1 00:00:12,445 --> 00:00:13,013 On today's 2 00:00:13,013 --> 00:00:16,016 show, I'm going to be joined by Little Sisters of the Poor. 3 00:00:16,249 --> 00:00:20,153 Mother Mary Thomas is going to be in studio with me and Sister Agnes Clare. 4 00:00:20,286 --> 00:00:22,022 We're going to talk about what they do. 5 00:00:22,022 --> 00:00:23,189 You know what they do. 6 00:00:23,189 --> 00:00:25,325 They do something nobody else does. 7 00:00:25,325 --> 00:00:29,295 They take care of poor people who are senior citizens and elders. 8 00:00:29,396 --> 00:00:31,498 I think it's going to be an interesting show. 9 00:00:31,498 --> 00:00:33,833 Stay tuned. Listen and learn. 10 00:00:33,833 --> 00:00:39,005 And now America's Healthcare Advocate, Cary Hall. 11 00:00:39,572 --> 00:00:40,340 Hello, America. 12 00:00:40,340 --> 00:00:43,710 Welcome to America's Healthcare Advocate show broadcasting coast to coast 13 00:00:43,710 --> 00:00:46,780 across the USA here on the HIA Radio Network. 14 00:00:47,047 --> 00:00:47,680 My producer, 15 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,284 Mister Dave Thiessen, behind the camera, the man who puts all these shows together. 16 00:00:51,518 --> 00:00:54,120 Posts them up on our YouTube and podcast channel. 17 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,923 By the way, 604,000 views. 18 00:00:56,923 --> 00:00:59,726 Thanks to all of you out there in the listening audience. 19 00:00:59,726 --> 00:01:00,627 Garner Cowdry. 20 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:03,496 The man behind the board over here making sure everything is working 21 00:01:03,496 --> 00:01:06,566 in the Cumulus studio here in Overland Park, Kansas. 22 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:07,333 By the way, 23 00:01:07,333 --> 00:01:10,870 if you happen to be chronologically challenged and you're looking for Medicare 24 00:01:10,870 --> 00:01:15,575 coverage or ACA, give the lovely Carolee Steele a call at RPS. 25 00:01:15,575 --> 00:01:19,946 Benefits by Design 877-385-2224. 26 00:01:20,146 --> 00:01:21,414 Anywhere in the country. 27 00:01:21,414 --> 00:01:22,348 She can help you. 28 00:01:22,348 --> 00:01:25,985 877-385-2224. All right. 29 00:01:25,985 --> 00:01:27,754 Today's show is very unique. 30 00:01:27,754 --> 00:01:30,924 It's a show I've wanted to do for quite a while, actually, 31 00:01:31,157 --> 00:01:34,227 and I'm very fortunate to have in studio with me today, Mother 32 00:01:34,227 --> 00:01:37,897 Mary Thomas and Sister Agnes Clare of Little Sisters of the Poor. 33 00:01:37,897 --> 00:01:39,132 Welcome, sisters. 34 00:01:39,132 --> 00:01:39,699 Thank you. 35 00:01:39,699 --> 00:01:41,501 Thank you Very happy to have you here. 36 00:01:41,501 --> 00:01:46,840 So the Little Sisters of the Poor was founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan. 37 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,975 We'll talk about that as we get into the history. 38 00:01:48,975 --> 00:01:50,009 But let me explain to you 39 00:01:50,009 --> 00:01:53,246 why I want to do this today and why I think this is important. 40 00:01:53,313 --> 00:01:56,816 You know, I do shows like this, I just did Zuzus Petaqls here. 41 00:01:56,883 --> 00:01:59,786 We were talking about helping people with Christmas, that kind of thing. 42 00:01:59,786 --> 00:02:01,588 This is a different message. 43 00:02:01,588 --> 00:02:05,291 You know, there are all kinds of charities out there that help children there. 44 00:02:05,558 --> 00:02:08,061 There are charities out there to help dogs and cats. 45 00:02:08,061 --> 00:02:10,363 Okay. There are charities out there that help veterans. 46 00:02:10,363 --> 00:02:11,731 They all do wonderful things. 47 00:02:11,731 --> 00:02:15,902 Think of one charity you know, it helps the elderly that are poor, 48 00:02:15,969 --> 00:02:19,973 that have no place to go and have nothing in terms of ability 49 00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:22,342 to fund or pay for private facility. 50 00:02:22,342 --> 00:02:24,677 That's what Little Sisters of the Poor do. 51 00:02:24,677 --> 00:02:28,982 They take care of the elderly that are indigent, poor and need help. 52 00:02:28,982 --> 00:02:32,719 They provide homes for them, whether it's in residential care 53 00:02:32,819 --> 00:02:35,722 or whether it is, skilled nursing facilities. 54 00:02:35,722 --> 00:02:38,525 They have all of that available right here in Kansas City. 55 00:02:38,525 --> 00:02:39,626 So they're all on the show today 56 00:02:39,626 --> 00:02:43,663 to talk about their mission, what they do and how we can help them. 57 00:02:43,663 --> 00:02:44,898 Welcome, sister. 58 00:02:44,898 --> 00:02:47,033 Thank you. Very happy to have you here Sister Thomas. 59 00:02:47,033 --> 00:02:51,104 So tell us a little bit about the history of Little Sisters of the Poor. 60 00:02:51,104 --> 00:02:54,707 All the way back to 1839, I was reading this this morning doing show notes. 61 00:02:54,707 --> 00:02:57,644 I'm like, I didn't realize that the order was that old. 62 00:02:57,644 --> 00:02:59,579 So talk a little bit about that history. 63 00:02:59,579 --> 00:03:03,583 So as you heard from Cary, our congregation is founded 64 00:03:04,150 --> 00:03:06,753 in 1839, in 65 00:03:06,753 --> 00:03:11,758 France, during the French Revolution, there were so many old people 66 00:03:11,758 --> 00:03:15,728 who were on the road and nobody was taking care of them. 67 00:03:15,728 --> 00:03:16,629 So St. 68 00:03:16,629 --> 00:03:19,632 Jeanne Jugan, who is our Foundress, 69 00:03:19,832 --> 00:03:24,304 took one old lady, who was blind, left near the road 70 00:03:24,704 --> 00:03:28,541 and took her to her house and put her in her own bed, 71 00:03:29,008 --> 00:03:32,278 and she went to sleep on the attic on her own. 72 00:03:32,679 --> 00:03:35,682 Soon other ladies came to. 73 00:03:35,815 --> 00:03:41,087 She found there were more ladies and then other young women who came to help her. 74 00:03:41,321 --> 00:03:44,023 And that's where the congregation began. 75 00:03:44,023 --> 00:03:44,824 So now 76 00:03:45,825 --> 00:03:49,896 we have like 153 homes in 30 countries. 77 00:03:50,196 --> 00:03:53,333 We are the international congregation, which is 78 00:03:54,467 --> 00:03:58,137 in all of the 30 countries and five continents. 79 00:03:58,404 --> 00:03:59,906 That is a lot of that. 80 00:03:59,906 --> 00:04:02,442 When I was reading this this morning, 30 countries. 81 00:04:02,442 --> 00:04:04,177 Yeah. Let's just talk a lot about this. 82 00:04:04,177 --> 00:04:08,147 So, it's really quite remarkable in all the places that you've served 83 00:04:08,314 --> 00:04:11,951 in a number of places you've been in Gallup, New Mexico, by the way. 84 00:04:11,951 --> 00:04:14,887 I've spent some time in Gallup, I know a little bit about Gallup, 85 00:04:14,887 --> 00:04:16,956 New Mexico and the Indian population there. 86 00:04:16,956 --> 00:04:18,691 You were in Denver for three years. 87 00:04:18,691 --> 00:04:20,460 You're in New Jersey. 88 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:23,730 And so you've served in different places across the country here, 89 00:04:24,097 --> 00:04:25,865 in the United States. 90 00:04:25,865 --> 00:04:26,933 And Sister Agnes, where 91 00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:29,702 where have you served besides here in the United States? 92 00:04:29,702 --> 00:04:30,436 Well, 93 00:04:32,138 --> 00:04:36,142 I have been a Little Sister for 52 years. 94 00:04:36,609 --> 00:04:39,812 So all through these years I've been to many countries. 