An intimate and safe setting for caregivers and those recently diagnosed with
memory disorders ~ offering EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, and ENERGY programs.

SEPTEMBER 2008

Download Calendar of Events >>

EDUCATION:

• Memory Media Center (Books and CDs available for check-out)
• Memory Screenings (Wednesday, Sept. 10, 3:30PM – 5:30PM)
• Affirmations for Caregivers and Those They Care For (Tuesday, Sept. 23, 11AM)Special Presentation by Janet Edmunson, M.Ed. and author of Finding Meaning with Charles: Caregiving with Love through a Degenerative Disease
  

EMPOWERMENT:

• Caregiver Support Group (Mondays at 5:30PM and Tuesdays at 11AM)
• Memory Preservation Workshop (Wednesdays at 10AM)
• Brain Injury Support Group (Wednesdays at 6:30PM)
• Journal Writing Experiences (Thursdays at 10:00AM)
• Day Out Together – Paint to Music (Thursday, Sept. 11 at 1PM)
• Stroke Support Group (Last Thursday of the Month at 3PM)
• Leeza’s Memory Television – LMTV (Available by appointment)

ENERGY:

• Crochet Stress Away Workshop (Tuesdays at 1PM)
• T’ai Chi (Thursday, Sept. 4 and 18 at 1PM) and Qigong (Coming in October)
• Biofeedback (Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 1PM)
• Leeza’s Team ~ Alzheimer’s Assoc. Memory Walk (Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10AM)

Save the Date ~
3rd Annual Pajamas & Pampering Party …it will make you purr! Tuesday, November 18, 2008

EDUCATION

MEMORY MEDIA CENTER – Please take advantage of our Leeza’s Place Library
LEEZA’S PLACE AT PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER is a community-based education and resource center designed to provide information about Alzheimer’s Disease and related memory disorders. The Memory Media Center includes literature, videos, DVD’s, books, and computer stations to provide Internet access. Our visitors may view materials at our location in Joliet, or check them out to review at home.

MEMORY SCREENINGS – Healthy Aging and Early Detection of Memory Loss
Take care of your brain the same way you would take care of your heart – get it assessed! The memory screen assessment takes approximately 10 minutes and is an excellent indicator for early detection of a memory problem. Natalie Hoff, Physical Therapist from Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, will meet with you or your loved one individually to conduct the assessment and discuss your results.

APPOINTMENTS ARE NECESSARY. Please call Leeza’s Place at 815-741-0077 to schedule an appointment for a FREE memory screening.

• Wednesday, September 10 ~ 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

AFFIRMATIONS FOR CAREGIVERS AND THOSE THEY CARE FOR – Author and Guest Speaker, Janet Edmunson

Janet Edmunson is an inspirational speaker, writer and health promotion professional who is dedicated to using her life experiences and inner values to support the growth and self esteem of the people her life touches.

Janet took care of her husband, Charles, during the five years when he was fighting a degenerative neurological disease. During that time, she also helped Charles write his book titled Paradoxes of Leadership. Her new title, Finding Meaning With Charles: Caregiving with Love through a Degenerative Disease (available for purchase at our event), highlights the life lessons and the caregiving affirmations that Janet discovered as she cared for her husband over that five-year time span.

On Tuesday, September 23 at Leeza’s Place in Joliet, Janet will present a number of her affirmations to uplift others caring for a loved one with dementia. In the process, she reveals insights into how to make meaning out of this difficult life experience. The caregiving affirmations she’ll address using poignant stories include the following:

• Look for the gifts that only this type of tragedy can afford
• It’s perfectly normal to grieve even before your loved one dies
• Give yourself credit for staying strong despite being pushed to your limits
• Let the love flow, even when all else is lost
• Expect that some people will find it difficult to visit your loved one. That’s okay—it doesn’t mean they’ve stopped caring
• Work together to make meaning out of the tragedy of disease

• Tuesday, September 23 ~ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Please RSVP to 815-741-0077; light refreshments provided ** If you BRING A GUEST ~ you and your guest will have a chance to win a copy of Janet’s Book **
  

EMPOWERMENT

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP–Leeza’s Place Support Group
LEEZA’S PLACE AT PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER offer both day and evening Caregiver Support Group sessions that provide an atmosphere of understanding and support for caregivers to explore common difficulties and experiences that come with being the primary caregiver. Group discussions will be facilitated by Kathy A. Miller, Joliet’s Leeza Care Advocate and Kim Jackson, Leeza Care Advocate Assistant. You are welcome to join us for a time of education, sharing, caregiver support, and to enjoy the company of other caregivers.

