Sharing is a beautiful part of life. Granted, we may have struggled with sharing when we were very young, but as we age, we recognize its importance. Sharing is the backbone of happiness and has countless other benefits – which is why we always encourage and seek out ways to share here at The Saybrook at Haddam. One of the best things we can share, of course, is our experience and expertise, particularly in the area of helping families understand and navigate memory-related illness.
Since we opened the Safe Harbor Memory Care community in 2011, we have held many different educational and support events open to residents, their families, and the general community. We have had social workers, Alzheimer’s Association counselors, and specially trained personnel lead these groups, offering valuable insight and information in safe and welcoming settings.
This week we resume our “Caregivers Support Group” monthly meetings under the direction of Kathy Hallett, director of Safe Harbor at The Saybrook at Haddam. As an Alzheimer’s Association trained facilitator, Kathy prepares short topics to present at each support group meeting and helps the group move in the direction that most addresses their needs. Kathy is also prepared to share community resources and distribute a wide range of educational materials from the Alzheimer’s Association.
“For caregivers, gathering in a safe environment to discuss frustrations, isolation issues and sadness is a good opportunity to not feel as lonely,” Kathy said. “We take time to answer many questions, suggest tips, discuss loved ones’ stage and progression within the disease, and foster new friendships.”
The Mayo Clinic says support groups “provide an opportunity for people to share personal experiences and feelings, coping strategies, or firsthand information about diseases or treatments.” It suggests these groups are valuable tools to “fill a gap between medical treatment and the need for emotional support.”
Additionally, The Mayo Clinic says people may enjoy these wonderful benefits:
- Feeling less lonely, isolated or judged
- Reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue
- Improving skills to cope with challenges
- Staying motivated to manage chronic conditions or stick to treatment plans
- Gaining a sense of empowerment, control or hope
- Improving understanding of a disease and your own experience with it
- Getting practical feedback about treatment options
- Learning about health, economic or social resources
It is a privilege to share the experience and education of our talented staff in all areas of aging – but most especially regarding memory-related illnesses. The success of our Safe Harbor memory care community has been in great part a result of the willingness of so many people to share so much of themselves – from our staff to our residents and their families to our volunteers and to the many Alzheimer’s experts who visit with us and help us grow. This does, indeed, contribute to a beautiful life.
Our Caregivers Support Group welcome those caring for a loved one with a memory-related illness. It will be held the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the first-floor library of The Saybrook at Haddam. Please join us!
For a private tour of The Saybrook at Haddam or its Safe Harbor memory care neighborhood, please fill out the form below or contact David Downey at 860-345-3779.
The Saybrook at Haddam works closely with the Alzheimer’s Association and other professionals to stay ahead of the curve regarding treatments, therapies, and care recommendations. We are always fascinated by the amount of information the Alzheimer’s Association makes available to patients, families, and caregivers – and we try to share as much as we can with the people connected to our Safe Harbor memory care community. This is important throughout most stages of the disease, but especially important at the beginning when families begin to suspect something more than “normal aging” is taking place.
Often, when Alzheimer’s is diagnosed (which can be in men as early as age 60 and in women as early as 70), many families become interested in understanding the brain more – a step that helps them better understand the changes taking place in their loved one. The Alzheimer’s Association’s “
Having the “time for assisted living” conversation with an elderly parent or relative is likely one of the hardest things an adult child will ever do. Be sure to work closely with your preferred retirement community for advice on walking through this step in a kind, caring and respectful manner. Many communities will invite you to enjoy lunch or dinner, to attend a concert or other event, or even to try a short-term or respite stay. These simple steps take much of the fear and anxiety out of the decision-making and eases the transition from independent living in a home, condo or apartment, to retirement living in an assisted living or memory care environment.
Additionally, as difficult as assisted living planning may be, we can tell you that, in our experience, once residents are settled in to life at The Saybrook at Haddam, they often wonder why they waited so long!
