||| FROM SUSAN GORDON for ORCAS LIONS CLUB |||
The Orcas Lions Club plans to offer family caregivers an opportunity to take a break. Early next year the Lions will launch Partners in Care, a social respite care program. This will enable family caregivers to take some time to care for themselves, attend appointments or accomplish tasks that are difficult to do while caring for a loved one. The program will also help to alleviate social isolation for their loved one.
Planned for Mondays from 12:00pm to 3:00pm at the Senior Center. Lunch will be provided, followed by fun and creative activities. Volunteer training will be sponsored by the Lions and a certified caregiver will be on hand. The only requirement to volunteer is a big heart, but any experience in dementia care or in art, music or other creative activities would be welcome.
If you’d like to join us or have any questions contact:
Susan Gordon Bentley
310-384-2053
or Stephen Bentley
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What a beautiful thing. Thank you, Orcas Community, you are beautiful.
This is a generous undertaking by the Lions. I hope a lot of people will respond. It could also be a way for people in transition to see if they might like to pursue caregiving – but more, volunteering allows you to get to know people one on one and work with an individual over time – a friend, a relative, or someone you’ver never met.
I would love to hear ideas of what to do for people who can’t get out of their homes for these activities; people more confined to their homes due to health issues or blindness or some other reason,. I am glad there will be training since so many of us are aging out together and will need to learn how to take care of each other. It is so hard to find volunteers or even paid relief caregivers.