Holding on with Mindful Care
Tax deductible
She always wore a smile.
I watched my mother, once an active woman in love with life, gradually lose her sense of who she was and who she had been. It is heartbreaking to look into the eyes of your loved one and see a stranger staring back at you. My mother, as in so many cases of people stricken with some form of dementia, reached the point that when she told me she loved me, she did not know me. She would greet my tears with a smile and a touch on my cheek, as though she were saying, “It’s okay—Mom’s still here.”
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may appear as early as middle age, but a person can live much longer while the mind and body slowly deteriorate. That’s why I’m involved in Mindful Care Adult Day Services and serve as president of the board. For most of us in this organization, it is personal. We understand that our participants, age 55 and up, who have mild Alzheimer’s and retain some mental acuity and independence, will continue to decline. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, the activities provided by Mindful Care are able to slow that decline and help each participant to hold on to his or her identity as long as possible.
A place of comfort, safety, joy and love
Family caregivers tell us that Mindful Care gives them a much-needed break during the day. It relieves their stress and ultimately preserves their own health. In some cases, it allows caregivers to continue working. One family caregiver thanked Mindful Care for being “such a Godsend to our well-being.” A daughter wrote, “My mom couldn’t tell you one person’s name, but she loved everyone there.” Her mother was part of Mindful Care for six years until she passed away. Still another caregiver said, “We couldn’t function without mom going to Mindful Care. She needs the socialization, the activities and the people who love her there every day. God bless this program.”
A coming tsunami
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million people in our nation suffer from Alzheimer’s. In 10 years, that number will double; in another 10-15 years, the number will triple. Because the Baby Boomers are now reaching their mature years and we are living longer, the future magnitude of Alzheimer’s has been described as a “tsunami.” One in every eight people will fall prey to Alzheimer’s, according to the research. Most of us will be affected, either directly or indirectly. Those of us who become caregivers, perhaps without any warning, will have our world turned upside down. Those of us who become victims will need mindful care.
Building for the future
My appeal to you is to help Mindful Care Adult Day Services garner a substantial amount of seed money to launch a capital campaign that, when matched by other entities, will ultimately allow us to build our own facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and quadruple our capacity. We currently operate in limited space donated by a wonderful church; however, the need for such services as ours will explode in the coming years, and we want to meet that demand head-on. In fact, the need for many more adult day services nationwide will be essential. We want to be a model program.
Our expansion efforts will include raising our profile, purchasing property, determining the size and composition of our facility, conducting a feasibility study, drawing up the plans, hosting local fundraisers, and launching a capital campaign, starting with the "silent" phase followed by the formal public unveiling. It will be a long process and eventually a dream realized.
Mindful Care operates Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. We offer activities that stimulate the mind and body, encourage socialization, welcome visiting groups, and even go on field trips. Mindful Care is far more affordable than a nursing home, assisted living or in-home professional care. Mindful Care is a second family. It provides the participant with the companionship of a “social club” along with the comfort of returning home at the end of the day—the best of both worlds! We encourage you to visit mindful-care.org and also view our video. We’re dreaming big! We are grateful for your gifts! Thank you.
I watched my mother, once an active woman in love with life, gradually lose her sense of who she was and who she had been. It is heartbreaking to look into the eyes of your loved one and see a stranger staring back at you. My mother, as in so many cases of people stricken with some form of dementia, reached the point that when she told me she loved me, she did not know me. She would greet my tears with a smile and a touch on my cheek, as though she were saying, “It’s okay—Mom’s still here.”
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may appear as early as middle age, but a person can live much longer while the mind and body slowly deteriorate. That’s why I’m involved in Mindful Care Adult Day Services and serve as president of the board. For most of us in this organization, it is personal. We understand that our participants, age 55 and up, who have mild Alzheimer’s and retain some mental acuity and independence, will continue to decline. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, the activities provided by Mindful Care are able to slow that decline and help each participant to hold on to his or her identity as long as possible.
A place of comfort, safety, joy and love
Family caregivers tell us that Mindful Care gives them a much-needed break during the day. It relieves their stress and ultimately preserves their own health. In some cases, it allows caregivers to continue working. One family caregiver thanked Mindful Care for being “such a Godsend to our well-being.” A daughter wrote, “My mom couldn’t tell you one person’s name, but she loved everyone there.” Her mother was part of Mindful Care for six years until she passed away. Still another caregiver said, “We couldn’t function without mom going to Mindful Care. She needs the socialization, the activities and the people who love her there every day. God bless this program.”
A coming tsunami
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million people in our nation suffer from Alzheimer’s. In 10 years, that number will double; in another 10-15 years, the number will triple. Because the Baby Boomers are now reaching their mature years and we are living longer, the future magnitude of Alzheimer’s has been described as a “tsunami.” One in every eight people will fall prey to Alzheimer’s, according to the research. Most of us will be affected, either directly or indirectly. Those of us who become caregivers, perhaps without any warning, will have our world turned upside down. Those of us who become victims will need mindful care.
Building for the future
My appeal to you is to help Mindful Care Adult Day Services garner a substantial amount of seed money to launch a capital campaign that, when matched by other entities, will ultimately allow us to build our own facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and quadruple our capacity. We currently operate in limited space donated by a wonderful church; however, the need for such services as ours will explode in the coming years, and we want to meet that demand head-on. In fact, the need for many more adult day services nationwide will be essential. We want to be a model program.
Our expansion efforts will include raising our profile, purchasing property, determining the size and composition of our facility, conducting a feasibility study, drawing up the plans, hosting local fundraisers, and launching a capital campaign, starting with the "silent" phase followed by the formal public unveiling. It will be a long process and eventually a dream realized.
Mindful Care operates Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. We offer activities that stimulate the mind and body, encourage socialization, welcome visiting groups, and even go on field trips. Mindful Care is far more affordable than a nursing home, assisted living or in-home professional care. Mindful Care is a second family. It provides the participant with the companionship of a “social club” along with the comfort of returning home at the end of the day—the best of both worlds! We encourage you to visit mindful-care.org and also view our video. We’re dreaming big! We are grateful for your gifts! Thank you.
Organizer
Tom Tozer
Organizer
Murfreesboro, TN
Elders First Adult Day Services Association (Mindful Care Adult Day Services)
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
