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Every Thursday morning, Bridgepointe volunteers bring coffee and "donettes" for Lille Mae and have breakfast with her. You can see the smile it brings each week!!
 January 17th was a special day for The Sanctuary at Bellbrook Book Club!
The Book Club at has been an active group for three years. It's members are vibrant, active members of their community!
Each member deserved a special day out with friends and family, so the volunteers at A Life Celebration made a special plan.
 Together, they attended a creative painting session at a local business called "Painting with a Twist".
They had a day of fun and art!
Our "morning masterpieces" turned out fabulous!
Having a friend can change your life! After careful consideration and searching for just the right match, Zoey was adopted from the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Thanks to a donation from Bridgepointe, A Life Celebrated, the two year old grey domestic shorthair, who can only be described as Adorable, found a forever home in Westland. She is affectionate, entertaining and brings joy to Judith.
Welcome to the family Zoey!
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Judith and Bridgepointe volunteers, Nichole and Marty,
are pictured here with the adorable Zoey. |
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| Christine, Joseph and Sandra |
Joseph was stunned when he was selected to spend a
game day with the Detroit Lions. Joseph
was nominated for this special outing coordinated by Bridgepointe A Life
Celebrated by the volunteer team at The Inn at Cass Lake in Waterford, MI.
Joseph was awarded three tickets to attend the football game
thanks to the generosity of community supporters. The day included transportation, food and memorabilia
to make the experience complete. Joseph’s daughter, Christine Biggs, and a
Bridgepointe volunteer caregiver, Sandra Leach, were asked to accompany him on
the special day. When the group of
planners learned that Joseph was a Detroit Lions fan, they reached a little
farther to make this event memorable. Each
member of the trio was given a Detroit Lions jersey with # 81, Calvin Johnson’s
number. With the help of the staff at
the Detroit Lions community relations department, Joseph was able to secure
field passes, so that he was able to be on the field while the players were
warming up!
Anyone would enjoy going to a game of their favorite
team. For Joseph, who suffers from a
debilitating medical condition that limits his ability to be independently
mobile, such a large event is an undertaking beyond what he could arrange on
his own. Additionally, there was a
financial barrier to attending a game since all of his financial resources are reserved
to cover the costs of his care.
“That was the best time of my life! I could never imagine
what it could be like to see a game!” –Joseph
Preston
Mr. Preston’s story is magical and reminds us how together we
can impact an individual’s life. This is
not only a cherished memory for him, but also for those of us who had a chance
to be a part of making this day happen. Go
Lions and Go Joseph! The Bridgepointe
team is here to cheer you on whenever you need it.
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| Morris Lent with volunteer, Karen Moore |
On Thanksgiving Day, Morris Lent and Karen Moore, his
Bridgepointe A Life Celebrated volunteer,
celebrated together at the Sanctuary at Bellbrook
in Rochester Hills.
Morris Lent retired from the military and was known to be a
very private man. He resided in the
condominiums for years with his wife until she passed away a few years ago.
Recently, Mr. Lent faced his own health challenges and had no
family in the state of Michigan. The
Bridgepointe team heard about him and put together an action plan. Karen Moore volunteered to grocery shop for
Morris and enjoyed weekly visits with him. She and Morris developed a special friendship
and she was always there to share his daily challenges and joys. Conversations always turned to stories about travel,
family and one of his favorites, great food!
Karen maintained regular communication with his daughter who lived out
of state and kept her apprised of his condition.
Recently, Morris was placed on hospice. Karen and the Bridgepointe team, with the
approval of his family, decided to plan a special celebration for Morris. On
Thanksgiving, Karen and a team of Bridgepointe volunteers prepared a delicious
Thanksgiving dinner for him with his favorite dishes and they all shared the
meal together…. his Bridgepointe family.
The smile on his face says it all. Morris continued to be surrounded by love and
caring until he passed away shortly afterward.
According to Karen, he was an amazing man and it was an honor to have
been his friend.
A Special Time for Dad and Daughter
Anyone
can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad. Edwin's
wife passed away a few month ago. The Bridgepointe team
knew that Edwin needed to stay connected with his remaining family.
