A web of relationships, tightly woven over decades. Strengthened with love and caring. Expanding in every direction.. Until one day when the center threads begin to fray.
She had been holding tight but little by little her hand began to slip from the rope that holds all human beings together, the rope that enables us all to relate to each other, the rope of human cognition.
For five years, Savta Esther, as she was affectionately called by all, was an integral part of the Ezer Mizion Golden Age Club for senior women in the early stages of dementia. She participated in all the club activities and was respected and loved by both her fellow members and staff alike. It was her recipes that were often used in baking activities and she frequently shared her goodies with us all.
The Savta Esther Cookies were a favorite and it was those that we chose to symbolically say goodbye to a woman whom we had grown to love. The reason for the goodbye? Dementia. Significantly increased dementia. A cruel robber which had stolen from our group a woman we loved. Savta Esther was no longer capable of participating in the group and the time had come to part.
And so we said goodbye. We had baked a batch of Savta Esther cookies, sadly this time without her assistance. Each woman was given a packet with the recipe attached.
We hugged her, our arms lingering, unwilling to separate, knowing this was our last hug. Many staff members shed tears. But, to her, we uttered not a word of goodbye, unwilling to cause anguish to the spirit that still exists somewhere in the recesses of her soul.
Savta Esther, we’ll miss you.
People with early stage dementia comprise a significant segment of the population. They are in ‘twilight zone’, no longer able to fit into their former social circles yet cannot imagine themselves in a circle of senior citizens even though they are approaching or have entered the age of the senior world. Their cognitive abilities have somewhat declined but they certainly do not fit into a day care center setting for the mentally infirm.
The partial awareness that the patient has at this stage generates a sense of vulnerability and helplessness. A protected ‘safe place’ framework is needed for those in the early stages. It is this issue that Ezer Mizion seeks to address with its Social Clubs for women at the early stages. These clubs serve to mitigate the withdrawal and introversion experienced by many.
Its goals are to create a program adapted to encourage the participants to engage in social interaction in spite of the disease. Equally important is the preservation of cognitive capabilities, as much as possible, via diverse multi-sensory activities in addition to strengthening a sense of meaning and self-worth and enhancement of participants’ quality of life. With emphasis placed on the preservation and enhancement of cognitive and social abilities, activities focus on multi-sensory and cognitive stimulation such as discussions on topics of interest, physical exercise, music, board games and crafts activities.
As the need is great, Ezer Mizion hopes to increase its scope of clubs in major cities throughout Israel, each one a protective haven for people experiencing the frightening trauma losing touch with the stability of day-to-day life as they had known it. Click here for a synopsis of services provided by Ezer Mizion.