95 00:04:40,246 --> 00:04:43,249 First of all, I overseas in my country in Hong Kong 96 00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:47,854 and then to France and England and Ireland. 97 00:04:48,521 --> 00:04:51,257 And then I come to America. 98 00:04:51,257 --> 00:04:55,561 21 years ago, the first home was in San Francisco, 99 00:04:55,561 --> 00:04:59,599 where I stayed for 13 years, and I went to Denver 100 00:04:59,966 --> 00:05:02,969 and California, 101 00:05:03,202 --> 00:05:06,706 then Denver and California and finally ended in Kansas City, 102 00:05:06,906 --> 00:05:10,576 which is where I, I begin my fifth year here. 103 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:12,412 Well we're glad to have you. Yeah. 104 00:05:12,412 --> 00:05:15,982 And you all do a lot of traveling. 105 00:05:16,349 --> 00:05:16,883 That’s right. 106 00:05:16,883 --> 00:05:19,585 You move from a lot of different locations, 107 00:05:19,585 --> 00:05:22,722 which is kind of an interesting way for all of this to work. 108 00:05:22,822 --> 00:05:26,159 So let's talk a little bit about what you're doing here in Kansas City. 109 00:05:26,159 --> 00:05:31,397 This is, as I said, you have skilled nursing and then you have assisted living. 110 00:05:31,597 --> 00:05:35,835 You've got to you know, the building is what 30 years hold here about 40. 111 00:05:35,835 --> 00:05:36,669 It's 40 years old. 112 00:05:36,669 --> 00:05:39,539 It's a it's a beautiful building. It's all brick. 113 00:05:39,539 --> 00:05:41,341 It's over off at James A. Reed road. 114 00:05:41,341 --> 00:05:46,312 You actually arrived here in Kansas City in 1882, Correct. 115 00:05:46,412 --> 00:05:47,947 Yes. That's a long time ago. 116 00:05:47,947 --> 00:05:49,949 Let's talk about that, sister. 117 00:05:49,949 --> 00:05:54,220 Well, 62 sisters from France have made their way to 118 00:05:55,288 --> 00:05:58,324 Kansas City in 1882, 119 00:05:58,725 --> 00:06:01,728 and they started to open their first home. 120 00:06:02,729 --> 00:06:06,099 it’s called a legacy for the aged home. 121 00:06:06,632 --> 00:06:09,635 So this home they have, 122 00:06:10,036 --> 00:06:14,340 they located it in a building which 123 00:06:16,042 --> 00:06:18,177 is built for the widow 124 00:06:18,177 --> 00:06:21,647 and the orphans of the Civil War soldiers. 125 00:06:21,647 --> 00:06:25,985 I saw that and it was they were treating widows and orphans of Civil War soldiers. 126 00:06:26,119 --> 00:06:28,187 And that's really quite remarkable. Yeah. 127 00:06:28,187 --> 00:06:33,993 And the sisters converted as a home for the aged, where they stay until 1932. 128 00:06:33,993 --> 00:06:38,431 And then from 1932 with the expansion of the trafficway, 129 00:06:38,431 --> 00:06:42,368 which forced them to relocate somewhere else. 130 00:06:42,702 --> 00:06:45,671 So the sister looked for a place, 131 00:06:45,671 --> 00:06:49,242 on 53, between 53 and Highland. 132 00:06:50,109 --> 00:06:53,112 And and at that time, the bishop 133 00:06:53,413 --> 00:06:56,416 did a very, very huge procession of 134 00:06:58,451 --> 00:07:02,522 3500 people to bless 135 00:07:02,522 --> 00:07:06,459 and to lay the foundation stone in that building. 136 00:07:07,193 --> 00:07:10,329 And we stayed there until 19, 137 00:07:11,864 --> 00:07:14,100 1982. 138 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:17,370 And the sisters felt that they need a new building, 139 00:07:18,037 --> 00:07:22,141 the old building and more modern and also more functional home. 140 00:07:22,442 --> 00:07:25,144 So and in order to meet 141 00:07:25,144 --> 00:07:28,648 the changes of the federal and state regulations. 142 00:07:28,848 --> 00:07:33,152 So with the help of many generous benefactors, 143 00:07:33,453 --> 00:07:38,191 they they found a place of where we are now in James A Reed road. 144 00:07:38,491 --> 00:07:39,792 In Raytown [Mo.]. 145 00:07:39,792 --> 00:07:41,194 Mary, let's talk a little bit about what 146 00:07:41,194 --> 00:07:45,465 you're doing at that home today and who you're serving in that home. 147 00:07:45,565 --> 00:07:50,169 So in this home I arrived in December last year. 148 00:07:50,636 --> 00:07:53,706 So we have over 75 residents 149 00:07:53,973 --> 00:07:56,943 where we care for them apartment 150 00:07:56,943 --> 00:07:59,779 and also assisted living in the nursing. 151 00:07:59,779 --> 00:08:02,748 So we, we give them I am the mother 152 00:08:02,748 --> 00:08:05,751 superior of the home, which is 153 00:08:07,019 --> 00:08:11,757 taking care of the residents or older people who are poor. 154 00:08:12,391 --> 00:08:15,661 But we do not take people who have more. 155 00:08:15,828 --> 00:08:17,763 Financial means. Financial means. 156 00:08:17,763 --> 00:08:22,134 So we always take for the poorer, the better for us. Yes. 157 00:08:22,201 --> 00:08:24,337 Now this is interesting because it's you're all listening 158 00:08:24,337 --> 00:08:27,340 to this, Little Sisters of the Poor is obviously a Catholic order. 159 00:08:27,507 --> 00:08:29,709 But here's what I want everybody to understand. 160 00:08:29,709 --> 00:08:30,610 They take people. 161 00:08:30,610 --> 00:08:33,446 It doesn't matter what your religion is, it's non denominate. 162 00:08:33,446 --> 00:08:36,249 You can be a Baptist, you can be a Catholic. 163 00:08:36,249 --> 00:08:37,183 You can be Jewish. 164 00:08:37,183 --> 00:08:39,519 It really doesn't matter what your religion is. 165 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:41,387 They will take you if you have a need. 166 00:08:41,387 --> 00:08:42,555 That's what they do with this home. 167 00:08:42,555 --> 00:08:45,057 That's one of the reasons why I wanted to do this day. 168 00:08:45,057 --> 00:08:46,726 I want to make sure everybody understands, 169 00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:49,829 as far as I know, they are the only folks here in Kansas City 170 00:08:49,829 --> 00:08:53,132 that actually take these people in to a facility, 171 00:08:53,132 --> 00:08:56,435 they provide them with private room that has a bathroom. 172 00:08:56,636 --> 00:08:59,405 Okay. And they have it's a beautiful facility. 173 00:08:59,405 --> 00:09:00,106 I've been at it. 174 00:09:00,106 --> 00:09:03,109 It's it's well-run, it's spotlessly clean. 175 00:09:03,342 --> 00:09:06,178 And what they do is very unusual in today's world 176 00:09:06,178 --> 00:09:09,749 because we don't have a lot of people out there taking care of the elderly. 177 00:09:09,749 --> 00:09:14,487 You know, in this country, the culture is not that of taking care of the elderly. 178 00:09:14,487 --> 00:09:18,190 We have a tendency here in this country to let's put them at home. 179 00:09:18,491 --> 00:09:19,158 Let's look, 180 00:09:19,158 --> 00:09:21,294 you know, in other countries around the world, 181 00:09:21,294 --> 00:09:23,629 the parents live typically with the children when they age. 182 00:09:23,629 --> 00:09:25,064 That's not what we do here. 183 00:09:25,064 --> 00:09:28,067 So their mission in terms of helping these people, 184 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:31,537 they're kind of like the last resort for people who don't have money, 185 00:09:31,704 --> 00:09:35,274 can't get into another facility, don't want to be in a medicaid facility 186 00:09:35,274 --> 00:09:39,211 because those are absolutely horrific and maybe they don't have family can help 187 00:09:39,211 --> 00:09:39,845 take care of them. 188 00:09:39,845 --> 00:09:41,814 So that's why we're doing this today. 189 00:09:41,814 --> 00:09:44,050 And we think what they do is important. 190 00:09:44,050 --> 00:09:45,585 And that's why we're putting this show on today. 191 00:09:45,585 --> 00:09:47,019 We're going to come back from the break. 