"It was so important to him!" So, they arranged for Edwin's daughter,
who has special needs, to visit every Wednesday! They have a nice
time together! Nichole, a Bridgepointe volunteer, fixes them a delicious
lunch every time and takes good care of them!
Cindy and Jeff
On February 14,2013, Cindy a resident
at Franklin Terrace, enjoyed a special luncheon at Red Lobster.
Cindy is a kind and giving individual who volunteers on the memory
care unit at Franklin Terrace and assists with the mobile library as
well. Cindy is helpful to all the residents. She was
recognized for her thoughtfulness and kindness toward others. Cindy
chose to share her gift certificate with a special friend, Jeff, on
Valentine’s Day. They both enjoyed their meal and spent a
wonderful afternoon together. Cindy is a special lady and
celebrating her life in this small way made her day very special!
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| Skype Connects A Family |
Thanks
to the World Wide Web, James Dubois, a resident at Franklin Terrace
in Southfiield, was able to meet his new great grandson (4 months
old) via Skype. Janet, a Bridgepointe volunteer,
teaches a computer class at Franklin Terrace twice a month and
orchestrated the “reunion”. James, his grandson and great
grandson were able to see each other and communicate almost like
they were in the same room. The looks on their faces when they made
the initial connection was priceless! Everyone in the room had
goose bumps and James' tearful response was a moment that won't soon
be forgotten!
Irene's
health has been declining recently, but her spirit still soars!
Irene thought her days were planned and she knew the plan for her
future. Nope! Irene was soon to discover that her friends had a
surprise in store for her.
Due
to her illness, Irene was unable to leave her home in a senior
apartment building for any type of outing. So, the Bridgepointe team decided to plan a special day. One thing was
immediately clear, the celebration would have to come to Irene.
Together with her best friends, Queen and Rose, and her nephew
Johnny who resides nearby in a group home, she was treated to a
luncheon held in her honor in the main dining room. The dining room
was empty except for the special group. They were able to spend
quality time with each other and made memories that will last a
lifetime and beyond. The heartfelt laughter could be heard all the
way down the hallways of her building.
Marguerite Scott has always loved children and dancing.
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| Karen and Marguerite |
As a former first grade teacher and dance instructor specializing in ballet and tap, Marguerite had plenty of delightful memories that she often shared with her care team. At the age of 94, Marguerite was given another opportunity to enjoy her favorite things, Karen and Shelby, Bridgepointe volunteers, planned a special evening of entertainment and fun customized just for Marguerite.
On December 15, the trio traveled from the Sanctuary at Bellbrook in Rochester for an evening of music and dance provided by Deborah's Stage Door Studio in Rochester Hills. The dance studio held their "Christmas Spectacular" at Sterling Heights High School and it included performances by all of their dance groups from age 3 to 20!!
Marguerite truly enjoyed this special evening provided by "Bridgepointe, A Life Celebrated". The evening was filled with costumes, dance, excitement, laugher and spectacular performances by all the children. Marguerite loved each performance, but the small children were her favorites. It was a night to treasure and remember for all of them.
When a group of residents at Westhaven Manor in Westland wanted to help others, it had to be something that everyone could participate in. The local homeless shelter needed lunches. Who can make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? The residents said "We can". Here are some photos of the residents, some of whom need a little help themselves sometimes, it felt so good for them to help someone else. Good food and good work!
  
Whenever Florian was asked “What could we do to make you smile?” He would always reply... "I just want some homemake chicken soup!” So thanks to Nichole, a Bridgepointe volunteer, he was able to watch and smell his soup cooking all day! We love you Florian!
Life is the best reason to celebrate. Margaret didn't know what the future would hold when she was diagnosed with cancer 25 years ago! A surprise deserves a surprise party! So, Bridgepointe volunteers made sure that this day would not pass without a party. Margaret was thrilled to celebrate. Pink was the color of the day and cancer was defeated!
Michael (87 years old) and Paul (95 years old) both enjoy classical music. Both are considered quite distinguished in their senior community. A Life Celebrated purchased tickets to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and both men enjoyed a night on the town.
