Circle of Friends A safe respite

You are there 24/7, watching your loved one’s mind slowly slip away. There’s no stopping it. It just becomes harder and harder to deal with, watching what you love slowly disappear, like a smoldering fire, smaller and smaller each day.

Alzheimer’s is that way, a fire inside that is dimming and dimming from what was once blazing.

Getting a few hours to shop, buy groceries or just a little “me” time would seem like a blessing to a caregiver. The Circle of Friends is just that, four hours of respite for both the caregiver and the care receivers. CoF is a program that was started seven years ago to offer a short term care and class so those impacted by Alzhiemer’s, care receivers, can have fun and their caregivers get a small window of time to step away.

“It really is very helpful to the caregivers, as the respite program gives a break from their care receiver, because basically, they are together 24/7.

“And the care receiver relies tremendously on the caregiver. That’s their memory. That’s their everything. They don’t want to let that person go. They... follow them around mostly. It’s good to have a break for the care receiver,” Linda Germain of the Circle of Friends said. It is also a benefit for the care receiver.

“(As they get to) socialize and talk with other people and do activities just to be away from their caregiver, and it helps them with a little variety... to make it just a fun day for the care receivers. Thursday is our fun day. And we try to keep them inspired. We do activities. We’ll do craft projects, do things like make cards for people that are ill at Deer Creek. This gives the care receivers the feeling that they’re doing something important.”

The receivers eat lunch packed by their caregiver so their dietary needs are met at home. But for the rest of the time it is busy. Usually there is music in one form or another, live or a recording. Music is part of the brain that seems unaffected by the disease.

“We’ll sing, maybe it’s a gospel tune, or some old song that we know. And most of the people know it, and we’ll just sing it. So it’s nice to tap into that, and have them remember, it is really amazing. The prime example of that is Glen Campbell who had Alzheimer’s disease and until very well along in the disease, he was still performing at the memory facility where he was living,” Germain said.

“We dance sometimes when they want to dance. We just go with the flow for the day.” Music is a big part of the fun day and local musicians can be volunteers and are encouraged to play for the Circle on Thursdays.

Germain herself is with first-hand knowledge, having been the caregiver to her first husband. Twenty years ago she gathered as much information on the disease as she could, in the early internet times.

She also joined support groups before moving to Wimberley. She knows how hard it can be, the stress, isolation and exhaustion.

“I was working full time and it was very difficult. But I did find a daycare program. I was able to take him a couple of days a week. But even that was difficult around my job as a retail store manager. Yes, it was very difficult.”

She has been through training in order to teach classes as well, Savvy Caregiver and Powerful Tools for Caregivers. Those are both six-week courses that they offer to care givers. “It’s very beneficial and guides them through this process. Yes, do the journey. It really is a journey.”

Wimberley being the volunteer community it is, the Circle of Friends volunteers are always on hand with their enthusiasm, patience and positive attitudes. Thursdays are always a big treat and a special time because they make it special.

A fee of $5 is requested for each Thursday, as they have to rent the space from the Community Center.

Circle of Friends meets Thursday at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more information on Circle of Friends, to volunteer, or a musician interested in performing phone (512) 924-3661

For more information on the disease see Alzheimer’s Texas at txalz.org.