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Old Friends Club is financially supported by family memberships and various grants. We also have some very generous support from our corporate sponsor Northwest Cellars. We know that financial pressures affect everyone and that is why we offer our services below market rates while also ensuring we provide the skilled and knowledgeable assistance for our club members and families. Because we don’t turn anyone away, grants and donations throughout the year help us maintain the standards we want to uphold. Through the generous participation of individuals on the one-day GiveBig2019.org event, we tallied over $3,924 which includes the OFC Board match. Awareness of the drive for local non-profits also generated direct donations to OFC, including corporate matching totalling over $2,000. Drives like this help us with activity supplies, lunches, and can even supplement individual memberships. We are very humbled by the generosity and ongoing support of our mission. We want to specifically thank those who contributed to OFC during #GiveBig (including those who wish not to be mentioned). Your gifts will help us to continue to support local families and their loved ones. Thank You! Carrie & Robert S, Karin T, Larry B, Heidi W, Donald D, Gary D, Lonnie E, Rich H, Bill E, Doug S, Clifton S, Becky M, Sandra H, John J, Lisa Y, Anton P, Katherine W, Helen H. Special appreciation to Ellison Foundation Some of the donations through the GiveBig site were made in Memory or Honor of special individuals and we include them here with our deepest respect: In Memory of Charles Barker In Memory of Don & Patricia Desonier In Memory of Nancy Desonier and In Honor of Karen Koenig Additionally, we had some wonderful comments submitted with donations that filled us with warmth and encouragement: “This sounds like a great project. Glad to help support” “Thanks for all you do!” “Carnation Old Friends Club is such a blessing for our family ❤️” “Love Old Friends Club!” “Thank you for all you do!” “I love what Old Friends Club is doing to help the Alzheimer's and dementia community at large. While there is a great focus on a cure through major, national organizations, local families still need day-to-day support and care with their loved ones. OFC provides a valuable element to the toolkit of care, nourishing both the individual member and the family care provider, improving the lives of all parties.” Thank you! We're also always looking for volunteers! If you are interested, fill out our Contact OFC form and let us know about your interest. Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page. Search for frequently asked questions at our OFC FAQ page. Meet our Program Coordinators or checkout our the Available Jobs at OFC.

Today's blog comes from a personal experience of our Board President, Don Desonier. Here he talks about how required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts can be handled in such a way as to 1) not be counted as taxable income and 2) benefit your favorite non-profit. Like many people, I have a “short list” of charitable organizations I like to donate to each year. Included in my list are a couple of non-profit organizations, one of which is Old Friends Club. I just discovered a cool way to donate to Old Friends Club (OFC) that not only benefited this wonderful organization. It also benefited me from a tax perspective. Let me explain! If you have a tax-deferred investment account like an IRA, Simple IRA, or SEP IRA, and turn 70 ½, you are required to take out an annual minimum distribution from that account - known as an RMD. Normally, these withdrawals will be included in your taxable income except for any part that was taxed before (your basis) or that can be received tax-free. I recently turned 70 ½. When I arranged for my first RMD to come out of my SEP IRA in 2018, I had the entire amount distributed to me - which was then treated as gross taxable income for the tax year 2018. I discovered a way to donate to OFC without a direct tax consequence to me For 2019, I discovered a way to donate to OFC without a direct tax consequence to me - by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from the custodian of my SEP IRA, to OFC. And, because I needed to make my Required Minimum Distribution for 2019, this payment counted towards my RMD. I did this by instructing the custodian of my SEP IRA to cut a check from my RMD - payable to Old Friends Club - and sent to me. I then delivered it to OFC. As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, OFC received this distribution tax-free. As for me - this amount of my RMD distribution was not counted as taxable gross income to me. It’s extremely important to note that for the above process to work, the distribution must meet certain requirements to be a Qualified Charitable Distribution. Make sure you contact your CPA for proper tax advice. Here is a great article from Forbes that describes this process very well called, "The Best Way To Handle Required Minimum Distributions". Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club or someone who you think would enjoy joining our team of volunteers? Please have them call us or contact us at our Old Friends Club Contact Us page.

