caregivers — people caring for loved ones with complex, chronic and ongoing care needs — are thrust into their role with no training, no background and no support infrastructure. Preposterously, most feel like the only one on earth.

Why? Because caregiving is the modern-day mystique.

Like the feminine mystique, the caregiver mystique thrives in silence and shame. Family caregivers are socialized to think that caring for aging parents and sick loved ones is a family duty that comes naturally and is filled with love and an abundance of patience.

Betty Friedan’s classic 1963 book The Feminine Mystique revealed that many homemakers were suffering in silence, weighed down with responsibilities they were expected to love. It sparked a revolution of truth-telling and collective action. Today’s Covid-19 crisis might just spark the same revolution with caretaking.

When you are more aligned with breath, the words you speak become the gifts.👑

Caregivers: Are you aware that your breath is the infinite light of Source energy within you?
Breath provides each one of us "well-being" and with each out-breath, all the light you have taken in goes out into the world for the healing, awakening and well being of every heart!
💖💖💖

"When you affirm that perfection and well-being is within you, it tells the Universe that you have the worthiness and emotional availability to receive more blessings in your life."
Matt Kahn

SIMPLE MOOD BOOSTERS FROM A CAREGIVER

#1 When you are caring for another, whether walking with them or sitting at their bedside, ask a question and then be quiet. Listen! Sharing one's concerns with you as a sounding board will be enough for one to feel better.

IM-POSSIBLE 🤩

Authenticity

1. # Inner Image. Who do you believe yourself to be for you?
~ describe all the qualities you believe as part of your internal image.

2. # Outer Image.
Who do you believe yourself to be for others.
~ Describe all the qualities you believe as part of your external image.

3. # Others Image.
~Who do others say that you are?
Describe all the qualities others have shared with you as what they
believe as a part of the image they carry about you.

4. # Life Image.
Describe all the qualities you believe others and life have.

What is life showing you or reflecting for you right now?

5. What you have written so far is what you have currently in your life.
Now write down the 4 images you want to have.

- The best INNER IMAGE you want to have
- The best OUTER IMAGE you want to have
- The best OTHERS IMAGE you want to have
- The best LIFE IMAGE you want to have.

"You will see that all the 4 images will automatically be aligned"