192 00:09:47,019 --> 00:09:47,820 We're going to continue 193 00:09:47,820 --> 00:09:50,823 this conversation with both sisters and Little Sisters of the Poor. 194 00:09:51,023 --> 00:09:54,727 We're going to talk more specifically about what they're doing in the community 195 00:09:54,994 --> 00:09:59,332 and what they need from us in order to be able to help them with their mission. 196 00:09:59,332 --> 00:10:00,132 Stay tuned. 197 00:10:00,132 --> 00:10:03,202 You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate Broadcasting 198 00:10:03,202 --> 00:10:07,473 here on the HIA Radio Network, Coast to Coast Cross, USA. 199 00:10:07,473 --> 00:10:08,341 We'll be right back. 200 00:10:19,752 --> 00:10:20,553 Welcome back. 201 00:10:20,553 --> 00:10:24,056 You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate show broadcasting Coast 202 00:10:24,056 --> 00:10:27,960 to Coast across the USA, here on the HIA Radio Network. 203 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:29,962 You can find out more about us by going to the website. 204 00:10:29,962 --> 00:10:32,198 AmericasHealthcareAdvocate.com. 205 00:10:32,198 --> 00:10:34,000 All these shows are posted up there. 206 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,637 They're also on 16 podcast platform and those YouTube platforms. 207 00:10:37,903 --> 00:10:41,674 If you want to tell somebody about this, maybe you know somebody thats got time. 208 00:10:41,674 --> 00:10:43,542 Maybe they're retired, semi-retired. 209 00:10:43,542 --> 00:10:46,679 They'd like to help out or know more about Little Sisters of the Poor. 210 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,382 Go up there to the show, tell them about the show, 211 00:10:49,382 --> 00:10:52,351 let them listen or watch whatever they want to do. 212 00:10:52,351 --> 00:10:53,386 There is a website. 213 00:10:53,386 --> 00:10:56,355 Remember these sisters do homes all over the world. 214 00:10:56,355 --> 00:10:59,358 So Gallup, New Mexico, 215 00:11:00,893 --> 00:11:02,028 Denver. 216 00:11:02,028 --> 00:11:03,729 There are a host of places around the country. 217 00:11:03,729 --> 00:11:07,800 They still do these homes San Francisco, San Pedro, California, 218 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,770 these are just some of the cities that they've been or are in. 219 00:11:10,770 --> 00:11:13,773 If you want to learn more, you're listing this somewhere else in the country. 220 00:11:13,906 --> 00:11:15,574 Maybe you're in Alaska, maybe you're, 221 00:11:16,542 --> 00:11:19,545 in Redlands, California, or wherever the case may be. 222 00:11:19,578 --> 00:11:22,581 Their website is littlesistersofthepoor.org, 223 00:11:23,015 --> 00:11:24,784 anywhere in the country. If you want to learn about. 224 00:11:24,784 --> 00:11:27,019 Is there a home in your area? Could you help? 225 00:11:27,019 --> 00:11:28,254 Could you volunteer? 226 00:11:28,254 --> 00:11:30,423 Little Sisters of the Poor dot org. 227 00:11:30,423 --> 00:11:33,559 Also, if you want to help out here in Kansas 228 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:40,733 City, please give Carrie Rojas a call at 816-203-8015. 229 00:11:40,766 --> 00:11:42,001 816-203-8015. 230 00:11:42,001 --> 00:11:42,568 We're going to talk 231 00:11:42,568 --> 00:11:45,571 about what they're looking for in the way of volunteers in the third segment. 232 00:11:45,571 --> 00:11:46,839 But they need drivers. 233 00:11:46,839 --> 00:11:49,141 They need people that can help do some landscaping. 234 00:11:49,141 --> 00:11:50,710 They need people in the kitchen. 235 00:11:50,710 --> 00:11:53,546 If you're a retired nurse and you want to come in and do counseling 236 00:11:53,546 --> 00:11:55,281 or help them out, they would love to have you. 237 00:11:55,281 --> 00:11:57,850 So once again, 816-203-8015. 238 00:11:57,850 --> 00:12:01,687 All right, sister, let's talk a little bit about quality of living. 239 00:12:02,088 --> 00:12:07,393 You know, Medicaid nursing homes are very difficult for people to live in. 240 00:12:07,927 --> 00:12:11,864 I always say the first thing you notice when you walk into Medicaid 241 00:12:11,864 --> 00:12:13,265 home is the smell. 242 00:12:13,265 --> 00:12:17,136 Usually it's Pine-Sol or or Clorox or something, 243 00:12:17,136 --> 00:12:21,006 and you've got two people to one room sharing one television. 244 00:12:21,006 --> 00:12:22,441 There's no privacy. 245 00:12:22,441 --> 00:12:24,677 It's just not a quality of living. 246 00:12:24,677 --> 00:12:27,513 When I walked into your home, I didn't know what to expect. 247 00:12:27,513 --> 00:12:30,483 When I walked into that building, that all brick building in the lobby. 248 00:12:30,783 --> 00:12:32,818 You've got a beautiful lobby. 249 00:12:32,818 --> 00:12:36,355 Yeah, some religious artifacts out there, some statues, some other things. 250 00:12:36,655 --> 00:12:38,557 And the place is absolutely spotless. 251 00:12:38,557 --> 00:12:39,558 I was amazed. 252 00:12:39,558 --> 00:12:43,863 I was like, this is, this is this is clean or cleaner than a hospital I've been in. 253 00:12:44,196 --> 00:12:47,900 But what the other the other part that I think is amazing is you. 254 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:51,036 These people have their own room with their own bathroom. 255 00:12:51,170 --> 00:12:55,541 So they're not sharing a bathroom or a television or something. 256 00:12:55,541 --> 00:13:00,913 So talk about the quality, because to me, the quality of life that you're providing 257 00:13:00,913 --> 00:13:05,217 is not the norm unless you can pay to go into a private facility. 258 00:13:05,384 --> 00:13:06,285 So it's very different. 259 00:13:06,285 --> 00:13:08,020 So talk a little bit about that, Sister Mary. 260 00:13:08,020 --> 00:13:12,658 When they come to us, they come, they become part of our family, 261 00:13:12,658 --> 00:13:17,696 the residents, the employees, the sisters it’s one big family, we live together. 262 00:13:18,063 --> 00:13:21,567 So you want to give them respect, good care, 263 00:13:22,201 --> 00:13:26,038 gentle, our way of dealing with them, talking to them. 264 00:13:26,338 --> 00:13:29,175 We really become part of their life. 265 00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:34,213 They come, they are poor so they don't have much maybe to give us. 266 00:13:34,513 --> 00:13:37,650 But that's why we go out to the church collection. 267 00:13:37,683 --> 00:13:42,454 Different places to ask for money, because of what we receive from them, 268 00:13:42,454 --> 00:13:47,359 is not enough to run the home, to feed 75 people in the home, 269 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:52,665 for three meals and good care and provide our medical care. 270 00:13:52,665 --> 00:13:54,533 They need laundry done. 271 00:13:54,533 --> 00:13:59,705 Rooms are clean, so we want to make we treat them as they really for 272 00:13:59,705 --> 00:14:03,542 us is like the Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus whom we are serving. 273 00:14:03,542 --> 00:14:08,547 So we want to give him the best we can, best care we can provide to them, 274 00:14:08,881 --> 00:14:12,751 and make their last days happy and enjoyable 275 00:14:13,052 --> 00:14:16,622 where they can really live with us peacefully. 276 00:14:16,622 --> 00:14:19,391 And when the Lord calls, they are ready to say. 277 00:14:19,391 --> 00:14:20,860 Yes to the Lord. 278 00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:24,363 You know, it, it it it's amazing to me 279 00:14:24,363 --> 00:14:28,000 when I, when I was in there and I looked at you live with them. 280 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,635 That's the part that I think is very interesting. 