Mercy Network On Aging Celebrates Wholeness And Wisdom At 2005 MNOA Conference

Omaha, Nebraska --The Mercy Network on Aging (MNOA) 2005 Conference held in Timonium, Maryland, October 13-15, 2005, was attended by more than 100 Mercy professionals from 22 regions throughout the United States.

“The MNOA Conference is always a wonderful opportunity for the Mercy community to learn about new trends in caring as well as new medical treatments specifically for the aging,” said Char Stella, LPN, life development director for the Omaha region. “The world of healthcare is greatly impacted by new technologies and discoveries being made every day. This conference helps foster and encourage the sharing of valuable information that can benefit everyone,” she said.

The theme of the conference was Walk Forward in Daily Ministries with Wisdom, Wellness and Wholeness. Highlights included: Sister Patricia Smith, councilor of the Baltimore community warmly welcomed the Mercy network visitors; Sister Mary Roch Rocklage (St. Louis), chair of the sponsor council of Sisters of Mercy Health System, presented a renewed understanding of the mission and purpose of healthcare; James Siberski reviewed behavioral issues in Alzheimer’s and other dementias; while John Siberski, S.J., M.D., spoke of geriatric psychiatrists and how they should expect to deliver more than simply psychiatry.

Out-going chairperson Sister Anna Marie Tag (Mid-Atlantic) introduced Katie Hayes (Detroit), director of nursing, who will be chairperson of the next MNOA Conference to be held in Chicago in October 2007.

Other MNOA board members include: Marianne Arndorfer (Cedar Rapids); Sister Antoinette Manley (Dallas); Sister Margaret Ann Mathis (Connecticut); Sister Judith Niemet,(Chicago); Sister Carolyn Oberkirch (Baltimore); Sister Yvette Perrault (Burlingame); Nancy Piness, District of Columbia area; Sister Virginia Sposito (Albany); Sister Marietta Walsh (Providence); and Sister Mary Louise Yurik (Detroit); and Sister Margaret Johnson (Chicago).

CUTLINE: Sisters Mary Roch Rochlage (St. Louis), shown on the left, and Patricia Smith (Baltimore) chat prior to the Mercy Network on Aging (MNOA) Conference recently held in the Baltimore area. There were 108 Mercy professionals in attendance.

Messages to:
Marietta Walsh rsm (Providence/Northeast),