HELP!!Four simple letters, sometimes one tough word!! HELP can be negatively defined as: I can’t carry my own load OR If I have to ask, what will everyone think? But, in the words of John Lennon -
“When you’re drowning, you don’t say ‘I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me’ — you just scream.”
But even if you are not at the drowning stage, “It’s OK to need help, to ask for help, to get help, or even to talk about getting help – OUT LOUD! (you tube)
And at Haven Family Fund, we agree with the rest of that “you tube” author’s message: “Getting help makes you a smart human. You know your limits and you also know that it is important to put your sanity before your concerns. Trying to do it on your own when you are struggling will not make you a superhero, it will make you miserable.”
Please contact Sandi Walker if your needs can be supported by our Home Visitation teams. She can be reached at 386-283-4092
HOME VISITATION
Long-term care has many challenges, you know that better than I!!! And those challenges can break you down; they can have an emotional impact potentially greater than the care-issue that you are managing. The full load on two shoulders can be too much, but shared across many – that load can become bearable. The needs of both the “cared for” and the “care giver” can be filled, and the stress can be diffused, with a little help from caring neighbors.
Haven Family is filled with those neighbors!!! More than 40 Grand Haven residents are supplying some part of their time to help diffuse the potential stress of families working through long-term care situations. We sit and talk, play games, watch TV; do whatever we can to give a “care giver” a break or offer a “cared for” a little time with another human being.
The impact can be enormous as noted in these two testimonials:
Testimonials
I want to let you know how grateful I am to have the help that we receive from the Haven Family Fund. It has been wonderful for both my husband and I to have met such a great group of people who have spent many hours making life better for us. This organization along with the volunteers that have been helping us so willingly by spending time with my husband walking, listening to music, painting with him and engaging in conversation so that I can attend medical appointments, support groups, and do errands have been a blessing and the answer to my prayers. Again, I want to thank you for all that you do. You are a tremendous asset to this community.
My wife and I have been involved with the Haven Fund for over three years. It started when a member of the Board became aware of my stroke three years ago and volunteered to relieve my wife (my caregiver) and help to drive me to the Y for my three times a week session which is part of the Stroke Wellness Program. The Haven Fund began immediately to assign volunteers Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to drive me to the Y and back home again each time. This help has made a big difference in our lives. Not only do I receive the therapy I need each week, but my wife gets relief from her exhausting caregiver role, so she gets a break and an opportunity to do other things. We are blessed by the caring people of the Haven Fund. They are professional and reflect the goodness of the people of Grand Haven. Our life would be much more difficult without the caring way of the Haven Fund people. We, and our community, are very fortunate and blessed to have the existence of the Haven Fund!
Please contact Sandi Walker if your needs can be supported by our Home Visitation teams. She can be reached at 386-283-4092