People ask "Why Desert Ministries?" This presentation with Paul Falkowski, MA, Executive Director talks about the issues in long-term care and why volunteers are so important.

1. Why Desert Ministries? Paul Falkowski, Executive Director, Andrew Dungan, Development/Program Director Welcome!

2. WhO is Desert Ministries? Volunteer organization. 260 volunteers serving in 39 nursing homes. Intergenerational volunteer groups: St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey Catholic High School Thanksgiving ! Lutheran Church Camp Fire U.S.A. Creighton University University of Nebraska at Omaha Christian Motorcycle Association Metropolitan Community College

3. Who is Desert Ministries? Educational Center. St. Joseph Campus is our operating center. Why? Two levels of long-term care. Learning is experiential. Located in the heart of Omaha. Onsite training venue for: Desert Ministries volunteers, (initial and follow-on) Community partners, i.e., (St. Peter Claver).

4. Who is Desert Ministries? Philanthropic Initiatives. Creating dual purpose, city-wide events. “Christmas in Our Hearts.” “Cards 4 Kids at Heart.” Provide support for the frail, institutionalized elder. Create exposure opportunities. Creating access to existing events, (collaboration). Most recently, Creighton sporting event tickets.

5. Why do we need Desert Ministries? Increasing resident abuse and neglect. According to the best available estimates, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection. Residents who get visitors get better care. (Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in an Aging America. 2003. Washington, DC: National Research Council Panel to Review Risk and Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect.)

6. Why do we need Desert Ministries? Severe and growing staff shortages. Currently at 8.1% (AANC, 2009) Projected 29% Poor staff training. dementia patients Staff burnout. Turnover rates exceed 100%

7. So what can Desert Ministries do? Continue to mobilize the DM volunteer community. DM volunteers bring stability to a chaotic environment . Drives cost of care down. Create more philanthropic initiatives. Creates community awareness. Provides exposure opportunities.

8. So what can Desert Ministries do? Create educational opportunities. Existing workshops: Communicating with the Elderly Spiritual Distress Ministry with the Elderly Future: Yolanda Bernhardt Institute for Faith and Aging. Research and expanded educational opportunities.

9. So where is Desert Ministries Now? We have rapport among the long-term care community. We know our programs work. Awarded Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Grant. Submitted AIM Institute Grant for new website, BUT…

10. So where is Desert Ministries Now? Programmatic growth is outpacing our funding! Programming Funding $$

11. So why do we need you? Network: “find and keep” (new donors & partnerships). Collaborate: “think and create” (multiple perspectives). Sustain: “build and evolve” (next generation of leadership and organization).

12. we need you. We depend on $25 a month donors. All of us doing a “little” means we can do a lot! See the chart, pick a giving level and then help us, help them.