Earlier this year the Sammamish Club started a multi-month project that combined arts, crafts, and construction skills. At the end of April, the members finished their projects as we also said goodbye to one of our awesome, Program Coordinators, Lori. "There are photos of the members completing the "shoot for the stars" project as well as the completed projects. It was the one thing I wanted everyone to accomplish before I said goodbye, and they did, just in the nick of time!! " - Lori We'll miss you Lori and we wish you well as you continue…shooting for the stars :-) Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page.

What will attending Old Friends Club Cost and will insurance cover it? You may also want to see our associated Cost & Insurance FAQ on our main OFC FAQ page where we cover these topics and we'll also touch on them in this blog post: What does it cost? Do you take Long Term Care insurance? Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for this? How is OFC funded? We've heard about the rising cost of healthcare and may have even experienced it ourselves. "Aging in place" is a term used to describe folks who are trying their best to take care of themselves at home with friends and family for as long as they can to help defray some of those healthcare costs. But even in-home care locally can run close to between $30-35 per hour. At Old Friends Club, we know all too well the struggles families have balancing budgets, paying their bills, and sometimes choosing between rent and healthcare. What does it cost? Old Friends Club offers a cost effective option for consideration with significant benefits beyond in-home care. We offer a couple different monthly options based on the number of days per week the member would like to attend a club: $550/month for 2 days/week $725/month for 3 days/week The cost averages less than $14/hour which is less than half the cost of the same hours of in-home care. And, at the Club, the member gets out of the house, engages with others, and participates in various activities geared towards their interests and abilities. We talked about forming a habit of attending in "What caregivers should know about getting the most out of old friends club adult day program" and we do encourage attendance at the Club at least twice weekly. This is crucial to allow Members to establish a routine, as well as build trust and comfort with staff and fellow Members. We consistently see Members engage more successfully when they join the group more often than once a week. This gives their family members more time too. Do you take Long Term Care insurance? We work with you and Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance companies to obtain coverage. We provide a high level outline in our Cost & Insurance FAQ on what you can expect and if this is a consideration for you, we encourage you to contact us (Welcome@OldFriendsClub.org) to get the process started as it can take time to get everything in place. Even then, there is usually a period where you will have to pay for services before the benefits start. It may sound confusing, but we've done this before and we're here to help. Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for this? This is a very common question and we wish there was a better answer. At this time, Medicare does not pay for this kind of care. We think it should and if you think it should too, we encourage you to contact your local government representatives to let them know. Medicaid, on the other hand, "can" pay for this type of care. However, we've found that the reimbursement is quite low and the paperwork burden is very high that it doesn't makes sense to do. For this reason Old Friends Club has chosen not to pursue Medicaid contracts at this time. We have not turned anyone away who cannot afford the fees. Cost should not be a barrier to using our service. Please contact us and we can work within your means to join Old Friends Club. It's that important for you and your loved one. We want to help. How is OFC funded? Funds generally come from three primary sources in about these proportions: 70% - Old Friends Club membership program fees 15% - Grants 15% - Individual donations The membership fees are only about 70% because a portion of the members are paying less than our stated monthly fees. We understand that healthcare costs are high and many of our members are paying other bills while on limited income. Our adult day care program provides so many benefits we feel it's important to ensure families can join OFC regardless of their financial means. We, of course, would like more funding to come from our membership fees because that means we're serving more families. It is also the most sustainable in the long-term and would allow us to attract and retain the skilled staff with competitive salaries. We have an ever growing need to fill and maintain skilled, paid, staff positions which includes our amazing Program Coordinators and Program Assistants who make each Old Friends Club location unique, fun, and vibrant. We also have folks that keep our operations afloat and help with membership, caregiver support, grants, fundraising, volunteers, staffing, training, etc. We're also always looking for volunteers! If you are interested, fill out our Contact OFC form and let us know about your interest. Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page. Search for frequently asked questions at our OFC FAQ page. Meet our Program Coordinators or checkout our the Available Jobs at OFC.