• Tuesday, September 2, 9, 16, and 30 ~ 11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
• Monday, September 8, 22, and 29 ~ 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

MEMORY PRESERVATION WORKSHOP–Building & Preserving Family Memories
LEEZA’S PLACE AT PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER offers an on-going Memory Preservation Workshop for the caregiver and their recently diagnosed loved one. Each workshop is designed to help families create Family Memory Books. Our instructor Kathy Mueller, a scrapbooking genius, teaches participants how to use materials in an artistic way providing an enjoyable and uplifting experience. All materials are provided; just bring your family photos and enjoy! This workshop is for all levels of scrapbookers from beginners to experienced. Please RSVP to 741-0077.

• Wednesday, September 3, 10, and 17 ~ 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
• Participants may attend classes on an ongoing, or “drop in” basis

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP–You Are Not Alone
LEEZA’S PLACE AT PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER offers a weekly support group for persons who have suffered a brain injury. Support groups enable individuals to exchange ideas in a confidential atmosphere where both positive and negative views can be expressed without being judged. Remember – you are not alone. Support groups provide: hope, information, friendship, sharing, problem-solving, personal growth, and self-advocacy.

• Wednesday, September 3, 10, and 24 ~ 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM No meeting, Wednesday, September 17

JOURNAL WRITING EXPERIENCES–A Guide to Writing the Story of Your Life
LEEZA’S PLACE AT PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER offers an on-going Journaling Workshop for the caregiver and their recently diagnosed loved one. This class will show you how to take your life story and put it on paper and into a journal. During the class, we share many life experiences as well as how to start writing about your life. There is so much to say and often not enough time to express it. We help you find the time. Kim Jackson, Leeza Care Advocate Assistant, teaches participants how to find the voice inside and capture it on paper. See enclosed flyer for more information.

• Thursday, September 4 and 18 ~ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Beginners Workshop)
• Thursday, September 11 ~ 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM (Advanced Workshop) (NOTE: Register by September 24 for October classes)

DAY OUT TOGETHER – Paint to Music
We are excited about our Thursday afternoon arts and entertainment programs at Leeza’s Place. The second Thursday of the month is our new “Paint to Music” class. This class was voted-in by popular demand from many of our caregiver’s and guests of Leeza’s Place. You will be able to enjoy the experience of listening to relaxing background music while you paint your way into a relaxed state of mind. If you aren’t artistic, that is ok; this is a free-style that allows you to interpret the music in your art. Please join us for a relaxing afternoon of brushing the stress away. Reminder: You may wish to bring an old shirt to wear over your clothes to protect them from paint.

• Thursday, September 11 ~ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

ENERGY

CROCHET (STRESS) AWAY – Crochet, Coffee, and Caregivers Club Join us for our Crochet (STRESS) Away Club at Leeza’s Place at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never held a crochet hook in your hand before or you whiz through crochet projects daily, join us for an afternoon of carefree sharing and fun. For those who don’t know how to crochet but would like to learn, lessons will be provided by Kathy A. Miller, Leeza Care Advocate. If you prefer to knit instead of crochet, we are equal opportunity crafters and invite you to join us, knitting lessons will be provided by Kim Jackson, Leeza Care Advocate Assistant. Take time for yourself and reconnect with your spirit… … crochet or knit the stress away! Supplies (yarn, crochet hooks, and patterns) will be provided; or you may bring your own favorites.

• Tuesday, September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 ~ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

T’AI CHI IN THE AFTERNOON –Meditation in MotionT’ai chi (ti-CHE) is sometimes described as "meditation in motion" and involves gentle, deliberate circular movements combined with deep breathing. As you concentrate on the motions of your body, you develop a feeling of peace and tranquility. T’ai chi appears to offer both physical and mental benefits no matter what your age. It's used to: reduce stress, improve balance and coordination, improve muscle strength, increase energy, stamina, flexibility, and agility, and increase feelings of well-being. Our initial programs will be working from a DVD. Wear comfortable loose-fitting clothing.

• Thursday, September 4 and 18 ~ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

BIOFEEDBACK – Balancing Health, Wellness, and Technology
As a continuing program at Leeza’s Place, Deepak Chopra’s “The Journey to Wild Divine” is a computer program that teaches breathing, meditation, and relaxation techniques for great living. Using a biofeedback program, guests can learn practical skills to learn how to self-regulate responses, whether in everyday situations or stressful events. Please RSVP to 741-0077.

• Wednesday, September 10 ~ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

LEEZA’S TEAM – Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk 2008
“Come Walk with Us”. Again this year, Leeza’s Place is helping support our Greater Illinois Chapter Alzheimer’s Association by sponsoring a team for Leeza’s Place at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. If you would like to be part of our walk team, please call Leeza’s Place at 815-741-0077 by September 11 to register for the event. If you have your Leeza’s Place t-shirts from last year, we encourage you to wear them for this year’s event.

• Saturday, September 27 ~ Rock Run Forest Preserve (Black Road by Library), Joliet ~ Registration 8 AM ~ Walk Kickoff 10 AM