Wise Counsel for Caregivers
Not all of the services provided by The Little Red House take place here at the house. On Thursday mornings—a block to our west, in a sunny, comfortable lounge at Christ Community Church—Jim Powers, ACSW offers a listening ear and seasoned advice to anyone in the community who is caring for a friend or loved one with physical, cognitive, or psychosocial limitations.
The Caregiver Support Group meets at 11:00 a.m. every Thursday and is open to all, regardless of whether they have a participant at The Little Red House. And, to make it even easier on caregivers, The Little Red House will provide complimentary care for a friend or relative during that time on a space available basis. This service is made possible through a grant from Senior Resources of Muskegon.
Jim Powers earned his master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University and has practiced counseling and social work in clinical outpatient settings since 1976. He has been working with The Little Red House since 2006.
“There’s a story that each person has to tell,” says Jim. And he is there to listen to their stories and help them find ways to alleviate the stress of caregiving. “Most people need guidance with such issues as isolation and depression” that often accompany the burdens of caregiving, he offers. He also makes caregivers aware of all local resources and how to access them. (From 2000-2005, Jim worked as a clinical social work therapist with Veterans Affairs, so he is especially helpful in guiding people through the qualification process for Veterans’ benefits. Once approved, Veterans receive up to six hours of care at The Little Red House, three days a week, plus transportation and
personal care services.)
The support group helps caregivers connect with each other, which often leads to friendships and greater community support. “Particularly with the disease process of Alzheimer’s and senile dementia, I can help caregivers understand what is taking place, what to expect, and how to respond.”
Jim does not limit his services to the support group schedule. He is available anytime by telephone to speak with caregivers and work through problems and issues. For more information about Little Red House caregiver support group services, call 846-5720.
A Veteran and Her Family Find Comfort, Care, and Peace
at The Little Red House
The first thing you’ll notice are her eyes. They sparkle and dance—and if you look deep enough you’ll see the 17-year-old girl who left high school in search of adventure in the United States Army. Nearly 60 years later, Korean War veteran Betty Brown recalls her career as a military photographer with humor and nostalgia.
“I was assigned to take a picture of a general,” Betty admits. “But only half the picture turned out because I hadn’t loaded the fi lm the right way.” It wasn’t the only task she wasn’t able to complete with military precision. “I couldn’t make my bed the way they expected me to,” she added.
In May 2008, Betty’s daughter, Brenda Gasahl, feared the sparkling eyes she knew so well might be permanently dimmed after a series of strokes left her mother unable to speak. No longer able to live on her
own, Betty moved in with Brenda and her husband, Jim. Within days it became apparent that managing Betty’s rehabilitation was a full-time job and Brenda was forced to leave the workforce to care for her mother.
It wasn’t long before Brenda and Jim began having trouble making house payments and keeping up with other monthly bills. The loss of Brenda’s income was creating a fi nancial hardship and they began to worry. They knew Brenda would have to return to work but didn’t know who could care for Betty in her absence.
“I think somebody upstairs was watching out for us,” Brenda said. “I was referred to The Little Red House by two different people.” When Brenda and Jim visited for the first time, they began to feel hopeful that they had found the answer to their prayers. As a veteran, Betty was eligible to receive support for adult day care services from the Veteran’s Administration. With help from staff at The Little Red House to complete the application process, Betty was approved by the VA within two weeks. Brenda and Jim were overjoyed. Betty was not.
“I didn’t want to come here,” Betty said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it might be like the barracks when I was in basic training.” Betty’s fears were laid to rest when Brenda and Jim brought her to The Little Red House for a tour. In fact, she was excited to participate in the activities at The Little Red House.
“On my first day here I got to go see the play Annie, at Spring Lake High School” Betty said with a smile. “Yesterday we made cookies, and I got to eat one too!” Most of all, Betty says she enjoys the singing and the people-watching.
Brenda, with obvious relief on her face, said, “I know my mom likes coming here. On the days she is coming to The Little Red House she gets up before me. She is dressed and sitting at the table waiting for me when I get out of bed.”
The Little Red House continues to be a home-away-from-home for Betty and many others in the community. Betty’s story is a powerful testimony to the effectiveness of our program as well as a validation of our mission. It’s a mission that grows ever more relevant as we face unprecedented growth in our elderly population and see increasing numbers of people—our own parents, partners and friends—being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and the infirmities of aging. |
