Saturday, July 27, 2013

A LETTER of GRATITUDE to CLC



To Whom It May Concern:

(7-22-2013)
 
We at Laguna Honda Hospital are very grateful for the help and support given to us by the Community Living Campaign. Our involvement with the CLC has made the Laguna Honda Computer Club…possible.

 The CLC has provided refurbished computers to hospital residents who seem able to benefit from owning a personal computer. The CLC has set up a way for residents to earn a PC of their own by helping each other learn the computer from each other. Being a long term hospital resident, myself, I am aware of how owning and learning to operate a computer can be a real game changer to those who partake in this. Many of the residents seem to respond to more than just the television set provided.

 The computer is a window to the world. As Bill Gates was quoted, ‘’the computer increases communication and creativity.’’ This can work in spades to those participating hospital residents. I have witnessed one resident see pictures of her grandson for the first time  on Facebook. Her comment was, ‘’look, he has my nose!’’
 
Another Spanish resident is learning SKYPE and plans to allow others in the Spanish community at LHH to talk with family members in their different countries. He has been having health issues, but still sees this as a very possible thing to have happen. One blind resident commented after his interaction with a CLC worker... ‘’Angels do exist.’’

With e-mail, YouTube, Facebook, SKYPE…etc., etc. There are many benefits to being hooked into the system at LHH. Wifi is provided by LHH. Computers and tech support are provided by CLC. The Laguna Honda computer club members have benefited from knowing CLC people. The CLC door is open for members to grow and increase their involvement with the community of CLC members.  I hope that this partnership continues for a long, long time. It seems to be a win-win proposition.

 

Paul Hendrickson  (resident)

Laguna Honda Computer Club

Laguna Honda Hospital

Friday, July 26, 2013

GOOD NEWS!

Bethany Schwarz is Back!

---She is going to be at LHH twice a month to handle any computer and device questions that we residents may have.
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---PHONE her EXTENSION with resident computer concerns.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

COMPUTER TEACHER - ''OLDER ARTICLE''

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''COMPUTER TEACHER''
Bethany Schwarz
 
---Bethany started, yesterday, October 27, 2012. The Laguna Honda Computer Club received a shot in the arm. It was a very good combo…to say the least.
---Bethany brought everyone into her comfort zone with the computer. Her knowingness and facility was communicated to all she met. She had one woman on Facebook viewing postings from her daughter…and writing messages. Setting up Skype for another and downloading a program he may find relevant in a class he is taking. A patient with memory challenges finding and singing old DOORS songs who remembers them from his youth. He asked that she write her name on the white erase board provided in each room. He said, ‘’I don’t want to forget her.’’ He thanked me, also, for bringing her by. Kiddingly…she gave him an A+ for his work…and made his day (if not his year) in the process.
---Her last resident of the day was a robust, blind, Irishman (brogue and all.) His daughter is a doctor of linguistics in a university in Spain. She found and read a profile on her while finding different books that he was interested in…on Amazon. She was aware of both the university and some of the authors of the books he was seeking. He said that she was like an answer to his prayers. He is very astute…but, so is she.
---My ‘’take’’ on all this is that in the world of computers, knowing the solution to the particular question…is enough. It seems to be evolving that way. At Laguna Honda we have many, many residents from a cross section of the world that isn’t long on achievement. Bethany, and many others…understand all this. A lot of the folks NEVER got the chance to achieve in a big way. Sometimes…in any way. Sweeping the lot ‘’under-the-rug’’ is much easier than actually talking with them…according to some. It so nice to see that this idea is NOT UNIVERSAL and doesn’t belong to everyone. The computer seems to be a/the tool that could break the ice for some of the folks and make them buoyant. That would be quite an achievement. It certainly has the POTENTIAL, if we use yesterday as an indicator. When people get on that wavelength of feeling good, comfortable and truly interested in the subject that they are pursuing…suddenly the sky becomes their limit. Folks can activate their imagination…changing worry back to wonder, where it may work in their favor…again.
---Thanks, Bethany. The Laguna Honda Computer Club is fortunate to have you. That thanks goes to Marie Jobling and the Community Living Campaign and ALL its friends…as well. You work very hard for us to do well. Due to her schedule, Bethany is going to work four hours per week with us.
POSTED: October 28, 2012...Originally.


Sunday, June 2, 2013

Laguna Honda Computer Club


Laguna Honda Computer Club

---We have started a computer club at Laguna Honda Hospital. It is my feeling that much of what is learned/taught in computer classes is not very relevant. On the practical side, one doesn’t need to know HOW a computer works…to work a computer. It is more important to know the kinds of things you enjoy and have the computer set up for you. You then have the things that you have told us you like on your favorites list.
---After you have chosen your likes, then you, for all intents and purposes, are in business. You will have things that were chosen by you…on your favorites list. You left click your mouse on the favorites list. Find the website that you want to visit and left click on the name. Your computer will go to that website.
---Let’s pretend that we go to YouTube. It seems that everyone likes music. We find the correct line on YouTube to type the artist’s name and the song. Many YouTube songs have more than one version. For example you type in Michael Jackson Billie Jean. There is more than one version. You can hear the cut from the record album or you can watch the live version where Michael J., does the moonwalk and sings. You have many choices of many songs. It is very hard to stump YouTube. And, I’m talking about every song that you’ve ever heard. And everything works much like YouTube. I like to say if you can follow simple directions you can probably work a computer. It isn’t much more complicated than reading a roadmap.
---We are affiliated with the Community Living Campaign and Marie Jobling and Company. If you have any questions for myself or Felipe M., we will, also, be available via, e-mail or you can make it known that you want to see us. If you are interested in a refurbished laptop computer of your own…you should make it a point to talk to one of us, also. We can set the wheels in motion.
---Computers can be a window to the world for us. There is nothing to fear about a computer. With Facebook and E-mail, it is easy to stay in contact with family and friends. A good portion of folks in the world are on Facebook. Even more folks have e-mail addresses. Practically everything is on the computer. Your job is, basically…to ask. You may have to exercise a little patience, but suddenly you may realize the whole world is at your fingertips. And…that is from your hospital bed. Take Care.

