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
Obviously, Churches in America are by law not allowed to be engaged in "everything" as most should be aware of the intentional division between The Church & State that is so well defined. We here regularly support the local Church food pantry with MANY fresh eggs, ever since the Clallam County Health Department started to wage the still ongoing scientifically baseless war against eggs being donated by private farmers to the local food bank (that we also regularly support). I am not sure what total lunatic claims that there are no homeless, hungry folks, or people without healthcare in Clallam County, which is obviously a completely laughable statement, but obviously the local Churches do help many along those lines even though they are not in any way obliged to do so. The local and state governments do however create & foster many homeless & hungry people, as well as large numbers of people who can't afford healthcare because of the laws, regulations, and overall policies. For example, in Washington State it cost over $5,000.00 to get a handyman license to work on small jobs, which directly prohibits many excellent workers from finding gainful employment. Other states have no government red tape for handyman work or charge a very small fee that folks can pay. The local tribal government's "special privilege" status does obviously negatively impact all of the local contractors who have been prohibited from even bidding on many good jobs and these same local contractors therefore can't afford to hire more folks (which causes & fosters more unemployment) as they otherwise would if they were able to grow their businesses in a free market economy. Of course, the local tribal government pays little to no taxes, which gives them an additional grossly unfair advantage over all other highly regulated and taxed businesses in the community, so that also creates more homeless, hungry, and folks without the ability to get healthcare... I am an accomplished historic, legal & economic analyst, so the morally, ethically, and factually corrupt "hit pieces" that fraudulently claim good folks like Jeff Tozzer have been "debunked" (a silly & childish socialist weapon used to sway weak minded & spineless sheep) are simply displaying their criminal ignorance and weak-minded attempts to control the narrative that they have no clue they lost years ago~! I and many now find that to be amusing ;-) Clearly, those who are capable of very basic reading and comprehension skills would know that Jeff Tozzer is NOT "unfairly targeting" the local tribal government in any way~! He is however simply revealing the truth about what is going on in our community that is of course extremely uncomfortable for the corrupt individuals in the local community & tribal governmental systems (as well as the other criminally corrupt individuals within our community who are profiting from the sleazy underhanded actions of these same governmental systems). Unfortunately, there are still too many "useful idiots" who are being played for fools by these criminals in government and out community, but thanks to good folks like Jeff Tozzer they are being afforded an opportunity to learn & consider how much harm they are doing by supporting these same criminals who are destroying our otherwise wonderful community. If the criminals in our local governmental system and the local tribal government don't want as much negative criticism, the solution is easy! Just do their jobs to serve the entire community fairly without the socially destructive sick prejudice or hidden agendas, in an open and transparent fashion. If these criminals in government continue to violate and stomp on the overwhelming will and best interests of the majority of good folks in our community, they WILL be facing increasing criticism that they well deserve~! If these criminals don't like to be criticized, they are in the wrong business and they should find something else to do without doing harm to the entire community~! Have a nice 2025 because "we" (American Patriots) are done with corruption in government and the local communities, so there are very different times ahead~! Sincerely, Mike
Actually, as American Constitutionalists it is our distinct pleasure and sworn duty to support all those who are part of the Constitutional solutions to help Americans (and without interfering in other countries domestic affairs we have also been known to help others all over the world from time to time ;-) It is why "we" exist. Most of the biggest problems America and the world faces actually come from the exact same handful of super wealthy globalist elites and their evil dastardly agenda/s, so we all have a very common enemy~! This common enemy is currently being thrashed & destroyed for the first time in recorded history, which is why there is SO much confusion and out of control hysteric emotions in the mainstream media today. Our common enemy owns the worldwide mainstream media which has now lost their evil control that at one time literally enslaved most Americans and folks all over the world, because "we" (everyone) is living in a most historic time of history where The Age of Enlightenment has re-engaged to elevate the majority of humans into a higher frequency of knowledge and understanding. So, this process will greatly help to diminish the very problems of housing, hunger, and health that so many good folks work to diminish ;-) The truth is that America and the world no longer had any time left to waste, because these criminals of humanity, the super wealthy elite, had already stepped up their evil plan to eliminate most of the world's population. They did murder many millions of people over the past several years, however "we" (The Patriots) will be eliminating these evil monsters now~! Stay tuned because there will be much more information revealed in due time ;-] Cheers~! 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
Such a touching story. Thank you for taking the time to share, and God bless.
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.
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 😁.