Sometimes a small treat makes more of an impact than the largest surprise! Mary Dennings Cake Shoppe in Westland prepared and delivered fresh baked muffins for the residents at a local senior residence. It was a delicious and unexpected holiday treat!
Have you every wondered what it would be like to need a new heart? Not only need a heart, but also not having the support system mandated to even be put on the list of potential heart transplant recipients?
Tim P. was a 48 year old cardiac patient in that very situation. He suffered from a congenital heart defect that had already taken the lives of his family members. Tim didn't have the support required to get his name on the heart transplant list: transportation to doctor appointments, meal service, medication supervision and general care after the operation.
Bridgepointe was able to rally volunteers to become Tim's support team. This new team would ensure that Tim could take care of himself in preparation for an available heart.
It is this generosity of time and talents that makes Bridgepointe special. We do not focus on a specific age of our recipients - or even specify the challenge they must be facing. We believe that we can help any person who is having a difficult time - help make life better in some way.
Janie, 83 yrs old, had been placed in a nursing home. Since she did not have the means to support herself, she was assigned a guardian company to provide her with general care. Guardian companies are paid very little for the clients they serve, and are often overworked and understaffed. Janie's guardians felt strongly that Janie should remain in the nursing home.
A Life Celebrated volunteers who had met Janie realized right away that she did not belong in a nursing home. They, along with help from professionals across the country, worked toward a solution. The volunteers provided advocacy for Janie in the courts and prevailed. Janie has been moved from the nursing home into an independent apartment. She will be provided daily chore service as needed, thanks to A Life Celebrated.
Often it is the wish of caregivers and families that their loved ones participate in the simplest of everyday events. For some clients, fragility and memory-loss behaviors make even a short trip to the beauty salon impossible.
 Caregivers at a local senior residence struggled with this quandry. A Life Celebrated volunteer Lisa Merrill was getting her haircut at Donoven's, a local beauty salon, when she mentioned her wish that senior residents with memory care issues could have a day of beauty. Stylist Kim Smith accepted the challenge! At first she thought to schedule a one-time styling session to get the residents ready for the holidays. The celebration spirit caught hold, however, and the stylists have been visiting the residence on a monthly basis.
"Stylists are often intimidated by the behaviors of those suffering from memory-loss," Merrill explained. "And tranporting the resident is quite an obstacle, so providing the service in a familiar environment makes the experience better for both the resident and the hair stylist."
Sometimes problems seem insurmountable, but in this case the generosity of local hair stylists made the solution simple: stylists from Donoven's will visit the residence monthly to give residents hair cuts, styling, manicures and hand massages.
Paul is a resident in a metro Detroit senior residence. Now 95 years old, Paul has been blind since the age of 12 years. His struggle with memory loss, as well as his blindness makes participation in many activities in his residence difficult.
 Those caring for Paul strived for a way to engage him in his present. He was no longer able to learn new skills so they worked to find an opportunity to revisit skills he had used in his life. He had spent his life as a carpenter, refinishing and building furniture, so they set about finding a connection to improve the quality of Paul's life.
A Life Celebrated co-founder Traci Rusk posted the challenge on her Facebook page. She got a response from a local shop owner who offered his help.
Jay Densmore is the owner of Plymouth Furniture Refinishing, a shop that he had opened with his father. His father had recently left the business to enter hospice in Florida. Without his father at the shop, Jay found something was missing. It seemed to be a perfect opportunity to invite Paul into the shop to work with Jay. Paul would be able to enjoy time in an environment which mirrored one that made him so happy, and Jay would enjoy the camaraderie with a man very close in age to the father he missed.
A dozen seniors and their caregivers escape to the Zoo
 Reptiles, ice cream and spending a day in the sunshine were some of the favorite activities during a Senior Day field trip to the Detroit Zoo. Homestead Home Health Care and Bridgepointe, A Life Celebrated partnered to provide a dozen residents, each escorted by a personal caregiver, a day of fun and adventure.
The penguins stole the show for the group, who also enjoyed the kangaroos, chimpanzees, reptiles and other fascinating zoo creatures. It was even fun to just people watch! Residents toured the gardens, and spent time snacking and relaxing. The zoo brought everyone together for a fun day of discover and wonder.
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