LSSI’s mental health programs embody the emotional and social well-being of the people they serve, and vividly illustrate whole person care.

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Episode 1. “The Age Wave”
It’s called “The Age Wave.” By 2030, an American demographic crisis will have become a reality. In thirteen years, America’s healthcare industry will be flooded with aging, economically unprepared Baby Boomers. Millennials, children born after 1980, will find it difficult to support the healthcare needs of their parents’ generation.

This will all take place amid a pervasive cultural bias that idolizes youth, fears death and often discriminates against the elderly. As the healthcare industry and government and social service professionals grapple with these issues the Chicago Sunday Evening Club explores the challenges facing American society as it ages, and examines ways in which communities of faith can respond in helpful ways to a looming silver tsunami.

Episode 2. Ambiguous Grief: Alzheimer’s, Dementia and the American Age Wave looks at one families journey through Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a persistent degeneration of the nervous system that represents 60 to 70 percent of all cases of dementia. The disease often begins slowly, worsening over time. 12. 48 million people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease worldwide with 5 million cases in the United States. By 2050 some estimates push the US figure to 13.8 million.

Episode 3. The Age Wave, A Faith-based Response
By 2030 demographers predict 20 percent of Americans will be over the age of 65. Baby boomers, American’s born between 1946 and 1965, will be at or above retirement age, flooding an already burdened healthcare, social security, medicare, medicaid and healthcare system. 4. At the same time, research shows that there is a growing secularization of American society away from formal, organized religious institutions and denominations.

According to a study published by the Public Religion Research Institute, those who claim no affiliation with a religious body make up the largest “religious” group in the United States. They are at 25 percent today, and growing rapidly.

As Americans age, many of the institutions who often provided care for their parents and grandparents generations are faith-based. Many of Americas hospitals, nursing homes and educational institutions were founded by faith-based organizations. Large, non-profit charities, who often bear the brunt of care for America’s indigent elderly are faith-based organizations. Given the demographic realities associated with Americas approaching age wave, the Chicago Sunday Evening Club takes a look at faith-based organizations and institutions and examines how these institutions and the people who work for, volunteer and support them, are addressing the challenges posed by the coming age wave through a faith-based approach.

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We followed three orphan children (HIV positive) as they went for water. The fresh water source came from a spring about half a mile away. The kids carry the water jugs down to the spring, fill them up and lug them back up to the house. The oldest boy carries the biggest jug. It must have weight about 25 pounds. The smallest girl, who couldn’t have been more than five, was responsible for carrying two, gallon jugs.

At the time, the ELCT was caring for 50,000 Aids orphans in the Bukoba district alone.

According to the WHO, an estimated 35 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic in the mid- to late 1970s.

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Isak Abu Sbieh is a Palestinian dialysis patient at the Lutheran World Federation‘s Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem. Abu Sbieh lives in Kafr Aqb, an Arab village just beyond the Kalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem. Three times a week Abu Sbieh must pass back and forth through the Kalandia checkpoint on his way to AVH for dialysis.

Kalandia is the main checkpoint between the northern West Bank and Jerusalem. The checkpoint is used by the Israeli military to control Palestinian access to East Jerusalem and Israel. Israel requires Palestinians to have permits to pass through the checkpoint to East Jerusalem and Israel for their work, medical care, education or for religious reasons. Kalandia is only 8 miles from Augusta Victoria Hospital, but the checkpoint process often takes 2-3 hours each way. Without dialysis, Abu Sbieh would perish.

Augusta Victoria Hospital AVH is the first and only hospital to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients in the Palestinian territories and is the only medical facility in the West Bank offering pediatric kidney dialysis.

The Rev. Eric C. Shafer and I recorded this story in February, 2016.

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In this special documentary, Preaching and Healing, Tim Frakes Productions and Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries take you to rural Honduras, where you’ll meet faith-centered doctors and nurses in a Honduran led health care mission known as Predisan, working with local government to provide holistic care, strengthen family structures, and build healthy communities.

Watch their amazing story of healing body, mind, and spirit that will challenge what you think, about your politics and your faith, on Sanctuary. Sanctuary is an in-depth documentary program on issues and ideas at the intersection of life and faith broadcast on ABC, WLS-TV, Channel 7 & YouTube.

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Here is a video I produced in Olancho, Honduras for Presidan.
For more than 29 years, Predisan has provided holistic care in one of Central America’s poorest regions. in the making. Predisand is a story of changed lives. It’s a story that needs to be told.

Also, consider “Liking” Predisan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/predisan?fref=ts

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The AVH is an important pillar in the Palestinian health system and is widely acknowledged in governmental and church circles for its excellent treatment and care. The hospital recently sent voluntary medical teams to Gaza to help treat the injured in the conflict

Join us for stories of hope, faith and courage.
– George Abu Saadah is alive through kidney dialysis.
– A mobile diabetes clinic takes healthcare into villages.
– A world-class soccer field brings joy to children.
– Red Nose Clown Doctors lift the spirits of children receiving life-saving cancer and kidney treatment.
– Vocational Training in East Jerusalem and Ramallah prepares Palestinian youth for meaningful jobs.

For more information, check out this blog post from the Lutheran World Federation.

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This is a video I produced for Mark Brown and the Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem‘s Augusta Victoria Hospital. There is an urgent need for elder care and palliative medicine in Palestine and Israel. Augusta Victoria Hospital is responding to that need by building a 120-bed facility for elder care and palliative care on the east side of the hospital. This facility will help both patients and their families cope with the difficulties of their circumstances.

The post Planned Elder Care Facility at Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem appeared first on Tim Frakes Productions.

Amidst the conflict and tragedy currently taking place in Gaza, Augusta Victoria Hospital and the Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem continue to provide on-going care for Palestinians. One example is the first mobile diabetes clinic to serve the southern part of Palestine. The mobile clinic is equipped with a diabetes clinic, eye clinic, and a foot care clinic.

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