281 00:14:29,635 --> 00:14:32,738 You’re there every day interacting with them, whether it's 282 00:14:32,738 --> 00:14:38,310 meals or recreation or, or, you know, they're doing hobbies. 283 00:14:38,310 --> 00:14:41,113 Whatever the case may be, you're with them the whole time. 284 00:14:41,113 --> 00:14:43,082 Let's go back to this cost thing. 285 00:14:43,082 --> 00:14:45,184 So most of these people have Medicaid. 286 00:14:45,184 --> 00:14:51,123 Medicaid doesn't cover the cost of half of what it cost to run that home, okay. 287 00:14:51,123 --> 00:14:54,493 And that's one of the problems is you're taking these people in 288 00:14:54,493 --> 00:14:57,529 who are if it weren't for you, who knows where they would be? 289 00:14:57,529 --> 00:15:00,065 Probably in some Medicaid home if they could get in. 290 00:15:00,065 --> 00:15:03,202 But the point is they're getting a different quality of life 291 00:15:03,202 --> 00:15:04,003 you're providing for them. 292 00:15:04,003 --> 00:15:06,639 You're living with these folks in the home. 293 00:15:07,706 --> 00:15:09,408 Talk a little bit about some of the experiences. 294 00:15:09,408 --> 00:15:11,210 Sister Agnes, is some of these people 295 00:15:11,210 --> 00:15:14,213 that you're in the home and how you interact with them. 296 00:15:15,180 --> 00:15:18,584 Well, we care to make the elderly happy is our, 297 00:15:18,584 --> 00:15:21,587 the goal or the call of our mission. 298 00:15:22,021 --> 00:15:26,659 So we try our best to make them happy, and we try to create a place 299 00:15:26,992 --> 00:15:29,995 where the residents call home, 300 00:15:30,095 --> 00:15:33,666 and they’re welcomed as Christ, and we serve them as family. 301 00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:37,703 And that's really a different way of doing what taking care of the eldery. 302 00:15:37,836 --> 00:15:38,904 Exactly. 303 00:15:38,904 --> 00:15:43,442 A different level of compassion and care, Sister Mary, in the way you do this, 304 00:15:44,076 --> 00:15:47,079 for these folks, I mean, the people that I saw in there, 305 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:51,750 when I was there, for our last meeting, it's clear 306 00:15:52,117 --> 00:15:55,254 that they're very fortunate to be there, and they're being very well taken care of. 307 00:15:55,754 --> 00:15:59,792 So in order to show them what we need, 308 00:16:00,092 --> 00:16:04,730 we depend on divine providence to God provide us when we need it. 309 00:16:05,064 --> 00:16:11,136 So people from Kansas City been very generous to us all these years, 143 years. 310 00:16:11,136 --> 00:16:15,641 We are serving the people of Kansas City and we never lack anything 311 00:16:15,641 --> 00:16:21,347 because people are very good to us and give us what we need financially or 312 00:16:22,348 --> 00:16:24,049 things, whatever we need. 313 00:16:24,049 --> 00:16:28,554 So we count on our patron saint, which is Saint Joseph. 314 00:16:28,921 --> 00:16:33,726 We call on him when we need something, we ask him to, we need something. 315 00:16:33,726 --> 00:16:36,595 And he always has, never has let us down. 316 00:16:36,595 --> 00:16:38,163 So our foundress, St. 317 00:16:38,163 --> 00:16:41,400 Jeanne Jugan, had great trust in Saint Joseph 318 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:46,638 and we as a little sisters continued that to counting on Saint Joseph to provide 319 00:16:46,638 --> 00:16:51,076 what we need our residents, these guys for what funds we get from the residents. 320 00:16:51,076 --> 00:16:54,079 It's not enough to run the home, 321 00:16:54,446 --> 00:16:59,018 but because of the people's generosity we are able to do now. 322 00:16:59,385 --> 00:17:02,421 Till now, all this up to 143 years. 323 00:17:02,421 --> 00:17:05,257 It's quite remarkable when you think about you mentioned 324 00:17:05,257 --> 00:17:08,260 you've got 75 people in this home, you've got room for more, 325 00:17:08,460 --> 00:17:11,263 which you you need more staff, you need more help to be able to do that. 326 00:17:11,263 --> 00:17:12,231 But having said that, 327 00:17:14,533 --> 00:17:16,435 people don't necessarily think about this. 328 00:17:16,435 --> 00:17:19,171 You've got to feed 75 people three times a day. 329 00:17:19,171 --> 00:17:20,739 You've got to make sure their laundry is done. 330 00:17:20,739 --> 00:17:23,342 I didn't even think of that part tell you said it. Okay. 331 00:17:23,342 --> 00:17:25,010 You get their rooms are clean. 332 00:17:25,010 --> 00:17:26,178 I'm sure that, you know, they need 333 00:17:26,178 --> 00:17:29,748 other personal services, medical care, all the rest of it. 334 00:17:30,082 --> 00:17:33,218 So that's all part of what you do 335 00:17:33,218 --> 00:17:37,222 in running this home to provide as sister Agnes 336 00:17:37,222 --> 00:17:40,726 said, this family atmosphere for these people to let them know that. 337 00:17:41,226 --> 00:17:44,496 And that's interesting that you said to keep them happy. 338 00:17:44,496 --> 00:17:48,367 Sister Agnes said, because so many senior citizens, 339 00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:51,370 especially in situations like Medicaid homes, 340 00:17:52,704 --> 00:17:56,041 they become very withdrawn because they're not having interaction. 341 00:17:56,075 --> 00:17:59,078 They're not they're not in a place where they're comfortable or they’re happy. 342 00:17:59,244 --> 00:18:03,282 Your situation, what you're providing with is something completely different. 343 00:18:03,282 --> 00:18:04,983 It's a level of security. 344 00:18:04,983 --> 00:18:06,452 It's a level of care. 345 00:18:06,452 --> 00:18:09,455 It's all of those things that make a big difference for all of them. 346 00:18:09,488 --> 00:18:11,256 When we come back from the break, we're going to talk 347 00:18:11,256 --> 00:18:14,259 about how you can help out a little bit of that divine providence. 348 00:18:14,426 --> 00:18:14,860 Okay. 349 00:18:14,860 --> 00:18:19,198 What they need that you can help out with here in the Kansas City metro, 350 00:18:19,198 --> 00:18:21,800 or if you happen to be listening anywhere else in the country, 351 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,703 you can certainly get involved with Little Sisters of the Poor. 352 00:18:24,703 --> 00:18:25,037 The website. 353 00:18:25,037 --> 00:18:29,608 For them nationally is Little Sisters of the Poor dot org. 354 00:18:29,608 --> 00:18:30,542 LittleSisterOfThePoor.org. 355 00:18:30,542 --> 00:18:34,146 If you want to help out here in Kansas City, maybe you've got some free 356 00:18:34,146 --> 00:18:37,349 time, maybe you're semi-retired, maybe you'd like to make a donation, 357 00:18:37,349 --> 00:18:41,253 or you've got some other way to help reach out to, Carrie Rojas. 358 00:18:41,453 --> 00:18:44,923 You can find her at 816-203-8015. 359 00:18:44,923 --> 00:18:47,493 816-203-8015. 360 00:18:47,493 --> 00:18:49,561 We'll be right back after the break with more. 361 00:18:49,561 --> 00:18:50,462 Stay tuned. 362 00:18:50,462 --> 00:18:51,930 You're listening to America's 363 00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:56,101 Healthcare Advocate broadcasting coast to coast across USA. 364 00:19:07,412 --> 00:19:08,247 Welcome back. 365 00:19:08,247 --> 00:19:11,717 You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate show broadcasting coast 366 00:19:11,717 --> 00:19:15,454 to coast across the USA here on the HIA Radio Network. 367 00:19:15,454 --> 00:19:21,527 I want to give a shout out to KMET, 1490-AM and 98.1-FM 368 00:19:21,527 --> 00:19:23,395 in Redlands, California. 