Dementia. A thief who steals the very essence, the persona, the humanness .Its victim feels his mind slowly slipping away, second-guesses every thought, every opinion. Helplessly, he watches what defines him as a human being gradually vanishing. Confused, anxious, agitated, he desperately tries to hold on until…peace is restored in his soul and he is no longer aware of his incapacities.
Holding on. The key to retaining his mental abilities. His relationships with family and friends. His ability to contribute and be considered a productive member of society. His ability to remain human.
Ezer Mizion’s Tzipora Fried Center Dementia Clubs are called “Giving from the Heart – Moments of Meaning”. As the name implies the members of the club integrate into social-community by volunteer work, enabling them to connect with others in need.
Let us peek into one room where women are rolling out dough. As their fingers touch the dough, memories of caring for their family, memories of the productiveness of yesteryear seep through their fingers into their very being. Now it is other children they are baking for. Children who are devastated by cancer. Children who haven’t smiled in months. The cookies will be individually packaged and the women imagine their delighted grins. A feeling of sipuk hanerfesh pervades their soul. Usefulness, nurturing, giving all serve to help make that U-turn back into normalcy, to hold on.
One member of the club found herself in a unique position. Being at the very beginning stages of dementia, she found it difficult to feel herself to be an equal member and relate to the others. Yet, she was in need of some level of support. In a creative initiative, she was asked to volunteer in the capacity of art, a special talent of hers. Through the volunteer work, she found a place of meaning, value, and full partnership in the club. The paintbrush and easel became her tools for holding on.
The member’s volunteering within the club serves as a truly inspiring model for coping with similar situations of unwillingness to integrate into the group due to the person’s difficulty in accepting his situation. Using this model, which gives the member a meaningful job suited to his skills, creates a track of dignified integration that emphasizes the member’s remaining strengths and abilities. This model shows how it is possible to turn personal challenges into an opportunity to create value, strengthen connections and belonging, and will inspire additional Ezer Mizion clubs and members to create similar tracks.
Ezer Mizion in Israel offers a variety of psychological support services and rehabilitative programs for people suffering from psychological disorders, emotional issues and mental illnesses. These services include:A Big Brother/Sister program, a psychological referral team, rehabilitative employment centers, a 24-hour crisis hotline and a network of psychiatrists and psychologists.
