Success Stories from SourcePoint

A woman in a long line of mothers and daughters has aged into her position as figurehead of the family now that her own mother’s memory and abilities have declined. Her home is the gathering place for five generations of living relatives. She may not be able to change what is expected of her by the family, but she is the only one who gets to decide how she will carry herself when her children, her sisters, brothers, and their children gather in the family home and look to her for guidance or communicate a grievance. Using SourcePoint’s Caregiver Questionnaire has helped this family better divide responsibility among themselves and has helped remove unwarranted feelings of burden.

A man and his wife, having just packed the last of their graduating children off to college, have moved into his parents’ home to be more of a presence in their lives. There are safety concerns, serious warning signs of Alzheimer’s, and one of the biggest risk factors of all: isolation. SourcePoint support groups provided a place for the family to express their concerns. They receive validation from their peers in the moment, and after the session ends, Brian Fox, caregiver program coordinator, offers individualized support. Working with the family and SourcePoint staff who coordinate social activities, Fox said he was able to help them get acclimated to some discussion and art groups of interest to them.

A younger couple shares the responsibility of caring for one partner’s mom. The mother has a history of strokes that have led to vascular dementia, a memory condition that severely inhibits the ability to form words out of thoughts. Because both partners are employed full-time, it isn’t always easy to come to a caregiver support group. Fox was able to meet with the couple during caregiver drop-in hours to help determine safe ways for Mom to experience her community. Because each partner works a different shift, one drops Mom off at SourcePoint on the way to work and the other picks her up on the way home. Meanwhile, Mom is safe at SourcePoint playing bingo, taking a wellness course, or participating in one of many low-impact activities where she is surrounded by people who understand her regardless of her ability to communicate.