369 00:19:23,395 --> 00:19:26,064 One of our great stations up there listening to America's 370 00:19:26,064 --> 00:19:27,065 Healthcare Advocate. 371 00:19:27,065 --> 00:19:29,735 Happy to have you on board with us a long time. 372 00:19:29,735 --> 00:19:32,704 I know the folks up in, California enjoy the show. 373 00:19:32,704 --> 00:19:33,639 We get a lot of feedback. 374 00:19:33,639 --> 00:19:34,706 So thank you all. 375 00:19:34,706 --> 00:19:36,875 All you folks over at Calumet. 376 00:19:36,875 --> 00:19:39,044 All right, let's switch gears here a little bit. 377 00:19:39,044 --> 00:19:43,882 Sister Agnes, your official title is ‘Beggar’, Okay. You. 378 00:19:44,783 --> 00:19:45,150 Yeah. 379 00:19:45,150 --> 00:19:48,420 So let's talk a little about what it means to be the chief beggar 380 00:19:48,687 --> 00:19:51,190 for Little Sisters of the Poor, Sister Agnes. 381 00:19:51,190 --> 00:19:53,425 Well, I'm proud of this title you gave me. 382 00:19:54,793 --> 00:19:57,329 All through my religious life, 383 00:19:57,329 --> 00:20:01,200 my job is mostly on begging on, collecting. 384 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,803 Or you can say begging. 385 00:20:04,836 --> 00:20:07,172 I, I go for every day. 386 00:20:07,172 --> 00:20:09,474 We go to different, 387 00:20:09,474 --> 00:20:12,477 markets, offices and, 388 00:20:13,512 --> 00:20:15,747 and all the bakery places 389 00:20:15,747 --> 00:20:19,952 to solicit monetary and, donations in-kind. 390 00:20:20,152 --> 00:20:23,422 And the people are very good enough to provide for us. 391 00:20:23,422 --> 00:20:26,191 Enough for the whole week at the table. 392 00:20:26,191 --> 00:20:28,393 So, I'm proud of that. 393 00:20:28,393 --> 00:20:32,030 And I enjoy my begging because I can reach out to the people 394 00:20:32,164 --> 00:20:36,301 whom I solicit there charity 395 00:20:36,802 --> 00:20:41,139 and create a channel of grace for their souls 396 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,409 for this seffless charity 397 00:20:44,409 --> 00:20:47,412 and that of selfless charity. 398 00:20:47,546 --> 00:20:50,649 It was already, what the Foundress believe 399 00:20:50,649 --> 00:20:55,721 that sharing is a common gesture among the human family. 400 00:20:56,021 --> 00:20:59,224 We're all, accorded to live in fidelity. 401 00:20:59,992 --> 00:21:04,863 It was in this, it was in this spirit that she ensure 402 00:21:04,863 --> 00:21:07,833 this subsistence of her work through the collecting. 403 00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:12,371 The collecting is a fundamental element of our charism. 404 00:21:12,371 --> 00:21:15,807 Is another way of serving the elderly. 405 00:21:16,508 --> 00:21:20,412 It affirms our fidelity to receiving the poorest elderly, 406 00:21:20,779 --> 00:21:25,250 and it bears witness of our trust in God 407 00:21:25,484 --> 00:21:29,788 without disrupting the human beings and creativity. 408 00:21:30,689 --> 00:21:33,692 We count on the intervention of 409 00:21:33,825 --> 00:21:36,295 the Providence through the 410 00:21:37,529 --> 00:21:38,397 collecting 411 00:21:38,397 --> 00:21:41,400 we associate the lay people to join our work, 412 00:21:41,566 --> 00:21:46,138 and we will work together for the good of our residents in view of God. 413 00:21:46,905 --> 00:21:48,340 And thank you. 414 00:21:48,340 --> 00:21:51,343 I think that pretty much says, 415 00:21:51,643 --> 00:21:52,678 what your mission is. 416 00:21:52,678 --> 00:21:55,681 As far as let's talk a little about specifics, Sister Mary. 417 00:21:55,847 --> 00:21:56,548 Okay. 418 00:21:56,548 --> 00:21:59,584 So you need you need you've got how many acres is that facility? 419 00:21:59,584 --> 00:22:01,086 It's a big facility. 420 00:22:01,086 --> 00:22:03,889 It's 23. 23 acres. 421 00:22:03,889 --> 00:22:05,991 And you've got a pond on it. I mean, it's wonderful. 422 00:22:05,991 --> 00:22:06,958 It's beautiful 423 00:22:06,958 --> 00:22:10,128 because, you know, all the folks at home have a place they can go out. 424 00:22:10,128 --> 00:22:12,698 There's recreation, you know, they can walk. They can. 425 00:22:12,698 --> 00:22:14,099 They can fish in the little pond. 426 00:22:14,099 --> 00:22:16,501 They can do a lot of things, but that needs upkeep. 427 00:22:16,501 --> 00:22:18,303 That's that's work. Right? 428 00:22:18,303 --> 00:22:18,570 Okay. 429 00:22:18,570 --> 00:22:22,774 So you're in need of people if if folks want it, if you've got a church group, 430 00:22:22,974 --> 00:22:26,478 you got a men's group, if you've got, you know, maybe, 431 00:22:26,478 --> 00:22:30,382 maybe at work, you have people that get together and go out and do volunteer. 432 00:22:30,382 --> 00:22:32,084 BlueCross the Kansas does this. 433 00:22:32,084 --> 00:22:34,753 I know Blue Cross of Kansas City does it. 434 00:22:34,753 --> 00:22:38,423 If you've got a group that goes out and does work in various community 435 00:22:38,423 --> 00:22:42,260 projects, this is a project you might want to give Carrie Rojas 436 00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:45,030 a call and say, hey, we'd like to come down on a Saturday 437 00:22:45,030 --> 00:22:48,834 or we'd like, come down and help out and do some cleanup or be involved, 438 00:22:49,234 --> 00:22:52,137 with Little Sisters of the Poor over on James A Reed road. 439 00:22:52,137 --> 00:22:53,572 So that's one thing they need. 440 00:22:54,539 --> 00:22:55,407 Hygiene drives. 441 00:22:55,407 --> 00:22:56,541 What are hygiene drives? 442 00:22:56,541 --> 00:22:59,378 You know, to take care of 75 people. 443 00:22:59,378 --> 00:23:05,150 We need a lot of Kleenex, shampoo, mouthwash, body wash, all these things. 444 00:23:05,484 --> 00:23:07,352 Everything is now expensive. 445 00:23:07,352 --> 00:23:11,289 So if people can help us that way, will be very grateful 446 00:23:11,289 --> 00:23:15,894 because we need on that for them to take care of the daily basic. 447 00:23:15,894 --> 00:23:16,495 Yeah. 448 00:23:16,495 --> 00:23:19,197 And Sister Agnes, you mentioned, 449 00:23:19,197 --> 00:23:22,200 going to bakeries and different food facilities. 450 00:23:23,001 --> 00:23:27,105 So you, you know, if, if someone owns or runs a grocery store 451 00:23:27,105 --> 00:23:31,209 as a manager of a grocery store or a restaurant or a bakery, 452 00:23:31,209 --> 00:23:34,212 and they have goods that they can donate to you, 453 00:23:34,246 --> 00:23:35,981 you're more than happy to receive those. 454 00:23:35,981 --> 00:23:38,183 Oh, sure. Okay. 455 00:23:38,183 --> 00:23:42,554 We'll arrange a date and then go regularly to get the food to 456 00:23:42,788 --> 00:23:44,189 make sure they have this, 457 00:23:45,223 --> 00:23:48,193 pastry, which the residents love it. 458 00:23:48,193 --> 00:23:53,498 So the idea then obviously is if you have if you have, a bakery, 459 00:23:53,498 --> 00:23:55,700 if you have a restaurant, if you have a grocery store, 460 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:58,703 maybe you're a manager for Price Chopper or, 461 00:23:59,504 --> 00:24:02,574 you know, Aldi's or one of the other stores that, you know, think about this, 462 00:24:02,808 --> 00:24:04,843 maybe this way, you know, when you have dented 463 00:24:04,843 --> 00:24:07,145 canned goods or, or goods that are a day old 464 00:24:07,145 --> 00:24:10,282 and you can't put them back on the shelf, they'd probably love to have them. 465 00:24:10,282 --> 00:24:16,087 If you want to do something like that, reach out to Carrie Rojas, 816-203-8015. 466 00:24:16,087 --> 00:24:17,389 816.203-8015. 