We are now a Certified Best Friends Environment!
What is the Best Friends™ Approach?
What people experiencing memory loss need most of all is someone dedicated to helping them feel safe, secure, and valued—at all stages of the disease. That is why East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance adopted the Best Friends™ approach and earned the designation Best Friends™ Environment.
This person-centered care model is grounded in the understanding that relationships are supremely important in dementia care and should reflect the essential elements of friendship: respect, empathy, support, trust, humor. The approach promotes the dignity and individual rights of people with memory loss through knowing the history and preferences of each person, communicating skillfully, and providing a supportive environment and meaningful engagement.
Why friendship?
Friends know each other’s history and personality. They do things together, communicate, laugh often, build self-esteem, and share stories. When the world seems strange and uncertain, we need a friend more than ever. These essential elements of friendship are incorporated into our care practices, giving our staff the knowledge and skills to provide individualized, meaningful attention within a trust-filled relationship.
How it works
Your loved one will be in the caring hands of staff who are trained in the Best Friends approach by an onsite Certified Master Trainer. Our people receive comprehensive instruction and guidance in how to provide superior dementia care by approaching activities, communication, mealtimes, personal care, and challenging situations with dignity, compassion, empathy, and respect. Staff are familiar with each person’s life story and help sustain their identities, past experiences, and preferences. We are committed to helping those with memory loss live their best lives while in our care.
We need organizations to provide lunch for 40 people at our Hope & Help Day Club program during the 1st Quarter of 2024 for our dementia friends and volunteers. Ideas: finger sandwiches, pizza, box lunches, chili, etc. for about 40 people. We provide the plates, utensils, cups, and drinks.
Day Clubs are unique programs designed to meet the needs of both the person with memory loss and their caregiver. Attendees have a sense of engagement while participating in memory enhancing activities that honor their life stories. Day Clubs also gives caregivers a few hours of a well-deserved break.
Why Join?
Research proves that cognitive and social stimulation improves mood, cognition and delays regression of activities in daily living for individuals living with dementia. Caregivers benefit by enjoying a break to recharge, relax, maintain relationships and focus on their own health and wellness. Participants have one-on-one interaction with a trained volunteer in a safe, fun environment, while caregivers can do their grocery shopping, go to a doctor appointment, go on a walk, attend a gym class or Bible study or enjoy shopping and visiting with friends.
Cost
The cost to attend Hope & Help Day Club is $5 per day and will include a light breakfast snack, lunch, and drink. Fees may be paid by cash, check, PayPal, or Venmo. Scholarships provided.
Activities
We provide a failure free environment.
Sample schedule:
10:00-10:30AM – Meet & Greet
10:30-11:00AM – Art Expression
11:00-11:30AM – Fun Activity
11:30-12:00PM – Circle Time
12:00-12:45PM – Lunch
12:45-1:00PM – Restroom
1:00-2:00PM – Entertainment
More Information
Our directors are listed below or you can call the ETAA office at 903-230-8001:
Sally Hendricks – 903-746-4698
Beth Godsey – 903-238-5391
Participants and Caregivers
Sign up Today!
Or download this PDF to sign up and find out more information: Hope and Help Day Club Op Procedures for Participant and Caregiver rev 1.8.24
Interested in Volunteering?
Apply Now!
Or download this PDF to sign up and find out more information:
Handbook: ETAA Hope and Help Day Club Volunteer Hand Book 1.8.24
Application: Hope and Help Day Club Volunteer Job Description & Expectations rev 1.8.24
Unforgettable Tuesdays Day Club
For more information, please call the Greggton Global Methodist Church Office at (903)-759-3831, Nancy Duke at (903)-220-1355 or Hilda Wallin at (903)-759-6352.
The Unforgettable Tuesdays Day Club was started by the Pilot Club of Longview in 2007 and is hosted by Greggton Global Methodist Church in the Community Room at 1101 Pine Tree Road in Longview, Texas. Church membership is not required to attend, and all are welcome. One-on-one support is provided by professionals and trained volunteers.
Every Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm the Day Club is in full swing with breakfast, a full lunch, snacks, social activities, crafts, low-key exercise, games and entertainment facilitated with smiles, hugs, music and laughter. Each week has a theme and participants have a purpose. Unforgettable Tuesdays are truly unforgettable!
Going into its 14th year, the main focus of this Day Club is to provide a safe, loving environment for individuals with memory loss so that their caregivers can have much needed time for themselves.
Preregistration is required, and participants must meet the basic requirements of:
- A clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia;
- The ability to use the restroom with minimal assistance;
- The ability to ambulate with minimal assistance (canes and walkers are welcome);
- Does not need medication during Day Club hours
For more information, please call the Greggton Global Methodist Church Office at (903)-759-3831, Nancy Duke at (903)-220-1355 or Hilda Wallin at (903)-759-6352.
Interested in learning more about starting a Day Club at your church or with your organization? Please contact the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance at 903-230-8001 or info@etxalz.org