Services to the Retired and Infirm Sisters of IHM
Dedicated lay staff provide for the dietary needs of Camilla and many committed lay personnel provide housekeeping and custodial services. Maintenance is under the leadership of a dedicated team of laymen who work to assure that all equipment is functioning properly at all times. An in-house laundry keeps the linens in extraordinary cleanliness for the entire facility.
A resident chaplain provides spiritual care in the form of daily Eucharistic Liturgy, confession, monthly anointing of the sick, counsel and spiritual direction. The Sister-residents are able to continue with the prayer life that has been a part of their entire lives while ministering to the people of God in various parts of the United States and South America. They assist at Mass each day, pray the Liturgy of the Hours in common twice a day, and pray the rosary privately each day. They are blessed to have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction daily, as well as the opportunity for an annual retreat. The rosary may be prayed together on certain days for various intentions and, in addition, the Sisters pray continually for all during their personal time for special and general intentions requested.
Educational Ministries | Evangelization Ministries |
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Camilla Hall is a long-term care facility that provides assistance for the elders of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As the Sisters age and become infirm, they leave their active roles in the mission of the Church to become members of the Apostolate of Prayer at Camilla Hall. The Sisters use their time to pray for all the various intentions of the Church, for the Congregation, and for all people who have requested prayers or who are in need of prayers.
While
a resident of Camilla Hall each Sister receives the medical attention
necessary for her individual needs. Various doctors and specialists
attend to these needs on a regular basis. Presently there are four
doctors who attend to the Sisters in Camilla on a monthly basis.
A podiatrist comes twice weekly and rheumatologists come monthly
to attend special needs of the Sisters. A licensed physical therapist
who is a Sister of IHM, as well as other therapists, provide physical therapy when needed or recommended.
Recreation and music therapy are daily components of the day. As
the need arises various specialists, e.g., cardiologists, surgeons,
etc., also make visits to Camilla to visit Sisters unable to leave
the facility to go to the doctor. Camilla is fortunate to house
its own pharmacy under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
Camilla has also procured the services of Mercy Home Health Care and Hospice to care for Sisters with specialized needs.
The
nursing staff consists of IHM Sister nurses and lay nurses. With
loving and professional recognition of the dignity of each Sister,
these nurses provide all the necessary care for the resident Sisters
whom they assist. In addition to the nursing staff, Camilla has
a number of Sisters of the IHM who provide a variety of services
to keep the nursing home a religious home for the Sisters.
Many volunteers are needed to assist in various departments and to do many small tasks that extend the services of the regular staff. A college professor comes weekly to shine shoes; a retired accountant helps to provide transportation to a doctor for some Sisters. Others provide companionship, fill water pitchers, assist with the personal laundry of the residents, and help to respond to a variety of other needs. Camilla Hall is graced to have volunteers assist the staff in the ministry of caring for the aged and infirm.
A variety of activities are a part of Camilla and they vary according to the season. Many groups from various parishes come to visit or conduct a bingo party. Children from the schools and parishes in the area come to provide entertainment for the Sisters. On occasion a soloist, an ensemble, or a small group of singers from Immaculata University come to entertain. Children and adults provide a wonderful stimulus and meaningful contact for the Sisters who are limited by infirmity.
Some Sisters assist in various tasks throughout the day. These vary dependent upon the physical condition of each individual. Some of these tasks include: tutoring, office work, switchboard duty, delivering mail, feeding Sisters in need, assisting in the laundry, and performing a variety of other chores that keep Camilla a happy, efficient establishment. They also participate in making craft items that are sold at various times of the year such as the annual Oktoberfest. Many of their crafts are displayed in the Reception Office and visitors find this a veritable treasure of homemade items. Dedicated volunteers also provide ideas and assistance for the production of the crafts and handiwork.
Occasionally, one sees a resident cat, Millie, or a dog, Charity, visiting the Sisters or in the Physical Therapy room. A service dog comes weekly to visit the Sisters and they respond well to these canine friends. Those in administration welcome any suggestions that will make the lives of the Sisters as full as possible spiritually, culturally, or socially.
At special times Camilla Hall takes on a festive air. At Christmas eager hands make it a Yuletide showplace. Every corner of the house radiates the holiday spirit as all await the hushed beauty of carols and Christmas Mass. Green shamrocks, Easter bunnies, Halloween goblins and Thanks- giving pilgrims, Phillies buttons and Eagles pennants appear on walls and doors during the year. Jubilee Day in April honors all Diamond, Golden, and Silver jubilarians with a symbolic liturgy, a special jubilee dinner, and community room supper that the jubilarians may enjoy with their invited guests.