By Alexander Germanis
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul wrote of how all the members of Christ’s Church constitute one body. His point was that regardless of how diverse the parts of the body are – hands, eyes, head, feet, et al. – they are all part of a greater whole. Just as important, although each member may serve a different purpose, each purpose is necessary for proper functioning of the body as a whole.
At Apostolic Christian Skylines, each member of the body – nursing, administration, volunteers, and the residents themselves – serve vital roles in the proper functioning of that body.
At Skylines, that function is to provide the highest possible quality of senior care and meet the changing needs of their residents all while embracing the feel of home. Only when all the members of the Skylines body work together are the goals achieved.
Called to the Work
The different members of the Apostolic Christian Skylines body are all united in bringing Christ-like care to the residents. Even though they are united in purpose, what led each one to their current calling varies.
For Memory Care Director Tiara Gardner-Blue, inspiration came from multiple sources who were also united in their purpose. “My grandmother and great-aunt lived with us for the last year of their lives when I was younger,” Tiara recalls, “and the amount of love and compassion I saw from my mom and the hospice nurses was impactful.”
Aiding those who need help holding on to their memories also drew Salem Activities Coordinator Meagan Arnold. “I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” she shares. “I wanted more one-on-one with seniors who needed it, especially those in the dementia unit.”
Of course, for some, a desire to serve may be evident, but the path ahead might not be so clearly marked. For Executive Director Matt Feucht, this was definitely the case. “I have appreciated the elderly ever since I was a teenager. I tried numerous other careers, and it was not until seven years after graduating from college that I knew what I wanted to be ‘when I grew up,’” Matt jokes. “I wanted to work in administration in senior care.”
Its Own Reward
Giving without expecting anything in return is a perfect example of Christ-like love. For those helping implement the SAIDO program – a non-pharmacological learning intervention designed to disrupt or slow the progress of dementia – giving is actually more about preserving, specifically preserving memories.
Another member of the Skylines body is Chief Lead SAIDO Supporter Jenna Richardson. She experienced, from a personal perspective, the impact memory loss can have on not only the individual but also their family as well. “I was lucky enough to grow up knowing several of my great-grandparents, and all of them passed away with a form of dementia,” she recounts. “Helping the seniors at Skylines hold on to their memories is my way of giving the love I have for my great-grandparents back to the community.”
Much of who we are as individuals – our identities – is really a culmination of our memories. Just as remembering those who went before us is a way of keeping them live forever, retaining our own memories is how we preserve who we are. Being instrumental in that preservation can be a rewarding experience. “Forming relationships with the residents and getting to spend time with them throughout my workday affects me very positively as a staff member,” Jenna says.
“Not only do the residents get great care but the staff feel very rewarded for being a part of this season in their lives,” Matt confirms. “Staff work at Skylines because they care.”
SAIDO Learning
Developed in Japan in 2001, SAIDO Learning has been in use at Skylines since 2024 and it is Central Illinois’ exclusive home to the method.
Jenna explains what SAIDO does for the seniors, or “learners.” “We start every SAIDO session by looking at MRI images of brains when they are engaged in reading aloud, counting aloud, and simple calculations,” she says. “These activities promote blood flow to all parts of the brain. Rather than trying to do something that takes a lot of mental effort, like a geometry problem, the exercises are easy to complete, like a simple 2 + 2 = 4. Encouragement and celebrating a job well done also promote blood flow and activity in all parts of the brain.”
“We are seeing that the scientific research that speaks to the benefits of SAIDO really does work,” Matt confirms. “Several of our residents’ memory scores have improved.”
“SAIDO has been a great asset to Salem, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of it from the beginning,” adds Meagan.
She’s not alone. Other staff members and, more importantly, the residents themselves have had fun with their SAIDO sessions. And the outcomes have kindled a fire of hope for their family members.
“After a short time of being in the SAIDO program, one of our memory care residents was able to have an hour-long conversation with her family, recalling stories and loved ones she hadn’t been able to recall in the past,” Jenna shares. “Her family was excited that they were able to have that meaningful conversation with her.”
Ripples
No one is an island. Indeed, we are more like pebbles dropped in a pond, the ripples of our actions flowing outward, affecting others in their paths. Memory care preserves those ripples and by so doing affects others as well.
“Good memory care for seniors, families, and society gives families a sense of relief and offers peace of mind,” Tiara points out. “For seniors, it improves quality of life in a safe environment, and for society, it provides social life and support from the community.
Seniors are long-term members of society with great wisdom and experience to share,” Jenna adds. “Every senior is someone’s parent, sibling, cousin, or friend and is special to that someone. Those of us who help care for these seniors have a responsibility to them and their families to do the best that we are able, and to care for them just as we would want our own loved ones cared for.”
The unknowns caused by memory loss are what frighten people the most, Matt puts in. Fortunately, he says, “we are at a time in history when programming, nutrition, and medications are more advanced than ever before, and we are seeing real benefits for those with this difficult disease.”
All Rejoice
Alzheimer’s Disease and indeed any form of dementia is devastating to both the person suffering directly from it as well as all those who care for that person. Although there is currently no cure for dementia, there are programs like SAIDO and places like Skylines’ Salem Memory Care that exist to carry on the fight, nonetheless.
More importantly, there are many who still dedicate their lives to helping those with dementia preserve the essence of their lives. Together, they are united in purpose, united in hope, and united in joy when that dedication bears fruit.
The Apostle Paul had more to say about being a member of the body of Christ’s Church and his words are reflected in how Apostolic Christian Skylines acts in its own mission of carrying on their Christ-like mission. “…There should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12: 25-26).
Apostolic Christian Skylines is located at 7023 Northeast Skyline Drive in Peoria, Illinois.
If you would like to arrange to tour Skylines to see if it’s the right community for you or your loved one, please contact us at (309) 683-2500 or visit us on the web at www.acskylines.org.