Our members span a variety of backgrounds and each has a unique story. We are so fortunate to have such a diverse group of people attending our Adult Day Programs which contributes to the personality of a given club location. We've talked about, "What makes Old Friends Club different from any other Adult Day program?" and our creativity and flexibility is a plus ("Shooting for the Stars", "Block by Block, We Build Together"). So who are the people that make up Old Friends Club members? We provide answers in our "Demographics" section of our OFC FAQs individually and have compiled the most common ones here for convenience. How many people attend and what is the average age? Are most people independent? How do you handle medications? My loved one needs some assistance in the bathroom--is that okay? How can I refer someone? How many people attend and what is the average age? Program attendance varies but our programs have the advantage of being small, intimate, and not overwhelming--usually no more than 10-12 at the most on any given day. This allows the program coordinators to plan activities according to members interests and level of cognitive ability. Ages vary from early 60's to mid-90's with the average age 78-80 years. Are most people independent? Most members are independent with minimal assistance with their ADL's (activities of daily living) Over half require assistance in the restroom and around 1/3 require assistance with ambulation or balance. How do you handle medications? If the member requires a medication to be taken during program hours, the member must be able to self-administer the medication. Staff is able to remind and give verbal cues but are not able to physically touch the medication at any time. Most often, families will adjust the time frame and give the medication prior and/or after the program hours if possible. My loved one needs some assistance in the bathroom--is that okay? We are able to assist a member in the bathroom as long as the person is able to assist with any transferring and is able to bear weight. We can offer support, direction, cueing, some hygiene assistance, and help with clothing. How can I refer someone? Feel free to give Susanne Rossi, our Director of Programming and Caregiver Support, a call at 425-681-9776 ext. 1 Professional referrals, from other agencies, can use the Old Friends Club Referral Form. Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page. Search for frequently asked questions at our OFC FAQ page. Meet our Program Coordinators.

- Larry Benitez Since June 2018 I've had a blast with members at all four Old Friends Club locations hosting what I call, "Rousing Bluegrass Sing-along". I wish I had started volunteering at OFC sooner. The experience changed my life. I highly recommend giving volunteering at Old Friends Club a try! My hobby is banjo playing. I started just over 5 years ago and I play every day. I just can't get enough. In the summer of 2018, I was looking for ways to get out and explore "performing" music, open mic, busking, but that all looked a bit scary and "advanced". While searching the internet, using tools like http://www.volunteermatch.org, I found an Old Friends Club listing "Artists & Musicians: Share your Music, Talent or Hobby with Seniors in Sammamish". This seemed like a great opportunity to practice banjo and entertain folks in a low-pressure environment. So I reached out to OFC Sammamish and I'm so grateful I did. What I originally planned to be a once a month gig at the Sammamish OFC, turned out to be an almost weekly and sometimes more than twice in a week gig, playing at each of the four club locations (Bellevue, Carnation, Kirkland, Sammamish). Even with so many "jams", no sing-along was ever identical. I often referred to the sing-alongs as jams because thinking of them as "performances" would make me nervous. In a bluegrass jam, it's more laid-back. In a jam, you support one another while teaching each others songs and learning to sing and play them together. Teaching OFC members the choruses to songs that we would sing together was a great way to engage them. I was surprised by how everyone reacted in their own way to the singing and the music. Some folks simply enjoyed the "performance", while others got into singing the songs, and some got the urge to danced! It made me happy to no end that the members really became energized and enjoyed our time together. Some members began remembering a few of the songs I taught them. One gentleman, upon seeing me walk into the room with my banjo gear would begin whistling the tune, "Two Dollar Bill (Long Journey Home)". Others really enjoyed singing and clapping along to "Mountain Dew", "Gonna Paint the Town, or "I'll Go Steppin' Too". When I started hosting these sing-alongs, the songs were mostly unfamiliar to folks. After 8 months, there are quite a few members that recall the songs I've been fortunate enough to share with them. My sing-alongs seemed to improve over time as I tweaked my gear and tried out different songs to find out what worked well (and what didn’t). I grew so much as a "performer", but I found that I grew even more as a person. I found a new passion for compassion regarding the Old Friends Club community and a desire to help spread the word about what a great program OFC provides, both to the members as well as their caregivers. While playing banjo at Old Friends Club I found personal fulfillment in spreading joy to the club members and for the honor of being even just a little part of their day. No other career job has filled my heart and soul in this way. I'm so thankful for having had this volunteer opportunity with Old Friends Club and hope that others will consider volunteering at OFC too. Do you have some creative ideas or some special skills that you would like to share with our members? Consider volunteering with us and contact us today! Join in on the community and fun!