Imagine if all the people...relied on churches for everything. I mean, Churches are doing such
a great job helping our community, it's why we have no homelessness, hungry folks, or people without healthcare in Clallam County: https://open.substack.com/pub/ixodes/p/wacky-equitable-wednesday?r=5b9x9x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Obviously, Churches in America are by law not allowed to be engaged in "everything" as most should be aware of the intentional division between The Church & State that is so well defined. We here regularly support the local Church food pantry with MANY fresh eggs, ever since the Clallam County Health Department started to wage the still ongoing scientifically baseless war against eggs being donated by private farmers to the local food bank (that we also regularly support). I am not sure what total lunatic claims that there are no homeless, hungry folks, or people without healthcare in Clallam County, which is obviously a completely laughable statement, but obviously the local Churches do help many along those lines even though they are not in any way obliged to do so. The local and state governments do however create & foster many homeless & hungry people, as well as large numbers of people who can't afford healthcare because of the laws, regulations, and overall policies. For example, in Washington State it cost over $5,000.00 to get a handyman license to work on small jobs, which directly prohibits many excellent workers from finding gainful employment. Other states have no government red tape for handyman work or charge a very small fee that folks can pay. The local tribal government's "special privilege" status does obviously negatively impact all of the local contractors who have been prohibited from even bidding on many good jobs and these same local contractors therefore can't afford to hire more folks (which causes & fosters more unemployment) as they otherwise would if they were able to grow their businesses in a free market economy. Of course, the local tribal government pays little to no taxes, which gives them an additional grossly unfair advantage over all other highly regulated and taxed businesses in the community, so that also creates more homeless, hungry, and folks without the ability to get healthcare... I am an accomplished historic, legal & economic analyst, so the morally, ethically, and factually corrupt "hit pieces" that fraudulently claim good folks like Jeff Tozzer have been "debunked" (a silly & childish socialist weapon used to sway weak minded & spineless sheep) are simply displaying their criminal ignorance and weak-minded attempts to control the narrative that they have no clue they lost years ago~! I and many now find that to be amusing ;-) Clearly, those who are capable of very basic reading and comprehension skills would know that Jeff Tozzer is NOT "unfairly targeting" the local tribal government in any way~! He is however simply revealing the truth about what is going on in our community that is of course extremely uncomfortable for the corrupt individuals in the local community & tribal governmental systems (as well as the other criminally corrupt individuals within our community who are profiting from the sleazy underhanded actions of these same governmental systems). Unfortunately, there are still too many "useful idiots" who are being played for fools by these criminals in government and out community, but thanks to good folks like Jeff Tozzer they are being afforded an opportunity to learn & consider how much harm they are doing by supporting these same criminals who are destroying our otherwise wonderful community. If the criminals in our local governmental system and the local tribal government don't want as much negative criticism, the solution is easy! Just do their jobs to serve the entire community fairly without the socially destructive sick prejudice or hidden agendas, in an open and transparent fashion. If these criminals in government continue to violate and stomp on the overwhelming will and best interests of the majority of good folks in our community, they WILL be facing increasing criticism that they well deserve~! If these criminals don't like to be criticized, they are in the wrong business and they should find something else to do without doing harm to the entire community~! Have a nice 2025 because "we" (American Patriots) are done with corruption in government and the local communities, so there are very different times ahead~! Sincerely, Mike
Thanks for supporting members of our community through various food banks and churches/institutions doing great things!
Actually, as American Constitutionalists it is our distinct pleasure and sworn duty to support all those who are part of the Constitutional solutions to help Americans (and without interfering in other countries domestic affairs we have also been known to help others all over the world from time to time ;-) It is why "we" exist. Most of the biggest problems America and the world faces actually come from the exact same handful of super wealthy globalist elites and their evil dastardly agenda/s, so we all have a very common enemy~! This common enemy is currently being thrashed & destroyed for the first time in recorded history, which is why there is SO much confusion and out of control hysteric emotions in the mainstream media today. Our common enemy owns the worldwide mainstream media which has now lost their evil control that at one time literally enslaved most Americans and folks all over the world, because "we" (everyone) is living in a most historic time of history where The Age of Enlightenment has re-engaged to elevate the majority of humans into a higher frequency of knowledge and understanding. So, this process will greatly help to diminish the very problems of housing, hunger, and health that so many good folks work to diminish ;-) The truth is that America and the world no longer had any time left to waste, because these criminals of humanity, the super wealthy elite, had already stepped up their evil plan to eliminate most of the world's population. They did murder many millions of people over the past several years, however "we" (The Patriots) will be eliminating these evil monsters now~! Stay tuned because there will be much more information revealed in due time ;-] Cheers~! 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.
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!😊