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Ikigai Newsletter
"That which makes life worth
living..."
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May 2007
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 Welcome to the first issue
of Ikigai, our bi-monthly
e-newsletter. We
chose the name Ikigai because it best describes the
theme of the topics we will be addressing. Ikigai (pronounced "ee-key-guy")
is a Japanese concept, which translates as "that which makes life
worth living."
Mieko
Kamiya (1914-1979), a well known Japanese
psychiatrist and clinician, identified seven basic human needs associated
with ikigai: "the need for a
fulfilling existence, the need for change and growth, the need for future
perspectives, the need for receiving responses, the need for freedom, the
need for self-actualization, and the need for significance and
value."
The desire for what the Japanese call ikigai is a universal human experience. As a
society we need to recognize that individuals with cognitive
disabilities, and the elderly, share this need to find purpose, dignity
and fulfillment in life and can be productive members of our community.
The Ikigai
newsletter will explore holistic topics that are integral components
of health and well-being, with a special focus on how these issues
affect individuals with cognitive disabilities, their families and
caregivers. Each issue will highlight a subject related to ikigai, such as
Faith, Hope, Purpose, Relationships, Community, Support and Well-being.
Topics and featured authors for
upcoming issues:
July 2007:
"Meaning" by Stan Seaton, MD
September 2007:
"Well-being" by Sandy Ransom
We hope you enjoy our newsletter and
welcome your comments and ideas. Please feel free to pass us on to
friends and colleagues.
Best regards,
David Seaton
President and CEO, The Seaton Foundation
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 The Importance of Social Capital
by Al Condeluci, Ph.D
The notion of friendship is
a critical one to the human condition. In fact, friendship is often
a concept that is thought to be so simple that it hardly merits any deep
study or discussion. All of us know that friendships are important,
but rarely do we ever think we must work at the concept. However,
the notion of friendship is a critical one to ponder, and in a way, we
should not be pushed by sentiment to become more conscious of our need
for friendship.
Sociologists refer to friendship
as "Social Capital." To the academics, the term
"capital" is one that speaks to resources that can advance or
promote a profit. They talk about physical capital which refers to
things like land or machinery. Economic capital might refer to goods,
or services that drive an economy. "Human capital" is
often thought to be the people needed to do the work to create the goods
or services.
Social capital, however, pushes
the concept beyond its economic roots and suggests the connectedness
among and between people. Research is now convincing that the more
social capital people have in their lives, the better their lives
become. In fact, in his book, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam
reports that the more social capital people have in their lives the healthier
they are, the happier they are and - listen to this - the longer they
live. That is right - social capital, or friendship is linked to
the 3 highest quality of life indicators know to humankind!
Now this is powerful stuff and
has real implications for not just for organizations, but for our society
in general. We know, as we listen to the people our agency serves
and talk to their families that social isolation (the opposite of social
capital) is the greatest challenge that people with disabilities have and
that families fear. This has been continually verified in our
experience and in the literature.
You don't have to dig too deep to
see the reality of social isolation, or limited social capital for people
with significant disabilities. In our work at CLASS we hear over
and over again, and see in vivid ways, that the folks we serve have less
friends and social opportunities than people without disabilities.
Some estimates are showing that people with significant disabilities have
nearly two-thirds less - yes, 66% less - social capital than their
able-bodied peers!
This is powerful and penetrating
stuff - and begs for some basic answers.
And like most vexing questions, the answers are simple, yet
complex. Looking at the issues just described, the direction should
be clear - all people are better when they have more social capital -
people with disabilities have less social capital - how can we help
people (all people, with and without disabilities) develop more social
capital. To read the
entire article, click here.
Al Condeluci is a national leader
and consultant on human services and community issues. He is currently
the CEO of UCP/CLASS,
the 3rd largest disability specific agency in Southwestern
PA.
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Seaton Foundation Launches The Center for LifeLong Planning
Improving the Lives of Individuals with Cognitive
Disabilities
March, 2007 The Seaton Foundation is
proud to announce the launch of the Center
for LifeLong Planning.
CLLP.org is a Web-based
resource for professionals, caregivers and organizations involved in the
long-term planning for individuals with cognitive disabilities (e.g.
brain injury, developmental/ intellectual disabilities, mental illness,
dementia, etc.).
The Web site will include a LifePlan Portal, which provides easy access to a
multitude of professionals and information on a variety of relevant topics;
information on upcoming industry events and conferences; and a bi-monthly
newsletter focusing on quality of life issues of interest to individuals
with cognitive disabilities and their families.
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An Introduction to Special Needs Estate Planning
by Steve Rhatigan
The reality of the lives of families caring for an
individual with a disabling condition is best described as a "daily
marathon." Consumed by the immediate, daily needs of their loved
one, they are left with little time for reflection or preparation. This
is not a conducive environment for planning. But plan they must, for it
is essential to the well being of the person whose care they've been
entrusted with. And it is also essential to their own
peace of mind because the question always at the forefront of their minds
is: "What will happen to my child when I am no longer able to
provide the daily support he needs?"
Special needs estate and financial planning is far more complex than
generalized estate planning, due to its unique language and the many
additional details that must be addressed if the plan is to be effective.
Overwhelmed by the complexity of the task and the emotions involved, many
families do not do adequate planning or in some cases, do not even plan
at all. Special needs planning is a dynamic process with defined
procedures, which when managed properly, will ensure that all the
complexities are properly addressed. The plan
must be constantly reviewed, revised and strengthened to keep it viable.
Accomplishing this daunting task requires an additional commitment of
time and energy from the caregiver, plus the help of experienced planning
professionals.
The first step in the process is the Care Plan. This is a historical
accounting of the level of physical and financial support required on a
daily basis to maintain a safe environment. As the starting point and
foundation for the plan, it is the measuring stick for every other
decision that will be made, from choices of successor caregivers,
guardians, trustees to potential residential placements and finances.
As difficult as it is, the importance of proper planning cannot be
underestimated, and the time to start is now. You owe it to yourself
and your loved one.
Steve Rhatigan
has been in the financial and estate planning profession since 1978 and
was a founding member of the National Institute for Life Planning. In
2006, he was appointed by President Bush to the President's Committee for
People with Intellectual Disabilities. Currently, he is a private consultant
and frequently speaks to professional groups across the country on issues
related to special needs planning. For more information, visit Stemark Associates.
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