In a previous blog post, we talked about “What members can expect on a typical day at old friends club?”. While these 5 common caregiver questions below are answered individual in our FAQ pages under Program Logistics, this month’s post will expand a little more on each: 1. Can I stay and volunteer? 2. Do they need to bring a lunch? 3. Can they go for less hours than the 5? 4. Do they have to go all 3 days? 5. Will you provide transportation? Volunteering Caring for a partner, parent, or friend is a continuous activity and very often have been spending most of their days together. Even if they have not, caregivers often ask, “Can I stay and volunteer?” We love having volunteers and we have some great ones (Volunteers are Vital to OFC's Success, Thank You for an 'AWE'-some 2018!); however, we can't stress enough how important the health and wellbeing of the caregiver is as well. Knowing that their loved one is relaxed and among friends at the Club allows caregivers the opportunity to rest, recharge, and revitalize. Caregivers tell us they have reduced stress and even improved relationships with the Club Member at home. This illustrates why we want the caregivers to take advantage of the time given back to them as it is critical for their own self-care which in turn strengthens their support of their loved one. Lunch Because our adult day program spans from the morning through the afternoon, we often are asked, “Do they need to bring a lunch?”. We do serve lunch and sometimes the members help with some light meal preparation or table setting as part of the day's activities. While we do keep in mind health restrictions when planning meals, we are not able to cater to specific dietary needs. As an option, we do encourage families to provide lunch to accommodate special diet needs. 3 Days, 5 Hours Each of our adult day program Club locations generally operates 3 days a week, 5 hours each day (see our About Us page to learn more about each specific location’s days and times). It’s not uncommon for caregivers to ask either “Can they go for less than 5 hours?” or “Can they go just 1 day a week or drop in anytime?”. We understand that emergencies occur and that sometimes scheduling conflicts may cause shorter days or missed days during a week. The key to successfully leveraging Old Friends Club is to form a habit of consistency that enables full engagement during a given day's planned activities and allows the member to form meaningful friendships over time. Members benefit from a full day's interaction with others and engagement through games and various activities. It can be difficult for a member to join an activity late or leave just as they are starting to be engaged with a fun and interesting activity. In the same way, consistent attendance during the week is beneficial for the member to help foster making social connections and to develop friendships. For these reasons we do recommend that a member attend the full 5-hour day to get the most out of the adult day program as well as attend at least 2 days a week to encourage their group engagement and involvement. Attendance consistency provides the member a chance to adjust and feel comfortable with the program sooner which decreases their anxiety level and in-turn increases their participation. Building this consistency also provides scheduling predictability for caregiver's needs and personal activities. Additionally, our Program Coordinators create the Activity Calendar and schedule volunteers based on the expected number of attending members on any given day. Because of the planful nature of our program, we, unfortunately, are not able to support a drop-in program. Transportation Lastly, we know that getting to the Old Friends Club adult day program can be challenging for some and we may get asked, "Will you provide transportation?". We don’t have our own private transportation service; however, King County Metro does provide "Access" transportation that will get to all our programs. Also, in Carnation, transportation services are available through Hyde Shuttle or Snoqualmie Valley Transportation. We are currently investigating other possible transportation options to Kirkland, Sammamish, and Bellevue. Joy and Wellbeing Old Friends Club's mission is to cultivate joy in the lives of adults with cognitive challenges and nourish the wellbeing of family caregivers. It is important to remember that we are here in support of the caregivers as much as we are here for our Club members. Providing caregiver support and resources helps to bolster their care ability while improving the quality of life for both themselves and their loved one. Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page. Search for frequently asked questions at our OFC FAQ page. Meet our Program Coordinators.

