Health Ministry is a Blending of Spirituality and Nursing to Support Wholestic Health.
Desert Palms Presbyterian Church has a Health Ministry Team that supports and guides the Faith Community Nurse and the programs.
We support and care for the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the faith community.
Education Forums/Classes
A variety of health-related classes are offered throughout the year.
Upcoming Classes via Zoom
Check back for upcoming classes
Support Groups
- Caregiver Support Group
- Low Vision Resource Gathering
- Grief Support Group
Activities
Vitalant Blood Drive
In partnership with Vitalant, DPPC hosts two blood drives a year: Spring and Fall.
The next Vitalant Blood Drive is Thursday, June 10 2021. Sign up online or call the church office.
Vitalant Blood Drive Update
Our March 18 blood drive was a great success. Thank you to all that donated and volunteered at the drive. The thank you letter that we received is below:
Vitalant thanks you for organizing the recent blood drive at Desert Palms Presbyterian Church. Your drive will help to assure that blood is available for patients in need locally.
At the March 18 blood drive, 42 lifesaving donors stepped up to donate, resulting in 39 procedures for our community and reaching 130% of your blood drive goal. The donations will help up to 170 people in our local community.
Your efforts and the support of Desert Palms Presbyterian Church are greatly appreciated and will go a long way toward assuring a strong blood supply, and ultimately saving lives.
Again, thank you for your contribution and ongoing support of the community blood program. I enjoyed working with you and look forward to our next meeting to plan your upcoming blood drive scheduled for Thursday, June 10, 2021.
Meals of Joy
See our Missions page for more information.
Responding to An Emergency Training in Spring
A class held in the Spring that prepares the participant to respond to an emergency at home, at church and in the community. Participants learn hands only cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This is not a certification class.
Influenza Shot Clinic
In partnership with a local pharmacy, an influenza shot clinic is held in October.
Palms Newsletter Article
From Your Faith Community Nurse Mary
National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16, 2021. It is a nationwide initiative that encourages adults of all ages to plan ahead of a health crisis.
When you make health decisions ahead of time and put those wishes in writing:
You bring peace of mind to our families.
You enable your caregivers to advocate for you when you are unable to do so yourself.
You are more likely to avoid the difficult situations that are so common when we become seriously ill and our loved ones are left to guess what we would have wanted.
It is an opportunity to start a conversation of what is important to you.
One option to document your wishes is Five Wishes. It is a form that is available in my office and online. You can even order it from Amazon and have forms delivered to your door. It is an easy-to-use legal advance directive document written in everyday language. It helps all adults, regardless of age or health, to consider and document how they want to be cared for at the end of life.
Five Wishes is unique among all other living will and healthcare agent forms because it speaks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. Five Wishes also helps to guide and structure discussions with your family and physician, making conversations easier.
I encourage you to honor National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16 and review your health wishes or begin to have the conversation with your family about your wishes.
-- Mary
Meditation Monday with Nurse Mary
May we all find ways this week to show our love and compassion to those whose paths we cross.
Have a blessed week.
~Mary
John 15:12
My command is this: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Health Related Resources
COVID-19 Community Care Resources
211Arizona.org
ArizonaTogether.org
Organizations Providing Care In Your Home
- About Seniors Placement Services: Contact Christina Cave at About Seniors, 602-772-6490.
- ComforCare
- Home Instead
Community Support Groups
- Benevilla Phone Support Groups Phone: 623-584-4999
- Banner Sun Health Phone Support Groups Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Phone Number: 623-832-6530 Arizona Caregiver Coalition Caregiver Resource Line: 1-888-737-7494
- Alzheimer's Association Phone Support Groups Phone Number: 602-528-0545
- 24 Hour Helpline: 1-800-272-3900
- Area Agency On Aging Phone Number: 1-888-264-2258
- 24 Hour Senior Helpline: 602-264-4357