467 00:24:17,389 --> 00:24:19,891 She'd be happy to chat with you. 468 00:24:19,891 --> 00:24:20,459 Let's talk 469 00:24:20,459 --> 00:24:24,229 about something that you did here recently, that you had a few folks attend. 470 00:24:24,663 --> 00:24:26,565 When you throw a dinner, you throw a big dinner. 471 00:24:26,565 --> 00:24:28,500 You you talk about. 472 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:31,069 So you had a spaghetti dinner last Sunday. 473 00:24:31,069 --> 00:24:33,939 I was cooking for grandchildren, so I didn't get to come. 474 00:24:33,939 --> 00:24:36,308 But let's talk a little about how many people you had or 475 00:24:36,308 --> 00:24:38,043 what did you serve, Sister Mary? 476 00:24:38,043 --> 00:24:40,946 So we had 600 people attended. 477 00:24:40,946 --> 00:24:42,781 It was first time for me. 478 00:24:42,781 --> 00:24:46,985 I went just like amazed to see all these people coming in and out. 479 00:24:47,352 --> 00:24:50,288 And most is like everything was donated. 480 00:24:50,288 --> 00:24:55,460 The meatball, the spaghetti, the bread, the cake, everything was donated. 481 00:24:55,460 --> 00:24:58,864 So whatever we made is like all our profit. 482 00:24:58,864 --> 00:25:01,566 That was enough. And we had the crafts sale. 483 00:25:01,566 --> 00:25:06,104 We had silent auction and we had so many volunteers to help us. 484 00:25:06,104 --> 00:25:09,474 It was so wonderful to see. How 600. 485 00:25:09,708 --> 00:25:14,279 People that and you mentioned how many meatballs they made it 486 00:25:14,279 --> 00:25:18,083 and how much pasta and two big bread, garlic bread. 487 00:25:18,083 --> 00:25:21,386 It was beautiful. And people just so happy. 488 00:25:21,386 --> 00:25:22,287 When they went home, 489 00:25:22,287 --> 00:25:25,790 they were just like thanking you when they have they paid for that. 490 00:25:26,157 --> 00:25:28,493 They were still happy about it. Yeah. Yes. 491 00:25:28,493 --> 00:25:31,062 It was a beautiful day for everybody. Yeah. 492 00:25:31,062 --> 00:25:32,764 And that that's a wonderful event. 493 00:25:32,764 --> 00:25:35,166 And so who had to make the 600 meatballs? 494 00:25:35,166 --> 00:25:37,636 That's what I want to know. Sister Agnes. 495 00:25:37,636 --> 00:25:38,770 We have a catering. 496 00:25:38,770 --> 00:25:44,409 He was very kind and he offered his help for us for this fundraiser, Okay. 497 00:25:44,409 --> 00:25:45,277 And the catering 498 00:25:46,311 --> 00:25:47,379 themselves with all the 499 00:25:47,379 --> 00:25:50,382 staff they make, they prepare all this meatball and pasta. 500 00:25:50,549 --> 00:25:53,485 And so we have we have an event coming up on December 6th. 501 00:25:53,485 --> 00:25:55,487 It's a breakfast meat collection. 502 00:25:55,487 --> 00:25:59,624 Talked about what people can do if they want to bring food to that drive. 503 00:25:59,724 --> 00:26:02,861 So every year has a night tradition. 504 00:26:02,861 --> 00:26:06,064 We have a meat drive 505 00:26:06,798 --> 00:26:09,935 around this time and this time this year we 506 00:26:10,569 --> 00:26:13,405 we decided to put it on the 9th of December 507 00:26:13,405 --> 00:26:16,508 from from 9 to 3. 508 00:26:16,641 --> 00:26:17,576 Right. 509 00:26:17,576 --> 00:26:21,346 And then, you can drive through and then could, 510 00:26:21,746 --> 00:26:25,417 first of all, go to the grocery and buy whatever we need. 511 00:26:25,417 --> 00:26:26,651 We have a list still. 512 00:26:26,651 --> 00:26:30,622 So you put it and then you drive through and then the system, we receive 513 00:26:30,622 --> 00:26:32,190 your credit card donations. 514 00:26:32,190 --> 00:26:34,559 What they're looking forward to, everybody understands 515 00:26:34,559 --> 00:26:38,163 hears are looking for bacon, ham, sausage holiday breakfast. 516 00:26:38,196 --> 00:26:40,131 It is December 6th. 517 00:26:40,131 --> 00:26:44,035 That that that is the date if you just so they're over on James A Reed Road 518 00:26:44,402 --> 00:26:47,906 they're easy to find if you you know want to go over there and drop something 519 00:26:47,906 --> 00:26:49,307 off of feel free to do that. 520 00:26:49,307 --> 00:26:50,942 They'd be happy to have it. 521 00:26:50,942 --> 00:26:53,244 And you certainly it's certainly something they can use. 522 00:26:53,244 --> 00:26:55,847 As they said, they're feeding 75 people every day. 523 00:26:55,847 --> 00:26:57,248 Think about that. That's a lot. 524 00:26:57,248 --> 00:27:00,051 That's a lot of bacon and a lot of ham. Okay. 525 00:27:00,051 --> 00:27:02,354 So let's switch gears here and talk about something else. 526 00:27:02,354 --> 00:27:06,391 Now you have a van, Sister Mary is broken down okay. 527 00:27:06,391 --> 00:27:08,960 It's 16 passenger bus. 528 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:13,531 And so therefore you need to have the ability to get people in your facility 529 00:27:13,765 --> 00:27:15,634 if they want to go to Walmart and go shopping 530 00:27:15,634 --> 00:27:18,036 or they need to do this or go to a doctor's appointment. 531 00:27:18,036 --> 00:27:20,171 You don't have a van right now. Now. 532 00:27:20,171 --> 00:27:23,908 So, you know, if you're out there, you're a car dealer, okay? 533 00:27:23,975 --> 00:27:26,277 Or you're used car dealer or whatever the case may be. 534 00:27:26,277 --> 00:27:29,581 Or maybe you're somebody that has a connection to Ford or GM or 535 00:27:30,148 --> 00:27:32,851 whoever it may be. We're looking for a van. 536 00:27:32,851 --> 00:27:34,586 They need to replace this van. 537 00:27:34,586 --> 00:27:36,955 You're looking for a 12 passenger van, right. 538 00:27:36,955 --> 00:27:39,290 With the two handicap access. 539 00:27:39,290 --> 00:27:39,691 Right. 540 00:27:39,691 --> 00:27:42,961 Also, because we have a few residents who are on the wheelchair, 541 00:27:43,395 --> 00:27:45,530 so they can also be able to go out. 542 00:27:45,530 --> 00:27:48,900 What we have is the the lift doesn't work. 543 00:27:49,267 --> 00:27:50,101 And a battery. 544 00:27:50,101 --> 00:27:52,937 Battery doesn't work, so it's very hard to take them out. 545 00:27:52,937 --> 00:27:55,206 Like for example, the Christmas light. 546 00:27:55,206 --> 00:28:00,211 We want to take them to see the Christmas lights, but no access to take them out. 547 00:28:00,879 --> 00:28:02,480 So they're looking for a van. 548 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,851 So if it is anyone out there that you know has access or or can start 549 00:28:06,851 --> 00:28:11,156 a conversation with Ford Motor Company or General Motors or anybody else, 550 00:28:11,756 --> 00:28:15,193 please feel free to reach out to Carrie Rojas once again. 551 00:28:15,193 --> 00:28:18,063 That phone number is 816-203-8015. 552 00:28:18,063 --> 00:28:18,930 By the way, 553 00:28:18,930 --> 00:28:21,900 if you would like to be a driver, if you can come and help 554 00:28:21,900 --> 00:28:24,569 take people to the doctor, if you can take people 555 00:28:24,569 --> 00:28:26,905 if they need to go to Walmart or pick up prescriptions, 556 00:28:26,905 --> 00:28:29,307 whatever the case may be, they'd love to have you. 557 00:28:29,307 --> 00:28:33,078 If you want to come as a volunteer, they'd love to have you come as volunteer 558 00:28:33,078 --> 00:28:36,281 and help out with this part with where they can get these folks 559 00:28:36,481 --> 00:28:38,049 outside of the home, when they 560 00:28:38,049 --> 00:28:41,553 when they need to go do something or just as Sister Mary just said, 561 00:28:41,753 --> 00:28:43,688 if they just want to go look at the lights on the plaza, 562 00:28:43,688 --> 00:28:47,492 if you've got the ability to help do that, please reach out to them. 563 00:28:47,759 --> 00:28:49,527 They could certainly use the help. Once again. 