I am so glad to contribute. These types of day programs are lifelines for so many families. Here in Indianapolis we have them too. I refer my patients to them frequently. Hope you can keep your Dad going as they sort out their new structure/location....
Courtney, When will our systems get re-organized to meet the needs of those they serve? That is the $64,000 question. I am fortunate enough to belong to an Advent poetry group, and I thought of you and your Dad immediately when the following story was shared. Poet Joseph Fasano shared a message from a fan who shared that they had brought his book, "The Magic Words: Simple Poetry Prompts That Unlock the Creativity in Everyone," to their mother, a 92-year-old former ballet dancer living with dementia. The mother was excited to write a poem, and they slowly worked through a prompt from the book together aloud.
This poem was the result:
"Let the days be warm
Let the fall be long.
Let every child inside me find her shoes
and dance wildly, softly, toward the world.
I have a story I have never told
Once, when I was small,
I looked up at the sky and saw the wind
and knew I was a dancer made of song.
I am still a dancer made of song."
Wow. What a testament to the power of poetry to reach beyond our usual modes of communication, which dementia so cruelly disrupts. In a few simple lines, we're able to see this woman as she might see herself, as the human living under the veils of age and disease: "I am still a dancer made of song."
WOW, this is incredible Robert. I am going to share it with my brother, who also knows the power of using poetry as an unlock for people's deep wisdom, sometimes unspoken. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm deeply moved.
Courtney, I just want to share my appreciation for writing so openly and lovingly about your dad and family’s experience with dementia. My grandmother who I lived with growing up had dementia, and my family and I took care of her until it was time for hospice. I don’t know many other families that have done the same, if any. Also, it’s very cool to discover another Barnard grad’s writing here on Substack—I’m class of 2015!
Hi Adriana! So wonderful to meet you. I often wonder what my daughters' experience of all this is/will be so I'm heartened to hear from people like you. Sending big Barnard love.
Beautiful place to nurture and uplift - thanks for the opportunity! As far as place in east bay - do you have connections to the Franciscan friars who live in fruitvale? They might be worth contacting! Or check the Memory Cafe directory online - tho they may have good connections there already.
I am so glad to contribute. These types of day programs are lifelines for so many families. Here in Indianapolis we have them too. I refer my patients to them frequently. Hope you can keep your Dad going as they sort out their new structure/location....
Thank you so much, Holly, for this donation but especially for the work you do.
Courtney, When will our systems get re-organized to meet the needs of those they serve? That is the $64,000 question. I am fortunate enough to belong to an Advent poetry group, and I thought of you and your Dad immediately when the following story was shared. Poet Joseph Fasano shared a message from a fan who shared that they had brought his book, "The Magic Words: Simple Poetry Prompts That Unlock the Creativity in Everyone," to their mother, a 92-year-old former ballet dancer living with dementia. The mother was excited to write a poem, and they slowly worked through a prompt from the book together aloud.
This poem was the result:
"Let the days be warm
Let the fall be long.
Let every child inside me find her shoes
and dance wildly, softly, toward the world.
I have a story I have never told
Once, when I was small,
I looked up at the sky and saw the wind
and knew I was a dancer made of song.
I am still a dancer made of song."
Wow. What a testament to the power of poetry to reach beyond our usual modes of communication, which dementia so cruelly disrupts. In a few simple lines, we're able to see this woman as she might see herself, as the human living under the veils of age and disease: "I am still a dancer made of song."
WOW, this is incredible Robert. I am going to share it with my brother, who also knows the power of using poetry as an unlock for people's deep wisdom, sometimes unspoken. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm deeply moved.
Courtney, I just want to share my appreciation for writing so openly and lovingly about your dad and family’s experience with dementia. My grandmother who I lived with growing up had dementia, and my family and I took care of her until it was time for hospice. I don’t know many other families that have done the same, if any. Also, it’s very cool to discover another Barnard grad’s writing here on Substack—I’m class of 2015!
Hi Adriana! So wonderful to meet you. I often wonder what my daughters' experience of all this is/will be so I'm heartened to hear from people like you. Sending big Barnard love.
This is incredibly inspiring! I donated immediately and hope that others do too. Thanks so much for this magnificent message of hope! DD
Beautiful place to nurture and uplift - thanks for the opportunity! As far as place in east bay - do you have connections to the Franciscan friars who live in fruitvale? They might be worth contacting! Or check the Memory Cafe directory online - tho they may have good connections there already.
I love I Didn't See You There! A totally life changing movie
aw geez, I so hope they can reopen in a cheaper space as that would be a tragedy. Just chipped in a bit. sorry I'm not in a position to give more.