Our Program
At Thelma’s Place, we provide support, respite, resources, education and compassion for the person with the disease as well as their families, friends and caregivers. Thelma’s Place is Oregon State approved for Medicaid participants.
Vision:
To improve quality of life for those afflicted with memory loss while developing empathy in children and bridging the gap between the generations.
Mission:
Connecting generations while filling the gap in care, strengthening children and those facing memory loss, offering nurturing support, enrichment, education and engagement.
Tag Line: Bridging the gap between generations.
Our Company Story
As a young boy growing up outside of Hubbard, Oregon, I used to pick berries, sell lemonade and mow laws to earn pocket money. One of my regular weekly mowing jobs was for Mrs. Quinby, a longtime friend and neighbor of my parents. She had known me since I was brought home from the hospital as an infant and was always so appreciative of my work.
One day in early fall, this sweet, fragile woman suffered a massive stroke while out in her yard and was not discovered for several hours. As a result, she was taken to a nursing home and never returned home.
At Mrs. Quinby’s nursing home, care aides were always frantic, running up and down the halls, never having much time for understanding or sincere interest in these wonderful people. They were under staffed! Many residents were left to just holler or lie in bed all day. There was little interest in quality of care. Because I was an eight or nine year old at the time, I found this to be very frightening. Although I was only a young boy at the time, I knew that if I ever had an opportunity to do so, I would build a good home for the elderly.
While the process of opening Country Side Living was a challenge, my efforts have been returned tenfold through the process of helping people live for the moment. The reward of just a few of our past residents will never be forgotten.
Grace, Palmer, Nita. Their families.
People who gave me back the appreciation of my vision and the beauty around us and who have showed me more love than I have experienced.
Sharing in someone’s life at this time is a gift. It is the motivation for my drive to continually improve understanding and communication and create meaningful activities. My quest will never end.
Country Side Living is not just a job or a business. From love, patience and laughter to grief, peace, belief and more it is the embodiment of all that is life.
Visit our beautiful facility for a tour and free lunch on us. Phone: 503-266-3031
Adult Day Respite
Thelma’s Place offers an adult day respite program for the person with memory loss, providing a positive setting focusing on socialization, learning memory enhancing activities, enjoying a variety of music, participating in whole body fitness, as well as games, woodworking and creative arts. Check out the newsletter to see some of the memory enhancing activities.
There is constant research to find treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s disease and one thing for certain is that social programs incorporating support, education and camaraderie are very beneficial to people dealing with memory loss. At Thelma’s Place we structure all of our programs and activities based on the latest research and incorporate social activities.
Respite Care
Caregivers need a break! Respite care can help. According to Maria Basso Lipani, LCSW in Respite: A Lifeline for Those Overwhelmed by Caregiving she states that: “If you have been providing care to a family member or friend for a long period of time, particularly if that person has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you may be feeling overwhelmed. “Caregiver burnout” as it’s sometimes called, is a real and very serious thing. The physical and mental exhaustion that can result from providing care on a day to day basis can lead a person to wonder if he/she can continue. Respite can help significantly.” See the link for more information: http://www.geriatriccaremanagement.com/respite/
While their loved one is in the fun, secure environment, the caregiver can take a break from their everyday responsibilities. They can drop their loved one off at the program while they take a breather to manage their own personal appointments, go to lunch with a friend, visit our Caregiver Resource Library or just go home and take a nap!
For a tour of our beautiful facility and courtyard and learn more about the Respite program, please call Thelma’s Place at 503-266-5100 or 541-548-3049
Alzheimer's Support Groups
Simply because it can be so challenging — emotionally, mentally, and physically, nearly every professional involved with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia recommends support groups for Caregivers and loved ones of people with the disease. As the disease progresses and alters the person you know, you are bound to experience a range of reactions and face ever-changing problems.
