October 20, 1999
Texas Baptists carry on
long tradition of care for elderly
___By Dan Martin
___Texas Baptist Communications
___More than 100 years ago--long before Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or other retirement programs--Texas Baptists began providing for senior adults.
___Since the origins of Buckner Orphan's Home in 1879, Texas Baptists have provided ministries that offered secure and loving places where people in the latter years of life could find the care they needed.
___Row houses were built along the edge of the orphan's home campus to provide a place for retired pastors and missionaries to live. In turn, the retirees and their spouses served as grandparents for the children living at the home.
___In the ensuing years, Texas Baptists have grown in their elder-care ministries to assist more than 4,000 senior adults annually through five entities that are part of the Human Welfare Coordinating Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas:
___Baptist Memorial Ministries, San Angelo; Wayne Merrill, president.
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___Service to senior adults is one of the exciting areas of work among institutions related to the BGCT through the Human Welfare Coordinating Board, said Ed Rogers, who soon will retire as director of the board.
___"These entities are constantly expanding their ministry into areas of needs as they arise," he said. "For instance, Alzheimer's patients are growing in number daily, and recently Baptist Memorials Ministries in San Angelo broke ground for the new 50-bed Sagecrest Alzheimer's unit, which will be a great addition to the other Baptist institutions who are trying to minister in this area."
___Baptist Memorials Geriatric Hospital began operations in October 1950, with gifts of $100,000 from S.S. Kistler and 13 acres from Amie and Phillip Cornick.
___Kistler requested that the center serve as a geriatric, mental and long-term illness hospital for people who need the care. In 1957, the hospital became part of the BGCT.
___Baptist Memorials offers long-term nursing care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and home health. Retirement services include apartments, duplexes and individual homes for independent living. NorthGate estates presents retirees the option of a custom-built home on the campus.
___Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center is expected to open adjacent to the campus in the fall of 2000, offering care for people with Alzheimer's and related dementia.
___The Woodlands, located in Burnet, is another retirement community of Baptist Memorials Ministries, offering affordable custom homes in a small-town setting.
___Similarly, the goal of Buckner Retirement Services is to help senior adults enjoy life to its fullest potential.
___From its inception, Buckner has expressed concern for the care of the aged, although its first retirement home campus opened 40 years ago.
___Today, Buckner offers retirement and elder-care services in nine Texas cities: Dallas, Austin, Longview, Nacogdoches, Houston, Beaumont, El Paso, DeSoto and Georgetown.
___Included are independent-living facilities, personal care, nursing care and Alzheimer's care.
___Golden Palms Retirement and Health Center, affiliated with Valley Baptist Medical Center, began in 1986 as a full-service retirement community serving South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.
___The center offers independent living facilities, assisted living and a skilled nursing facility.
___Hendrick Medical Center also offers the full spectrum of independent living, assisted living and nursing care.
___The Mesa Springs campus offers a neighborhood of townhomes and single family dwellings. Included on the campus is a health care center, which offers skilled nursing care and around-the-clock supervision.
___Wisteria Place is an assisted-living facility which includes apartments and features the direction of a registered nurse.
___Park Central, a part of Baptist Community Services, is a three-block full-service retirement community in downtown Amarillo. It is in the midst of the city, and churches of five major denominations are within walking distance.
___It offers senior adults several options, including independent retirement centers, assisted-living centers, transitional care living, a rehabilitation center and a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility.
___The mission of Park Central is to promote dignity, security and comfort to every individual in a loving, Christian community.
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