Marie Jobling, Judy Auda and Jennifer Walsh showed up today November 21. The members gathered and their questions were addressed and ALL went well...again. We had two new members - Patrick and David P. Marie J + Co. will be back on Jan., 02, 2013 at 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Their belief in what we do continues to breathe life into the project. They are the very necessary  backbone that, (as Bethany may say,) gives US the impetus to continue.
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We were glad to welcome Computer Coach Bethany Schwarz...who started with us Saturday, October 27. It was great to have her come aboard.  Bethany visited again...today, January 05, 2013. Another red-letter day for the LHCC. In the words of clubmember Frank A., ''angels do exist.''

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Why the Laguna Honda Computer Club IS a Success



---Why I think that LHCC was an immediate success is because it was created with success/happiness of the user as being its primary measurement. The quote by Bill Gates goes right in here. The COMPUTER is the most empowering tool there is. It can handle communication, creativity and can be contoured to each individual using it.

---The Computer Club only asks for one thing, ‘’give us an opportunity to make you happy by exploring things that you enjoy...on the computer.’’  You are able to have Maslow peak experiences with minimum effort. In my vision we will increase the times this happens…allowing the patient to, eventually, do the driving when he feels ready. He/she is off and running, pursuing things that were half-heartedly imagined just a short time ago.

---I’ve seen miracles happen in the short time we have been in existence. With the correct coach the mystery and the stigma behind computers has been debunked. The computer is now their raison d’etre [reason to be.]  The benefit to the health is positive. Feeling better makes you better. People are able to reconnect with living again…and are taught skills where they can learn to take control of their own lives. They may take control, AGAIN…or, for the first time.


---Laguna Honda Hospital can be seen as a Nursing Home...home to about 770 - 780 patients. Housed at Laguna Honda is the underserved population. This is an upgraded version of the same Laguna Honda Hospital that is being made popular by Dr. Victoria Sweet (my former doctor) in her book ''God's Hotel.'' I wholeheartedly recommend reading it. My name is in the acknowledgments. I lived there for seven years. I now live in the newly built LHH next door. Take Care.
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POSTED: November 8, 2012

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

TWELFTH CENTURY NUN MEETS COMPUTER CLUB


Hildegarde of Bingham meets

The 21th Century Laguna Honda Residents/Patients and

Hence…The Computer Club

---Hildegarde of Bingham was a nun in the twelfth century. She saw the human organism to be much like a plant equipped to heal itself if left alone. If anyone cares to follow up on any part of her life…feel free. There is much to be found in Dr. Victoria Sweet’s book, ‘’God’s Hotel.’’ She saw mankind as having its own power to green itself…and become well again if not interfered with by many of the things that through a search for convenience in a ‘’fool’s paradise,’’ have placed his very existence in jeopardy.

---Just as Dr. Victoria Sweet relates in her book, ‘’God’s Hotel,’’ her patient, Terry Becker, is an example of this. To treat Terry’s near fatal bedsore that developed by living in such a way that causes MUCH wear and tear on the body. To give the best course of treatment, Dr. Sweet called upon the work of Hildegarde the nun of the 12th century. The best course seemed to Dr. Sweet to be to remove all the things interfering with theviriditas (the chi, the prana, the life-force, the cosmic-force, the universal-force, the love-force, the god-force, the Divine, etc., whatever one feels comfortable in calling this force) from doing its thing on Terry Becker. Dr. Sweet went to work on getting rid of all the negative distractions that got in the way of the human organism’s ability to heal itself. That refers to everything negative to this process. Over time, a good long time…the bedsore healed.

---In ALL patients being treated anywhere…for anything…it works much the sameway. The necessary plan has to be made to allow the viriditas, the life-force, (has many different names) to do its thing. Its thing is to correct or make right the organism. We ALL have this inside. Remove whatever obstructs the life-force, the viriditas, from doing its thing…then allows it to do its thing.

---How do we see Hildegarde meeting the Computer Club? I see it this way – one of the objectives of the computer club is to find the point-of-entry of the resident. That is usually where the point of true happiness resides. Happiness is contentedness…the point where all is well with the world.  Where the point-of-well-being happens to be. One is most receptive to the Divine...at this point. The point of IS.
---Since most of everything can be found on the computer, we match the preferences of the patient with things that he has been searching for most of his life which are in one form or another…on the computer. The preference could be a piece of music that has meaning to him from his past. It could be a place that has meaning. It could reconnecting with others that grow his socialness. It can resolve past transgressions by communication between patients, friends and family members. This state of eliminating attitudinal + behaviorial negatives and removing hindrances and obstructions to receiving the viriditas or life-force (the Divine) from doing what it does…allows it do its thing.

---On the computer…one can, also, explore different interests on multitudes of subjects. One can just watch TV Shows and/or listens to radio shows of the past. One can, also, access stations, events or see scenes or scenery from all over the world. What I’m trying to say is that most folks can find something or other to match with something of interest and has meaning in their life…on the computer.

---When one gets reintouch with that part of himself that seems to lie dormant in many of us…he reactivates all of the vital juices of life and living that many years of wrong thinking and wrong living has left us with. What is reactivated (in all of us) is the very thing that Hildegarde is speaking of – the viriditas.

---When one learns to work with and to allow the life-force to reactivate and be a player in his show…the quality of his life improves many, many times over.  Wellness is now looming in his life. Take Care.