Earlier in the new year, one of our Program Coordinators had returned from holiday and noticed a transformation within her group. Specifically, she noticed the friendship between two of the ladies was really blooming. Most significantly, she noticed the women's faces light up each morning as they greeted each other's arrived at the club. Even more amazing is the realization that one of the ladies, who has historically been mostly non-verbal, has recently begun joining in conversations with the group. "This is huge in my mind. It demonstrates how our smaller group setting can be hugely beneficial to people with dementia as it allows them to remain socially engaged." - Susie, Program Coordinator Kirkland It's true. We see this frequently where a member may have been quiet and even disinterested in conversation with others at home and through their time at Old Friends Club they become comfortable interacting with one another and really blossoming. People often ask, "What can members expect on a typical day at the Old Friends Club?" We believe our small group programs, along with our inclusive activities, help to assure our members that they are understood and respected while also providing a safe environment for them to socialize and support one another. Member's interactions with our staff, as well as with each other, help to improve their own behaviors and reactions throughout the day. Stories like our two lady friends above are common and reassures us that our small clubs have a big impact for our members and their caregivers. Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page. Search for frequently asked questions at our OFC FAQ page. Meet our Program Coordinators.

Each of our Clubs offers a vibrant community ready to have fun in an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. One of the first questions often asked of our program is, "What's a typical day at the club?" When the members arrive in the morning, we start the day off by serving coffee/tea/hot cocoa and the first 30 minutes or so the members, volunteers, and coordinator chat with one another. It's a great time to get reacquainted. Sometimes a member brings in something to share and talk about like sharing a picture of their grandson and sharing a story or two with everyone. The rest of the morning may be spent doing a variety of things. One morning it might be an art project, another may be doing crafts, and another may be a game that keeps their brain focused and stimulated such as crossword puzzles or Jeopardy. We know that our members are often not as active as they could be and we are often asked, "Do you have any formal exercise program?" Although we do not have a "formal" exercise program, each location does some form as exercise. Depending on the individual's abilities, the activities can include range of motion movement, dancing, a walk outside on a beautiful day, or balloon volleyball to just name a few. Lunch comes next and sometimes the activity beforehand is helping make a part of the lunch menu--like chopping fruit or vegetables for a salad, or making cookies for their dessert. After lunch, there is usually a physical game to get members up and moving after their meal. Bowling, ring toss, or ping-pong basketball are some of the sports games played by the groups. The last 30-45 minutes are when the group begins to wind down and the members play dice, card, or board games. On any given day, interspersed with the regular activities, we may also have volunteer entertainers that come in to provide music or other special programs. It's common to have family caregivers be unsure whether Old Friends Club is a good fit for their loved ones. There are times we hear, "My loved one doesn't do (crafts, drawing, cards, games, etc.)… is doing crafts and play games all you do?" While these particular activities do make up a large part of the day, a benefit of the small size of the group is that it allows us to individualize activities to meet all interests and levels of abilities. At one Club, through open conversations, it was discovered that some of the ladies enjoyed sewing and working with beads. The program coordinator was able to bring in a sewing machine and jewelry making supplies for added activities to her program. We have found that individuals are willing to join the group activities even if they may not have shown any interest prior to coming to the Club. In these small group settings, they support one another in their activities and they find enjoyment together. Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page. Search for frequently asked questions at our OFC FAQ page.

