Along with Hesed against Alzheimer's disease:
Alzheimer's disease, which gradually weakens the brain and causes the loss of memory, inevitably leads to problems with social adaptation of the elderly person.
Early stage often goes unnoticed. Usually, friends and relatives of the patient, when face with the symptoms, associate them for the normal process of aging. However, the disease is progressing and problems become not only more noticeable but also more tangible both for the patient, and to others. How to help people in trouble? How to support those caring for a loved one? How to teach people with such a severe disease to survive in a society?
Solving these problems is a subject for the project "Preservation of memory". That's what Marina Oreper, a homeworking specialist tells about its implementation:
"Our nursing staff are true professionals, specially trained to care for such patients. Once a week they hold two-hour individual lessons. And while doing the classes they realized a need to exchange experiences, to talk about their feelings, to share findings and ideas. So a meeting of home-nursing workers of Hesed was held. Subsequently, such meetings became a good tradition and an integral part of the project".
It should be noted that the heaviest burden is borne by the family of the patient, living with him under one roof.
The organization of family life, where the patient resides, leads to frequent emotional stress. But this man is so dear to his loved ones! For this reason caring for the sick requires not only specific knowledge and skills, but also psychological readiness to a new way of life. That's why, the people living with the patient side-by-side and helping him out need so much to share their emotions and feelings with those who understand them! That is how the idea of communication and mutual support of relatives in the form of friendly meetings in Hesed aroused. These meetings provide a fantastic boost of energy to those who care for their loved ones. Relatives can share the innermost feelings which are impossible to tell about to people, far from understanding of the essence of problem. Of course, they also get positive emotions: indeed, the trouble shared between friends is not a problem anymore. And finally, get the understanding that one can and should live on with this.
And just recently was opened another one, the fourth block of "Preservation of memory" Program – the unique "cafe "Yahad".
"Yahad" means "together". This name our wards and their relatives decided to choose for a place of their meetings. The first meeting in the cafe "Yahad" was held on 24 June 2016. All participants not only drink tea but also engage in joint creativity by painting, creating collages.
And even those patients who have never taken up a brush, create unique drawings, which become an object of pride and awareness of their own value and importance as an active member of society," - the psychologist Julia Epelbaum comments on work of "Yahad".
The project "Program for preserving the memory" continues its work.
On 22 July 2016 the next group session for clients with cognitive disabilities together with their families and friends will take place at the Training center of our Hesed.
We invite to participate in this meeting professionals, whose academic interests or practical activity include the problems associated with Alzheimer's disease, post-stroke conditions and other diseases affecting human memory. After all, our joint efforts will become an indispensable source of support for all of us.
See also
- Dec 29, 2016 The first exhibition of project participants’ works of "Program for preservation of memory"
- Dec 05, 2016 Report on the work of the project "Audio books" (July 2015 – December 2016)
- Dec 05, 2016 Hanukkah kaleidoscope: spiritual jewels of the holiday
- Dec 05, 2016 Hanukkah kaleidoscope: the history of the holiday
- Nov 28, 2016 Cookbook of "Jewish Hesed "Bnei Azriel": traditional Hanukkah doughnuts
- Nov 11, 2016 Our wards at the exhibition of works of Ukrainian designer Slava Zaymak
- Nov 03, 2016 Congratulations to Chernigov “Hesed Ester” with 20th anniversary!
- Nov 01, 2016 Congratulations with the anniversary of Charity Centre "Hesed Shlomo"
- Oct 04, 2016 "Skills of effective communication"
- Jul 21, 2016 Alexander Kalyagin: sparkling sense of humor and grotesque in the club of Hesed
- Jul 20, 2016 (Russian) Ãîðÿ÷èé øàíñîí æàðêèì ëåòîì â Õýñýäå