Fantastic article Jeff. Something I recently read, and it's swimming in my head.
"According to research, acts of kindness release the same chemicals as falling in love: dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. When you're feeling low, instead of turning away from the world, find one small way of being of service."
What a fantastic opportunity for the caregiver! There is a very real condition called caregiver burnout. Caring for a loved one is a higher level of stress causing physical, emotional and mental exhaustion.
The most effective ways to combat burnout is for the caregiver to take a break. This wonderful opportunity offered by The Friend's Place allows rest and relief for the caregiver to enjoy personal time from the demands of caring for their loved one.
Well I am crying. I was a young teen when I became the only person in my family who could handle my beloved grandmother, May, until her dementia became so debilitating and caregiving so beyond what our family was capable of providing, that we were forced to admit her to the only place the State could provide, which was the State mental hospital. This back in the day physical and medical restraints were all anyone knew to do to keep her safe. We only were allowed to visit her once in the 30 days she lived there. She had been assaulted by a mental health patient and developed a subsequent infection that paralyzed her vocal cords; she was unable to speak to any of us when we visited her as a group. She died alone a few days later. My mother and her three siblings never fully recovered from the whole shocking ordeal. Over the years we read and heard about others who had similar experiences. I vowed to never place any loved one into a nursing home or similar facility.
Over the years I kept abreast of current practices and read with hope when it looked like as a society we were doing better with our aged and particularly our growing dementia population.
When it became apparent my own mother would have to give up her own home and independence, my husband and I brought her from the Midwest to live with us. Still determined to never place her into what had become known as Long Term Care, we nursed her and committed our energy and available resources to her care, for 368 days. At which time it became quite evident that we were running out of both energy and resources to be able to continue.
We met with the State and were given choices that were not available anywhere some 40 years earlier for my grandmother.
We were able to get her placed into a specialized Memory Care facility, more than
over forty years after her mothers death in that mental hospital, where my mother was attended around the clock, 24/7, in an atmosphere of strangers who became dear friends, where activities of daily living and many intellectual pursuits and interests of all kinds were presented and facilitated.
She came back home to us when she was actively dying, and we were graced to be attended by this areas Volunteer Hospice, another resource we could not have fathomed back when my grandmother was dying.
And this morning, I just read of these two places offering respite for dementia patient caregivers, and I am overcome with gratitude for the people who have stepped up to make things like this available at all.
What a story! I will donate every resource I am able to give to help this endeavor.
Thank you for writing this article! Wow! Hope in a sometimes seemingly hopeless world! My grandmother would be amazed! Thank you for every person who has the heart to make this happen! Deborah Gillem
Deborah, I'm glad you wrote about hospice, many times they go hand in hand with dementia. The hospice program gives both the patient and family dignity in death. I can never thank the doctors, nurses and volunteers enough for the final days of my fathers passing. They took over with physical care most children would not want to remember as the last memory, and allowed my father to die in his own home, with his dog, which was his wish.
Thank you, Jeff, for sharing a community program that many may have not known about. Your article renews our faith in humanity. I am starting my day with a smile knowing so many people in Sequim have giving hearts.
What a beautiful and great effort to bring Goodness into the lives of many who need it most~! It really is efforts like these that reveal the Goodwill and love that our community has, and what so many are capable of all on our own. I have seen quite a few cases of Individuals who have made a tremendous positive difference just because they were willing and able to help others, and I know that "we" as a community can accomplish anything if we come together in this same Spirit~! Imagine if the grotesque & costly system of "organized government" suddenly vanished and we were left alone to fend for ourselves, what could we not accomplish for our community and for ourselves~? To me, these kinds of stories are wonderful examples of what the local folks can do all over the country and even world, if they have a chance and are free to pitch in to do what they can~! Thanks, Jeff Tozzer, for reminding us of our potential with this beautiful example~! Sincerely, Mike
This is just the article I needed this morning. A beautiful reminder of selfless human beings being kind, compassionate, and loving ❤️ The world needs more people like this.
THIS is what the heart of Sequim/Dungeness should look like.
Amen!
Fantastic article Jeff. Something I recently read, and it's swimming in my head.
"According to research, acts of kindness release the same chemicals as falling in love: dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. When you're feeling low, instead of turning away from the world, find one small way of being of service."
That is SO true!
Seems like one always receives more than one gives. Thanks Jeff.
What a fantastic opportunity for the caregiver! There is a very real condition called caregiver burnout. Caring for a loved one is a higher level of stress causing physical, emotional and mental exhaustion.