564 00:28:49,527 --> 00:28:53,565 Carrie Rojas is at 816-203-8015. 565 00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:56,167 816-203-8015. 566 00:28:56,167 --> 00:28:57,602 They'd be happy to chat with you. 567 00:28:57,602 --> 00:28:59,070 We'll be right back after the break. 568 00:28:59,070 --> 00:29:01,473 You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate 569 00:29:01,473 --> 00:29:04,476 broadcasting here on the HIA Radio Network. 570 00:29:04,642 --> 00:29:07,245 Coast to coast across USA. Stay right there. 571 00:29:07,245 --> 00:29:08,613 We've got more. When we come back. 572 00:29:15,220 --> 00:29:16,054 Welcome back. 573 00:29:16,054 --> 00:29:19,591 You're listening to America's Healthcare Advocate show broadcasting coast 574 00:29:19,591 --> 00:29:22,927 to coast across the USA here on the HIA radio network. 575 00:29:22,927 --> 00:29:24,662 You know you're listening to this. 576 00:29:24,662 --> 00:29:27,065 I don't care where you are in the country. They have a need. 577 00:29:27,065 --> 00:29:29,234 And like I said at the beginning of this show, 578 00:29:29,234 --> 00:29:31,736 give me a name of another charity that does it. 579 00:29:31,736 --> 00:29:32,637 There aren't very many. 580 00:29:32,637 --> 00:29:36,641 I don't know of any, frankly, especially where they actually take them into a home, 581 00:29:36,841 --> 00:29:39,744 give them a decent place to live. 582 00:29:39,744 --> 00:29:42,514 Their own private room, their own bathroom, provide three meals, 583 00:29:42,514 --> 00:29:47,152 a day for them, personal hygiene, laundry, cleaning, the whole nine yards. 584 00:29:47,152 --> 00:29:50,889 They do it all into the facility here in Kansas City is beautiful. 585 00:29:50,889 --> 00:29:53,491 Yes, it's older, but they maintain it. 586 00:29:53,491 --> 00:29:55,493 It's spotless. It's very well done. 587 00:29:55,493 --> 00:29:59,130 This is a quality of life you don't typically see for the elderly 588 00:29:59,130 --> 00:29:59,931 when they get stuck 589 00:29:59,931 --> 00:30:04,335 into a medicaid facility, two to a room, sharing a bathroom and one television. 590 00:30:04,335 --> 00:30:09,107 That's not a way to end your life or wind up in your old age where you want to be. 591 00:30:09,107 --> 00:30:12,544 What they're providing is a quality of life that's far above that. 592 00:30:12,544 --> 00:30:14,712 Okay, and if you've got the money to afford 593 00:30:14,712 --> 00:30:18,416 that kind of nursing care with a long term care policy, but that's great. 594 00:30:18,483 --> 00:30:20,685 But a lot of people don't, and that's what they do. 595 00:30:20,685 --> 00:30:25,356 So their website anywhere in the country, Little Sisters of the Poor.org. 596 00:30:25,590 --> 00:30:27,859 Little Sisters of the Poor dot org. 597 00:30:27,859 --> 00:30:30,929 If you have time, you want to volunteer. 598 00:30:31,029 --> 00:30:33,464 Maybe you have a business that can help out. 599 00:30:33,464 --> 00:30:35,066 Maybe you can write a check. 600 00:30:35,066 --> 00:30:41,739 Give Carrie Rojas a call 816-203-8015. 601 00:30:42,140 --> 00:30:44,242 Help them help those. 602 00:30:44,242 --> 00:30:46,044 They can't help themselves. 603 00:30:46,044 --> 00:30:47,412 All right, let's switch gears a little bit. 604 00:30:47,412 --> 00:30:50,415 Sister Mary, let's talk about we've talked about 605 00:30:50,548 --> 00:30:53,418 all the physical things you're doing to take care of people. 606 00:30:53,418 --> 00:30:56,254 You know, end of life going to happen for everybody. 607 00:30:56,254 --> 00:30:58,823 Nobody's getting out of here alive. Okay. 608 00:30:58,823 --> 00:31:01,426 So so let's talk about hospice care. 609 00:31:01,426 --> 00:31:02,660 Because you do hospice care. 610 00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:04,996 They don't have to leave if they're in hospice. 611 00:31:04,996 --> 00:31:06,798 You let's talk about how you do that. 612 00:31:06,798 --> 00:31:09,801 And in the spirituality piece that you bring to that, 613 00:31:09,901 --> 00:31:12,036 you're you know, this a Roman Catholic order. 614 00:31:12,036 --> 00:31:16,140 I'm Catholic, but you're providing this to people of all denominations. 615 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:18,009 Talk about sister Mary. 616 00:31:18,009 --> 00:31:23,514 So as the as Carrie said, we are a Catholic congregation, Roman Catholic. 617 00:31:23,514 --> 00:31:25,683 We take care of the elderly. 618 00:31:25,683 --> 00:31:30,755 So we have mass for them every day in a chapel where they can participate, 619 00:31:30,755 --> 00:31:34,859 the mass, any race, color, anybody can come and pray to the Lord 620 00:31:35,293 --> 00:31:36,327 everyday mass there. 621 00:31:36,327 --> 00:31:38,763 They have everyday rosary there. 622 00:31:38,763 --> 00:31:42,200 So you a they have a anointing of the sick every three months. 623 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,269 They have confession every week. 624 00:31:44,269 --> 00:31:47,972 So we do provide not only bodily things, 625 00:31:47,972 --> 00:31:50,942 but we provide also spiritual life for them. 626 00:31:51,109 --> 00:31:54,846 So when the time comes when the Lord is going to call them, 627 00:31:55,346 --> 00:31:59,951 we stay with them, even if you have to stay nights and days, we stay with them. 628 00:31:59,951 --> 00:32:01,519 We never leave them alone. 629 00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:03,922 We hold their hand, we pray with them. 630 00:32:03,922 --> 00:32:07,191 We sisters take a turn in the night because we know 631 00:32:07,325 --> 00:32:10,328 when they will close their eyes here. 632 00:32:10,328 --> 00:32:14,365 When they open next in the heaven, they will see Blessed Mother. 633 00:32:14,365 --> 00:32:19,170 Or Saint Joseph or Jesus come to them, but they will remember 634 00:32:19,470 --> 00:32:23,274 who I was holding their hand in the last the last minute. 635 00:32:23,274 --> 00:32:26,110 I was there with them, praying with them. 636 00:32:26,110 --> 00:32:29,747 The family, those who have family, they can come and stay with them. 637 00:32:30,014 --> 00:32:34,052 But there are many who don't have the family, so we are their family. 638 00:32:34,052 --> 00:32:35,720 So we provide that. 639 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:39,057 We stay with them and we prepare their heart 640 00:32:39,557 --> 00:32:43,361 to go to heaven and prepare their soul to the you know. 641 00:32:44,429 --> 00:32:46,497 A lot of people, you wouldn't necessarily think of that. 642 00:32:46,497 --> 00:32:49,367 I mean, even when I was doing all this, getting ready to do this show day, 643 00:32:49,367 --> 00:32:51,336 I did not think of that. Okay. 644 00:32:51,336 --> 00:32:52,971 How important is that? 645 00:32:52,971 --> 00:32:56,374 You know, to contrast that with being in one of these Medicaid 646 00:32:56,374 --> 00:32:59,577 facilities where there is nobody there, okay? 647 00:32:59,577 --> 00:33:00,511 They're on their own. 648 00:33:00,511 --> 00:33:01,412 They're by themselves. 649 00:33:01,412 --> 00:33:04,615 There's nobody there when they pass, there's no family with them. 650 00:33:04,983 --> 00:33:08,353 There's nobody in that facility who has any kind of personal relationship. 651 00:33:08,353 --> 00:33:10,621 And here, I just heard you say it. 652 00:33:10,621 --> 00:33:14,726 If you're sitting there 24/7 with him in that room, they're not by themself. 