As we start off 2019 with renewed hopes and aspirations, we find ourselves in awe of the generosity of the many grantors, donors, volunteers, and supporters of Old Friends Club in 2018. Your gifts of time, money, and passion to help, have helped over 50 families this past year through three respite/day programs. It means the world to us to know that there are so many people who share in our mission to cultivate joy in the lives of adults with cognitive challenges and nourish the well-being of family caregivers. "Mum has settled in so beautifully and it has become a welcome routine for her and my Dad. As Mum's dementia worsens it has become so helpful for Dad to have a break." With generous grants from Brookdale Foundation and Alzheimer's Foundation of America we've been able to not only continue our programs in Carnation, Kirkland, and Sammamish, we've also opened our fourth Old Friends Club in Bellevue, which is already helping more local families. Additionally, very kind grants from Holy Family Parish Catholic Church, Sammamish Rotary, Chisholm Foundation, and Eastside Community Aid have helped keep the Clubs engaging, joyful, and affordable for families. "…what a wonderful experience this has been for him and even more for me. It has really been a life saver. You are all angels and have made my life much easier. I'm so glad I found out about you.” Each Club has its own personality, thanks to Program Coordinators Joan, Lori, Susie, and Mary. They devote their energy and creativity to create a space of friendship where Club Members can be genuine, playful, serious, and downright silly. The Program Coordinators rely on the help of those big-hearted volunteers who join us for a full day, once a week. These Volunteers are Vital to OFC's Success, and we can’t fully express our gratitude for them. They are considered volunteer “staff” as they not only help to stretch our donation dollars but also our staff's human capacity. "Just wanted you and the others that help at the OFC that mom was so tickled today over the birdhouse art project ...it was very endearing :). She really likes the art/craft time!" A Grateful Note to Club Volunteers: You are the extra eyes, ears, voices, hands, and hearts. You help make sure Members feel included and respected. You make a more relaxed day, and if there are enough hands, you make it possible to do activities we can’t otherwise do…like taking a nice walk on a sunny day. You share your talents and time out of a generosity that is always too big and yet fits just right. We can’t thank you enough. You make a real difference. A very special shout out to the students of the Mt Si Digital Media Academy and their teacher, Joe Dockery, for creating the videos that can be seen on our website and YouTube Channel. They managed to capture the laughter, creativity, friendly competition, and camaraderie of the programs. Their videos show the joy of the volunteers and the relief and surprise of the caregiving families when they see how engaged their loved one is. We’re not sure how they did all that, and so expertly, but we’re delighted they did. We see a bright future for these creative young scholars. If you’re as impressed as we are, please support their efforts too. Finally, our gratitude is beyond measure to our top individual donors of 2018. Your belief in us and continued support ensures local families have the support they need as they manage their journey with dementia. We especially want to thank our staunch corporate sponsor, Northwest Cellars. Winery owner, Bob Delf, has been instrumental in keeping Old Friends Club on its feet and expanding. As an OFC board member, his expert help with our business operations has been indispensable and a key driver of our success. Another standout donor is volunteer and artist Meenakshi Sinha. Meenakshi started The Giving Canvas to raise money for various non-profits and charities through art auctions on Facebook. She has given people a chance to learn about and support Old Friends Club's mission while adding beautiful art to their home. Thank you for sharing your joyful creations! "I can't tell you what a boon the Old Friends Club is for all of us caregivers. What you are doing is marvelous!" Throughout this blog post, there are quotes from families who express thanks through us to you, our donors, sponsors, and volunteers. Old Friends Club is valued by those who find us and are bolstered by our services. While it can take time for the Club to become a routine cheerfully anticipated part of a routine, (Perseverance Eats "Resistance" for Breakfast) families describe the experiences as life-changing for the better. Your contributions have changed lives and we look forward to more opportunities to make that happen in 2019! Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club or someone who you think would enjoy joining our team of volunteers? Please have them call us or contact us at our Old Friends Club Contact Us page.

