Providing Hope, Help & Guidance News & Updates from the APTS Family NOVEMBER | 2021

This November, we wish to convey our gratitude to you & your family! Here is a special Message From Sally and the entire APTS Crew:

Dear Friends, This past year has seen many changes on many different levels. We thankfully have seen a gradual and safe return to “normal” daily activities. Through it all, we at A Place to Start have been fortunate enough to stay connected with the families we provide support for-whether it be a phone call, an email, outdoor luncheons or through the return of our caregiver support group. We have also seen a large increase in the number of families who are seeking assistance and support, therefore, we are working on providing more programs throughout the month. Our caregivers have seen and felt the devastating effects of living with such a diagnosis, exacerbated by the recent pandemic. They are subject to isolation, depression, and anxiety in addition to the challenges of daily living. Our programming offered every month and through the year is often the ONLY socialization our caregivers have. It is through your generosity and support that we are able to continue to provide a judgement-free and safe outlet. We can’t tell you how rewarding it is to hear a family member say “I feel like now I have hope and support….”I feel like I’m in a better place now…” We are proud and honored to provide this much needed hope to so many families. We are thankful of our supporters who are dedicated to making sure the journey is not taken alone. 2021 marks the second year we have not been able to host our biggest annual fundraiser, Big Night Out. Therefore, your generosity will go a long way. We truly couldn’t do this without your continued support! Thank you for recognizing our purpose in the Alzheimer’s and dementia community! Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season! Here's a peak at some of our programs!

Lunch at Rogers Pond

Music With Gay

Lunch & Learn w/Susan Raychard

Donate safely & securely from here! *All donations are made via Paypal for ensured safety*

Donate right here using PayPal: Donate HERE

OR You can mail a check to: A Place To Start 41 Main Street #2 Kennebunk, ME 04043

OR you can scan QR Code : Simply open your camera, point it toward the Code. Done!

We thank you for your continued support & generosity!

A Place to Start is growing!! As many of you may know, over the last several months we have seen quite an increase in need from our community members. We have had some fantastic days that allowed us to gather our larger groups outside safely and comfortably. We are so grateful for the wonderful summer months and this warm fall we have been blessed with. We love seeing all of our clients together supporting each other and creating new connections. As we move back indoors for our programming, we may be challenged with safe spacing for all to gather at the same time so we will be implementing a maximum number of guests for each program--not including our staff--and we may be increasing the program availability so that we can accommodate everyone throughout the colder months when we are restricted to indoor activities.

Take a look at all we have to offer this month (click image for your copy) ! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't ever hesitate to give us a call at the office @ 207-502-7238!!

November has arrived! We ask that all guests coming to A Place to Start are fully vaccinated. Maine does not have an indoor mask mandate, so it is your choice to wear one or not. We want you to feel comfortable and safe. Please remember that we will continue to be available for in-person consultations, making sure to follow all CDC guidelines, and we are also available via phone. We thank you for your continued support and for understanding that the safety of our guests & staff remains our number one priority. We are looking forward to staying connected during these colder months!!

Welcome to another episode of..... 'What's Cookin' in the Cooking Corner!! Tired of making the same dish for your holiday guests?? Try some new versions of old favorites! Spice things up a bit with these new but old classics--and feel free to put your own little spin on them to fit you and your families' needs! Slow Cooker BBQ Cranberry Turkey Meatballs  The Best Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Looking for a fun Thanksgiving activity for the whole family?

Make a Thank You Tree. Place a small tree branch in a vase, adding rocks or pebbles for stability. Have everyone cut out leaves, or have some already prepared, from colorful construction paper. Punch holes on the top to thread some string or yarn. They can write or draw what they are thankful for on the leaves and hang them on the branch!

Pass the Gratitude Basket. Give everyone a sheet of paper and a pencil. Then ask each person to write down one thing that they are grateful for and put it into a basket. Pass the basket around the table and have everyone read another person's paper, followed by the group guessing who wrote it.

Caregiver Tip: Journaling to provide relief and new perspective It's not always easy but a lot of times it's necessary to step outside of your head for a moment. There are several ways to do this and one of them is to keep a journal. Write down what you're grateful for, what frustrates you or scares you, what makes you happy!! For more ideas, check out the article below!  Journaling For Caregivers ~ Alzheimer's Association ~ A gentle reminder for the Virtual Education programs offered through Alzheimer's Association--the link below will send you to the local chapter offerings. Many of these are pre-recorded so if you missed something, you can go back and watch the recording! ALZ Virtual Education ~ Southern Maine Agency on Aging ~ Did you know...? SMAA provides a great number of resources & support for older adults and families, including virtual classes (check out their calendar below!), wellness and nutrition guidance, caregiver support and respite options as well as the Sam L. Cohen Adult Day Center. For More Information: website www.smaaa.org call 207-396-6500 email info@smaaa.org SMAA Events

For Your Reading Pleasure..... Barkskins by Annie Proulx Award-winning author of The Shipping News & Brokeback Mountain “ Barkskins is Annie Proulx’s greatest novel yet. Her talent for bringing individuals alive with a single perfectly -turned line has never been sharper than in these pages...it’s a completely masterful performance, the greatest thing this great novelist has ever written.” review from Christian Science Monitor We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Special Presentation on Elder Law When? Nov. 16th Time? 1- 2:30pm Where? A Place To Start we will have Attorney Barbara Schlichtman here at our office to give a talk on preparing for the future. Barbara helps clients prepare themselves and loved ones for life events by designing estate plans that help clients retain control and carry out their wishes. Barbara also practices with the firm's Maine Center for Elder Law, which helps families with long-term care planning, special needs planning and MaineCare for nursing homes and assisted living. We hope you will take advantage of attending to hear this very helpful and important information!  For more details or to RSVP, please call the office (207) 502-7238 Space is limited, so please RSVP as soon as you can.

A PLACE TO START aplacetostartfordementia.org (207) 502-7238 ‌

Special Thanks to Avita for being a top Sponsor and supporter of the APTS mission! Big Shout Out to Sunrise Senior Living @ Huntington Common for helping to provide luncheons to our caregivers!