653 00:33:15,426 --> 00:33:16,961 That has to mean a lot. 654 00:33:16,961 --> 00:33:20,932 It has to mean a lot to these folks, that they because as you said. 655 00:33:20,932 --> 00:33:23,935 And it's sad I talked about this at the beginning of the show. 656 00:33:24,235 --> 00:33:29,307 In this culture, in this country, we don't necessarily look at those of us. 657 00:33:29,307 --> 00:33:32,443 And I'm chronologically challenged at 76 years of age. 658 00:33:32,677 --> 00:33:37,515 We don't necessarily look at those of us that are seasoned citizens as an asset. 659 00:33:37,849 --> 00:33:40,351 We look at them as a liability. Okay. 660 00:33:40,351 --> 00:33:42,720 That's not how you folks do this, you know, out. 661 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:44,822 Little sister says something completely different. 662 00:33:44,822 --> 00:33:47,558 You look at the whole person, you take care of them physically. 663 00:33:47,558 --> 00:33:49,360 You take care of them mentally. 664 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:51,062 And you're helping them spiritually. 665 00:33:51,062 --> 00:33:53,364 And that's quite a message that you deliver in a way. 666 00:33:53,364 --> 00:33:53,998 You do this. 667 00:33:55,133 --> 00:33:57,035 I just think it's remarkable what you do 668 00:33:57,035 --> 00:34:00,038 and the fact that you devote your lives to this. 669 00:34:00,872 --> 00:34:02,874 And, and you've been doing this. 670 00:34:02,874 --> 00:34:03,508 How long have you been? 671 00:34:03,508 --> 00:34:06,377 How long is that? 132 years in Kansas City? 672 00:34:06,377 --> 00:34:07,011 What did you say? 673 00:34:07,011 --> 00:34:09,947 143 I was I was off, okay. 674 00:34:09,947 --> 00:34:12,450 It's 143 years in Kansas City. 675 00:34:12,450 --> 00:34:14,919 Give dating all the way back to the Civil War. 676 00:34:14,919 --> 00:34:16,921 Now think about that. Okay. 677 00:34:16,921 --> 00:34:18,956 So you know, 678 00:34:18,956 --> 00:34:21,993 Carrie Rojas likes to say the best kept secret in Kansas City. 679 00:34:21,993 --> 00:34:24,062 I hope we're going to change that. Okay. 680 00:34:24,062 --> 00:34:25,696 I hope we're going to make a difference where there 681 00:34:25,696 --> 00:34:29,333 not the best kept secret in Kansas City because they have a mission. 682 00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:32,170 And they need your help. 683 00:34:32,170 --> 00:34:36,240 Your your closing thoughts, sister Mary, as we finish up the show today. 684 00:34:37,008 --> 00:34:38,042 My closing thoughts. 685 00:34:38,042 --> 00:34:42,113 I want to thank the people of Kansas City who has helped us all this 686 00:34:42,113 --> 00:34:46,050 year, 143 years, and we count on them to continue 687 00:34:46,050 --> 00:34:49,387 for maybe 100 more years, who knows we want to stay here. 688 00:34:49,687 --> 00:34:52,623 We want to take care of the people of Kansas City. 689 00:34:52,623 --> 00:34:53,691 And that's what they do. 690 00:34:53,691 --> 00:34:55,393 And so here's what I'm going to do. 691 00:34:55,393 --> 00:34:59,030 I'm asking you, if you're listening out there, you know, you're retired. 692 00:34:59,630 --> 00:34:59,897 Yeah. 693 00:35:01,432 --> 00:35:03,568 And, I'm going to use the example or somebody 694 00:35:03,568 --> 00:35:07,371 I know was sitting there with your Fox News turned on all day, okay. 695 00:35:07,371 --> 00:35:08,840 Doing absolutely nothing. 696 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:11,042 How about doing something that might help somebody? 697 00:35:11,042 --> 00:35:13,144 Maybe you've got time to go be a volunteer. 698 00:35:13,144 --> 00:35:16,047 Maybe you can go down to the home and just help them in the kitchen. 699 00:35:16,047 --> 00:35:18,116 Maybe you can help them with the grounds. 700 00:35:18,116 --> 00:35:19,250 Maybe you can drive. 701 00:35:19,250 --> 00:35:22,954 Maybe you can take five people, take them to the doctor, or take them to Walmart. 702 00:35:22,954 --> 00:35:26,390 Whatever the case may be, they have a need for help here. 703 00:35:26,691 --> 00:35:29,393 If you've got the ability, it doesn't have to be money. 704 00:35:29,393 --> 00:35:30,928 If you don't have the money to do this. 705 00:35:30,928 --> 00:35:32,430 And if you do have, that's wonderful. 706 00:35:32,430 --> 00:35:36,534 But if you don't, you certainly can step up here, and take some time. 707 00:35:36,567 --> 00:35:38,870 Go down to spend a day, spend two hours, three hours. 708 00:35:38,870 --> 00:35:42,406 You know, it's rewarding to be able to do something to help others. 709 00:35:42,607 --> 00:35:47,044 As I said, you know, we elderly in this country are kind of left behind. 710 00:35:47,044 --> 00:35:48,479 They're not looked at like 711 00:35:48,479 --> 00:35:51,082 they are in a lot of other countries, in a lot of other cultures. 712 00:35:51,082 --> 00:35:52,116 And that's where these 713 00:35:52,116 --> 00:35:55,720 that's where the sisters of the poor make a huge difference in people's lives. 714 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:58,556 And I think it's important for us to get this message out there. 715 00:35:58,556 --> 00:36:01,592 So if you want to get involved, I don't care where you are in the country. 716 00:36:01,592 --> 00:36:02,527 They've got homes all over. 717 00:36:02,527 --> 00:36:05,429 They've they've got homes outside of the country and other places. 718 00:36:05,429 --> 00:36:10,501 So it's Little Sisters of the Poor dot org. 719 00:36:10,501 --> 00:36:13,704 is the website nationally if you want to go look up a home. 720 00:36:13,971 --> 00:36:17,308 If you want to help out here over on James A Reed road. 721 00:36:17,675 --> 00:36:19,243 They certainly love to have you. 722 00:36:19,243 --> 00:36:23,648 If you've got a business, maybe you've got a group, maybe you've got a civic group. 723 00:36:23,681 --> 00:36:27,285 Whatever the case may be, and you'd like to take a Saturday, go on. 724 00:36:27,285 --> 00:36:29,420 My men's Bible study group does this. 725 00:36:29,420 --> 00:36:31,822 You know, we've done other homes before and helped out. 726 00:36:31,822 --> 00:36:33,925 We're certainly going to be at Little Sisters of the Poor 727 00:36:33,925 --> 00:36:35,526 this year in the spring to help out. 728 00:36:35,526 --> 00:36:37,428 My point is they need that help. 729 00:36:37,428 --> 00:36:39,197 They've got 23 acres out there. 730 00:36:39,197 --> 00:36:41,332 It's a big facility. 731 00:36:41,332 --> 00:36:43,000 All right, take the time. 732 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:45,002 Get involved. Call Carrie Rojas. 733 00:36:45,002 --> 00:36:50,641 The number is 816-203-8015. 734 00:36:50,942 --> 00:36:53,311 You can make a difference if you want to. 735 00:36:53,311 --> 00:36:55,112 You pick up the phone and give them a call. 736 00:36:55,112 --> 00:36:58,983 Whether it's money, whether it's food, whether it's volunteer hours. 737 00:36:59,250 --> 00:37:01,252 I really appreciate both of you coming in here. 738 00:37:01,252 --> 00:37:02,653 Thank you so much for this. 739 00:37:02,653 --> 00:37:06,257 And thank you, Carrie for putting all this together and making all this happen. 740 00:37:06,257 --> 00:37:09,660 That it because I think it's an important message that needs to be delivered. 741 00:37:09,794 --> 00:37:12,930 And now I leave you with this thought from Doctor Martin Luther King. 742 00:37:13,231 --> 00:37:16,267 Americans must learn to live together as brothers and sisters. 743 00:37:16,500 --> 00:37:19,470 We are surely going to perish together as fools. 744 00:37:19,737 --> 00:37:21,372 Truer words never spoken. 745 00:37:21,372 --> 00:37:24,508 Thank you for listening to America's Healthcare Advocate broadcasting. 746 00:37:24,575 --> 00:37:29,146 Coast to coast across USA here on the HIA Radio Network. 747 00:37:29,513 --> 00:37:30,815 Goodbye, America.