We love this story of a family whose loved one was somewhat resistant to attending one of our clubs at the beginning and within a short time became an Old Friends Club advocate. This email exchange among family members and our Executive Director is heartwarming. Recently we received the following email from a grateful daughter whose father attends one of our programs. "I haven't forgotten what a struggle it was to get my dad to accept OFC. We had some stressful and frustrating mornings. Your advice was that it would take time for him to "trust us". Now he does, and he goes willingly and happily 3 days a week. Your program is vital for both of my parents. Thank you!" - Daughter Her father's case is not that unusual. Coming to the club is a change to one's "routine", at first. Change can be difficult and trying new things can feel intimidating. But like any habit, once you start and then regularly repeat an action, the activity simply becomes routine. That's not to say it isn't challenging in the beginning. It's like a New Year's resolution to go to the gym…it takes some will power and persistence, but the outcome is rewarding. Our Executive Director remembers our emailer's father and reminisces fondly in her response. "Thank you for your note. It’s great to read that things are going for you and your family. Actually, your father's story is one of my favorites. I remember how he did everything he could to not get involved or enjoy himself for those first three weeks, sitting closed-off with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. And then that day he cracked a joke and Joan hopped on the opportunity to connect and get him to open up. Now they count on him to add some levity. He is the Ambassador-- the one who will get up to welcome people coming in the door or to help clear dishes after lunch. It’s clear he's accustomed to taking care of others. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to make a positive difference for you and your family. Your father makes a positive impact on the group as well. It’s a win all around!" - Karen Koenig Joan is one of our Program Coordinators. Each location has a Program Coordinator, along with a Program Assistant, and volunteers to engage members throughout their stay. Like Joan, all our Program Coordinators, are keen to pick up on cues to engage members and have them feel heard and respected. Sometimes it is knowing when a member needs help or encouragement with a project, or kudos on a specific behavior or accomplishment, or a subtle response to funny comment or joke. Old Friends Club's small group environment fosters inclusion and a close community. The daughter shared the above email response with her brother (member's son) and mom (member's wife) to let them know that even though there were struggles early on, that his story was in fact, "reassurance that Dad is in a good place at OFC". The family's responses back to us are why we find what we do so important and fulfilling. "This makes me feel great that dad is involved, not surprising he is the ambassador!" - Son "Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you." - Wife These types of caregiver/member experiences are definitely a feel-good thing and demonstrates how hard it can be to get started sometimes. This true story is also a great reminder of how rewarding it is to persevere. With all things considered, it doesn’t take long for most people to feel comfortable and start looking forward to joining friends at the "Club". Do you know a family who might benefit from joining Old Friends Club? Share this blog post, our OFC Facebook page, and our OFC website with them. They can contact us by phone or on our Old Friends Club Contact Us page.

Our members are always benefiting from our program coordinators innovative projects (Shooting for the Stars) and not surprisingly, even our family caregivers contribute their creativity ideas and skills too. At our Carnation location one member's daughter is a quilter and brought the idea of making a quilt to our program coordinator, Joan. We love our community's enthusiasm to help and contribute, and this sounded like a great opportunity. The quilter-daughter brought all supplies and the members brought their imaginations. It was so much fun! We each create our own square which consisted of nine smaller squares. Everyone was engaged as they enjoyed picking out their pieces and built their own unique blocks. The blocks were then gathered up and the daughter-quilter took all these pieces home. Four weeks later, the quilter-daughter returned and presented to us this beautiful quilt. Each block is personalized with names of each creator and is just amazing to look at. "We love our quilt," said one member. Another surprised lady, "oh my it's so beautiful, I made that?". One of the men pointed out his square exclaiming, "That's mine! It's Seahawks!". We all agree it feels good to create and even better to build things together. Old Friends Club @ Carnation Do you have some creative ideas or some special skills that you would like to share with our members? Consider volunteering with us and contact us today! Join in on the community and fun!