October 21, 2009

Centenarian says faith is the most important element in her life

By Denver Catholic Register

While she may not want all the fanfare that comes with turning 100 years old, Mary Donahue has reason to celebrate.  In August, Donahue entered into an exclusive club that is growing rapidly at 22 percent a year in the United States.
Like so many centenarians, she has seen incredible changes in her lifetime and within the American culture.  Her memories include coming by boat from Ireland, her first view of America’s eastern shoreline and enduring the train as she traveled out west to Denver.

Her vivid, first-hand witness of early Denver, 81 years ago, is by far superior to any documentary film.  She describes America as a “simple place back then” and Denver—a small-time, cowboy town with a population of dreamers and those out to get rich.   Donahue jokes that it was her brother who expressed an interest in coming to America in 1930 but when the time came, his enthusiasm waned and she, then just 19, jumped at the chance to get his boat reservation. 
Here, she met the love of her life (an Irishman) and had five children and seven grandchildren.

“I am an American,” Donahue said with a twinkle in her eyes, “except on St. Patrick’s Day!”   

She describes her faith as the most important element in her life, with her family offering daily prayers to God with praise and intercession.

“Prayers are easy to say and help us tremendously,” she said.

Donahue recently started the Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency’s in-home exercise program and after just 90 days, her family is reporting that she has better balance, a better gait and is stronger. 

“The program improves the quality of life for patients: improving circulation, preventing falls and potential fractures, and improving outlook and feelings of well being,” explained Donna Heath, executive director of the agency.

The mission of Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency is to help the poor, the sick and the elderly remain independent in their own homes. Not only does the agency provide nursing and personal care, but also light housekeeping for those who are sometimes too frail to be scrubbing toilets and bathtubs without the risk of injury.  This care is given free-of-charge by qualified, caring, lay staff that has the same heart as the religious sisters who came before them.

More often than not, aging well involves staying active (including aerobic and weight bearing exercise), sound nutrition, and healthy and meaningful social connections.  In the book “The Blue Zones” by Dan Buettner, studies demonstrate the unique characteristics of populations who age well.  Describing their activity levels, Buettner notes they remain highly active and exercise daily in many cases, and that their connectivity to others through volunteering or careers continues late into life, when most other people would be retired.

“In the course of our work assisting the elderly to stay in their own homes, we come across many who are very autonomous—and motivated to stay that way,” said Heath. “These are folks in their 70s, 80s, 90s and even 100s, who work each day to maintain their independence and their right to make decisions.”

Heath said that with minimal assistance, the agency’s patients live alone in their small apartments or homes and have no desire to be uprooted and placed in a nursing home or other facility.

“Many even do what they can to volunteer and help others,” she said. “They are the very foundation of our society.”    

Dominican Sisters Home Health Agency

Address: 2501 Gaylord St., Denver
Phone: 303-322-1413
E-mail: info@dominicansisters.org
Web site: www.dominicansisters.org