When a major long-term health problem strikes an individual, the effects are soon felt by friends and loved-ones.
Whether it’s paralysis or muscle impairment from a stroke, or memory loss and personality changes related to Alzheimer’s disease, almost everyone eventually seeks guidance about coping with the changed circumstances.
Frequently, the resource of choice is a support group that deals with a specific condition. Through the sharing of questions, stories, sources of information and assistance, and friendly empathy, members gain strength from one another.
It is just that sort of strength in numbers that C.C. Young Senior Center, 4829 W. Lawther, is hoping to foster with two new support groups. Both groups met for the first time in June.
A support group for stroke survivors, their care-givers and relatives meets at 11:30 a.m. the third Monday of each month. Working with the North Texas Stroke Survivors Association, C.C. Young has recruited two nurses as facilitators. One nurse works with the stroke survivors, and the other with relatives and care-givers.
“We want to help people become more at ease with themselves and be supported by others in the community who have similar problems and needs,” says Linda Rodgers, director of services for the C.C. Young Senior Center.
“Our area is ‘going senior’ very rapidly, so we want to be ready to meet their needs through programs such as this.”
The stroke survivors support group may eventually become a new chapter of the North Texas Stroke Survivors Association, Rodgers says.
A support group for the care-givers and relatives of Alzheimer’s disease patients and people afflicted with related disorders such as memory loss, senility and dementia meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Facilitators for this group are two women whose husbands are Alzheimer’s disease patients. Their programs will be conducted with assistance from the Alzheimer’s Association.
“This is a need we have seen in the community, and we want to try to do something about it,” Rodgers says.
This disease can be a real challenge for care-givers, because the patients often have little grasp of the present but live in the past. The sharing of every-day problems and solutions can be a big help for care-givers.”
C.C. Young is a non-profit, multi-service retirement community with about 600 residents. It was founded in 1922 and was located near Methodist Hospital until 1960, when the current campus was constructed near White Rock Lake.
For more information, call 214-827-8080.
News & Notes
MEETINGS/EVENTS
Ridgewood Park AARP: The Ridgewood Park Chapter of the AARP #3787 meets July 24 at 10 a.m. at the Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church, 6445 E. Lovers. The program features humorist John Savage, a retired SMU professor. No lunch will be served this month, so bring your own brown bag. For information, call Dorthea Sooby at 214-827-6678.
The Brady Center: The Brady Center senior program is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Breakfast is served on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A hot, balanced meal is served each day at noon. A wide range of programs are offered and regular participants receive free transportation. You must be at least 60 years old to attend. For information, call 214-826-8330.
The Greater Lakewood Shepherd Center: The Greater Lakewood Shepherd Center recently announced its summer semester of “Adventures In Learning.” Classes and activities will be held July 11-August 1 on Fridays at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 3204 Skillman. The Body Shop, an exercise class, will be held at 9 a.m. Beginning at 10 a.m., classes in Bible study, basic conversational Spanish, intermediate Spanish and French, intermediate bridge and using herbs will be offered. Participants may also choose among a travelogue, a current events discussion group, a book review or a report on an Elder Hostel vacation. Participants may bring sack lunches. Beverage and dessert are provided. The Family Forum follows and the afternoon features bridge and the Curtain Call drama group. For information, call 214-823-2583 and request a registration packet.
HEALTH HAPPENINGS
Doctors Hospital: All Doctors Hospital Health Happenings lectures and the cardiac screening program, A Heartbeat Ahead, will be on hiatus in July and August, but will resume in September.
Alzheimer’s Family Support Group: The Alzheimer’s Association is currently sponsoring two support groups in the Lakewood area. The Daytime Lakewood Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams. New members welcome. The Evening Lakewood Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at C.C. Young Building B, 4829 W. Lawther. For information regarding the daytime group, call Angela Bennett at 214-319-6786. For information regarding the evening group, call Linda Rogers at 214-827-8080, ext. 3099.
