Seniors say Christus outreach program gives them reasons to celebrate life
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Newsboy photo/Sharon Kerr SENIOR GRADUATES dropped in to enjoy a snack with the staff at the Christus Jasper Memorial senior counseling center's open house last week. Standing: C.W. "Dude" Fryar, Nita Rhame, Jeff Demuth and Lind Wallace. Seated: Lynn Weaver and Kaye Scott-Roy.

Lots of graduates meet for reunions during football season, but a different group of graduates met at the Senior Counseling Center open house last week.

The SCC is a Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital outreach program that helps those 55 and up deal with issues of aging, loss and depression.

"Individuals who are having difficulty dealing with emotional situations and major lifestyle changes can benefit from what we do," said Nita Rhame, program manager for behavioral health at SCC.

Mark Durand, marketing director, said CJMH changed the name of the center from "behavioral health" to senior counseling because some people thought there was a stigma attached to the name.

Program graduate Lynn Weaver said she'd like to see more people take advantage of the program and not think of behavior problems as a stigma or a failing.

"An x-ray can see a broken heart and a surgeon can fix it, but you can't see a broken mind," Weaver said.

She entered the program when her symptoms confined her to a wheelchair and made ordinary social life almost impossible.

C.W. "Dude" Fryar, another graduate, said, "At first I felt sorry for Lynn, but after just a couple of meetings, I no longer noticed her difficulties because she had such a beautiful attitude.

"I've seen these people here go through some bad times, but I've made some dear friends and they help me and I help them," Dude said.

Dude said a pit bull attack right after Hurricane Rita put him in the hospital and brought back nightmares of World War II combat that he hadn't had in years.

Rhame noted that the interactions between the group are as important as therapy or medicine.

Kay Scott-Roy, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) says, "The patients teach us, and it's an inspiration to see them go through things and stay strong."

The program

Durand and Rhame said referrals come from primary-care physicians, nursing homes, clergy, family members and from individuals who inquire directly.

"It's voluntary," Rhame said. "They have to want to come here."

Durand said the center has a van and will provide transportation. They cover a 30-miles-radius which includes Kirbyville, Pineland, Woodville and Newton.

The center performs an initial assessment using the geriatric depression scale. Patients may initially come one to four times a week, then less often.

"The patients are often dealing with the losses like the loss a spouse or a child or the loss of mobility or their ability to live independently," Rhame said.

The program teaches patients coping skills in a variety of ways.

Some sessions are done by TeleMed in oneon one counseling using cameras and a secure connection to a doctor in Houston. The physician is Dr. Sarah Anderholt, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vanderbilt University who taught at Baylor and practiced at the Menninger Clinic before joining the Hauser Clinic in Houston.

Some sessions are with local licensed professional counselors, and may include other therapy and medicine.

But much of "getting better" is credited to group sessions. They always get a meal and get to visit with each other when they come to the center. If one person is having a bad day, the rest of the group can help lift their spirits.

The average time in counseling is four to six months.

Scott-Roy said when a patient graduates, they receive a bundle of reminders. The marble reminds that they haven't lost theirs; the chocolate kiss reminds them of kisses and hugs; a stick reminds them that one can be broken but there is strength in numbers; a rough rock and a smooth rock reminds them how they were before and now; and a piece of cloth, their warm fuzzy, is there whenever they need it.

Scott-Roy said what they get back from patients is so much more. "We learn from them. They teach us what we need to do."

Durand said the program is usually covered by insurance or Medicare, and when neither are available, CJMH works with other sources to provide relief for seniors who need coping skills, grief resolution, assertiveness training, or whatever it takes to improve their ability to live.

The group sessions give seniors validation and a chance for reminiscence.

The graduates who gathered for lunch and cookies said, "We have bonded and made new family and friends. We call each other when we need to talk. We've all been through some bad times, we've all been there, but we can help each other make it better."