The psychological community is awash with studies of adolescents, while studies of the elderly are nearly nonexistent. There are countless charities devoted to the care of children, whether orphaned, disabled or otherwise; but few devoted to seniors.
Perhaps psychologists in our culture fear the inevitable and unnerving destiny of age. Or perhaps they just don’t want to play the waiting game of Medicaid reimbursement. Either way, it is apparent that the elderly are a tough sell in the field of psychology. As the elderly population is growing at unprecedented rates, one might expect them to come to the fore of public consciousness. However, our older generations are curiously ignored. One local San Antonian is working to rectify this injustice.
Jennifer Belvis, a New Braunfels native and UTSA alumnus, is the owner of Belvis Psychological Associates. Her company delivers on–site psychological and psychiatric care to nursing home residents. Most psychologists operate out of remote offices, and many nursing homes lack an in–house psychologist. Thus, Belvis Psychological Associates fills a valuable niche, providing quality care to an oft–ignored demographic.
Belvis developed a passion for the elderly long before she became interested in psychology. She spent a great deal of time with her grandfather, a resident of a local nursing home. She later worked as the activities director for Stone Oak Care Center in San Antonio while pursuing her Master’s degree at night. She says that she was just “called and blessed with a compassion and love for these people [the elderly].”
While working as an activities director, Belvis noticed the way the residents benefited from individual attention, and decided to pursue her observation by managing one–on–one counseling. The connections she made while working in local homes offered her a base for her new enterprise. She now manages the psychiatric and psychological treatment for multiple San Antonio nursing homes, including the Stone Oak Care Center and the Forum at Lincoln Heights. Jennifer Belvis’ husband, Richard, is a Clinical Account Executive for Genzyme Biosurgery of Massachusetts. With an undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s, as well as a Master’s degree in psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University, Richard facilitates the regeneration of articulating cartilage for patients’ knees. Before getting into the world of sales, however, Richard Belvis was a different kind of competitor.
After wrestling and boxing in high school and college, Richard turned his attention to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Belvis says that he has always been driven by a competitive nature. Most recently, Belvis has competed in mixed martial arts. Needless to say, he is the most intimidating man in medical device sales. Despite his terrifying abilities, he is an incredibly affable and inviting businessman. Richard Belvis notes as one of the keys to his success that he “has a great deal of respect for his customers [doctors].”
This respect is at the heart of this beautiful couple’s relationship. Richard’s education in the field of psychology helps him understand his wife’s work, and he is lucky to have a wife who respects his hazardous hobbies.
Christianity is another central feature of their relationship. They feel deeply blessed by their pastor, Max Lucado, whom they respect and admire. Members of Oak Hills Church, the Belvis’ work hard to keep God as the focus of everything they do. Jennifer credits God with giving her both the ability and opportunity to care for the elderly. Richard similarly credits God with giving him the skills and direction that have blessed his life. Richard offered the following advice: “Be truly interested in your business. Run your business ethically and morally, and the blessings of the financial part will fall into place.” In a daunting recession where dog–eat–dog is becoming less reprehensible, his example is all–too necessary.
Nursing homes have endured a reputation for sub–standard care and cramped living conditions. The reality, however, is that modern nursing homes are offering professional care combined with warm, communal atmospheres. The centers in which Jennifer Belvis serves have amenities such as movie theaters, ice cream parlors, and field trips.
Further North, a trend is developing in which nursing homes are constructed like small subdivisions of homes, offering residents the autonomy of private houses, while providing them with the necessary supervision and readily accessible care.
Even though nursing homes are improving their standards of living, the psychological community is still largely ignoring the elderly. The Bible’s book of James tells us “to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” Unfortunately, Belvis points out, we are all too satisfied with caring for the orphans and forgetting the widows. Hopefully, with the help of such compassionate people as Jennifer Belvis, we can better appreciate the presence and example of our elders.