The most effective ways to combat burnout is for the caregiver to take a break. This wonderful opportunity offered by The Friend's Place allows rest and relief for the caregiver to enjoy personal time from the demands of caring for their loved one.
Well I am crying. I was a young teen when I became the only person in my family who could handle my beloved grandmother, May, until her dementia became so debilitating and caregiving so beyond what our family was capable of providing, that we were forced to admit her to the only place the State could provide, which was the State mental hospital. This back in the day physical and medical restraints were all anyone knew to do to keep her safe. We only were allowed to visit her once in the 30 days she lived there. She had been assaulted by a mental health patient and developed a subsequent infection that paralyzed her vocal cords; she was unable to speak to any of us when we visited her as a group. She died alone a few days later. My mother and her three siblings never fully recovered from the whole shocking ordeal. Over the years we read and heard about others who had similar experiences. I vowed to never place any loved one into a nursing home or similar facility.
Over the years I kept abreast of current practices and read with hope when it looked like as a society we were doing better with our aged and particularly our growing dementia population.
When it became apparent my own mother would have to give up her own home and independence, my husband and I brought her from the Midwest to live with us. Still determined to never place her into what had become known as Long Term Care, we nursed her and committed our energy and available resources to her care, for 368 days. At which time it became quite evident that we were running out of both energy and resources to be able to continue.
We met with the State and were given choices that were not available anywhere some 40 years earlier for my grandmother.
We were able to get her placed into a specialized Memory Care facility, more than
over forty years after her mothers death in that mental hospital, where my mother was attended around the clock, 24/7, in an atmosphere of strangers who became dear friends, where activities of daily living and many intellectual pursuits and interests of all kinds were presented and facilitated.
She came back home to us when she was actively dying, and we were graced to be attended by this areas Volunteer Hospice, another resource we could not have fathomed back when my grandmother was dying.
And this morning, I just read of these two places offering respite for dementia patient caregivers, and I am overcome with gratitude for the people who have stepped up to make things like this available at all.
What a story! I will donate every resource I am able to give to help this endeavor.
Thank you for writing this article! Wow! Hope in a sometimes seemingly hopeless world! My grandmother would be amazed! Thank you for every person who has the heart to make this happen! Deborah Gillem
You have a beautiful heart, Deborah.
Deborah, I'm glad you wrote about hospice, many times they go hand in hand with dementia. The hospice program gives both the patient and family dignity in death. I can never thank the doctors, nurses and volunteers enough for the final days of my fathers passing. They took over with physical care most children would not want to remember as the last memory, and allowed my father to die in his own home, with his dog, which was his wish.
Such a touching story. Thank you for taking the time to share, and God bless.
I appreciate the article! Reaching out to see what I can volunteer for on Mondays or Tuesdays...
Love, Love, Love that our community steps up and makes available resources like The Friends Place and Tim’s Place. Great story JT.
Great story….Thank you Jeff
Thank you, Jeff, for sharing a community program that many may have not known about. Your article renews our faith in humanity. I am starting my day with a smile knowing so many people in Sequim have giving hearts.
You're welcome, we have a good community.
Thanks for posting this Sequim Cares article!
What a beautiful and great effort to bring Goodness into the lives of many who need it most~! It really is efforts like these that reveal the Goodwill and love that our community has, and what so many are capable of all on our own. I have seen quite a few cases of Individuals who have made a tremendous positive difference just because they were willing and able to help others, and I know that "we" as a community can accomplish anything if we come together in this same Spirit~! Imagine if the grotesque & costly system of "organized government" suddenly vanished and we were left alone to fend for ourselves, what could we not accomplish for our community and for ourselves~? To me, these kinds of stories are wonderful examples of what the local folks can do all over the country and even world, if they have a chance and are free to pitch in to do what they can~! Thanks, Jeff Tozzer, for reminding us of our potential with this beautiful example~! Sincerely, Mike
You're very welcome 😁.
This is just the article I needed this morning. A beautiful reminder of selfless human beings being kind, compassionate, and loving ❤️ The world needs more people like this.
In this time of such polarization thank you for something positive. No offense intended to the negative ;)
You're welcome.
The negative is inoffensible!🤪
Heartwarming spotlight piece is sure to help these programs. Thank you, Jeff!
You're welcome Diana.
nice read to start the day !
Guess some of us are at our best when things aren't so good!😊