Full Circle
Circle Center's E-Newsletter
"Deep in their roots,
all flowers keep the light."
-Theodore Roethke
The arrival of spring always brings a sense of hope and optimism, and as March is officially the two year mark of the Covid pandemic, it brings a very welcome sense of a fresh start as we continue to make efforts to return to a sense of normalcy.

We've been busy as we've ushered in spring and taken small steps towards a return to normal. We hosted our first Inside the Circle in March, and we were thrilled to welcome old friends and new to join us virtually for an update on just how we've continued to serve during these times.

During Inside the Circle we heard compelling stories from caregivers who kindly shared their stories with us about how and why they selected Circle Center to care for their loved ones. Thank you for sharing your stories and helping to illustrate how we support our caregivers and our participants, one of which we highlight below.

We were also able to highlight the impact of our programs and how we continue to search for new ways to connect and engage with our participants. We spotlight one such program addition below.

Catch up with these stories, and more, as we fill you in on the moments of joy we have shared so far this Spring!
Caregiver Story
During our inaugural Inside the Circle virtual event, we invited some of our current caregivers to share their stories. Caregiver stories always help to better illustrate exactly how our program directly impacts both the lives of our participants and their caregivers and care partners.

Just as we appreciate caregivers placing their trust in us with the care of their loved ones, we appreciate their shared stories of support. Attendees of Inside the Circle were deeply moved by the caregiving stories that we shared. We are happy to have another opportunity to share one of their stories here.

Allie is herself an Occupational Therapist who once interned with Circle Center early in her career, so she is well aware of the benefits of our program. Her mother, Francine, a Ph.D in microbiology and a professor who didn't retire until her 70's, was accustomed to a high intensity job that kept her very busy and engaged. As Allie noticed the effects of her mother's Alzheimer's and how the loss of her independence was detrimentally affecting her overall wellness, she and her family knew they needed to find a solution.

It was important to Allie and her family to honor Francine's wish to stay at home with her husband Guy. Understanding how important maintaining this sense of independence was to her parents, Allie and her family assembled a solution that included the right balance of collaborative partners. While home care is necessary, the high cost and scarcity of availability combined with Francine requiring more activity and interaction than Guy, meant that adding in days at Circle Center for Francine worked for everyone. Allie also understood the fundamental need to establish a routine and provide her mother with opportunities for stimulation. So driven by her passion for her career, Allie knew the lack of a schedule and purpose would continue to negatively affect mother's continued health, both mentally and physically.

Finding Circle Center was "wonderful in every way possible" for Allie, Francine and their family. They appreciate the collaboration within agencies and community partners that Circle Center pursues as well as our holistic approach to overall wellness. The routine and purpose that Circle Center has given her mother again and a return to a true sense of community has made Circle Center the best place for Francine. "She is no longer agitated and stuck at home" and for someone as vibrant, accomplished and independent as Francine, this makes a world of difference.
Program Spotlight
As we provided an overview of how we have modified our programs to safely serve during the pandemic during Inside the Circle, we were also able to share some new additions to our programs.

Such as a new activity recently added to our recreational therapy program that has quickly became a favorite for participants and staff alike - drumming with exercise balls! Combining music and physical therapy this activity is engaging, fun and therapeutic!

A recent gift from Kay and Dennis King, whose own love and deep appreciation for the role that music therapy plays in wellness therapy led them to make a contribution to our center that incorporated these benefits.

Participants are provided with a large exercise ball and drum sticks, and away they go! The percussive drumming provides a calming effect and invites the participants to engage in a simple to follow ritual. The shared experience offers social engagement and even staff can't helped but be lulled into a calm and happy state of being.

Combining these therapeutic benefits while also providing a fun activity that invites participation and engagement is just one of the many ways a gift like this supports our program. Thank you to the Kings, and to the generosity and thoughtfulness of a gift that so thoroughly reaches our participants and offers them an activity that everyone can enjoy together

Inside the Circle - Impact Report
During Inside the Circle we also provided attendees with a special sneak peek of our most recent Impact Report. Our Impact Report combines results from our annual caregiver survey and our program and demographic statistics to give an overview of who and how we serve. This impact report covers the time span of July 1 2020 - June 31, 2021 and is reflective of the programs and participants served during the pandemic.

Please click below to review our most recent Impact Report for a highlight of our programs and people.
Going GREEN for St. Patrick's Day
We celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style and made sure no one got pinched by the Leprechaun! Thank you to our friends from Zeta Phi Beta who delivered festive dress up accessories so everyone could participate in the St. Patrick's Day fun!

Our friends, The Master Gardeners, were also here to help us celebrate! They had St. Patrick's Day themed games and activities, and of course some flower planting to inspire our own GREEN thumbs!
Staff Highlights!
March is also the celebration of National Social Worker Month! Our own Jay Burkhardt, who never turns down a good dress up day, is as known for his approach to fun as his constant support and caring way with our participants and families.

So to cheers to Jay for National Social Worker Month- let's enjoy some of his best "looks" over the years! Thank you Jay, for your dedication to our caregivers, participants and families!
Thank you for your support!
Your support has allowed us to continue to serve our community, and support our participants and caregivers throughout the pandemic. Thank you.