All the components of the Family Caregiver Program are designed with the clear intention to support those who have willingly changed the course of their lives in the space of a single phone call. Most feel that it is a privilege to be in service to those they love and would not have it any other way. That feeling of privilege, however, does not negate the difficulty of their path, nor the path of their service member. These initiatives acknowledge the strength and value of each caregiver, sister, mother, wife or friend, and the creative opportunities to thrive instead of just survive. When everything is said and done, that is what each of us wants the outcome to be.
The Family Caregiver Program aims to make this transition a little less daunting with the following programs:
Dinner and Movie Nights:
The dinner and movie nights, sponsored by Bill and Beatriz- Aguirre Kearney of WB Kearney & Associates, offers a respite to the caregivers for a few hours on a bi-weekly basis. This program provides an opportunity for the wives and mothers to take a break from the hospital routine, make new connections with others and build friendships with those going through similar circumstances at Walter Reed.
DoubleTree Partnership:
The DoubleTree Hotel in Bethesda, Md. has partnered with the Yellow Ribbon Fund to offer monthly luncheons or dinners for service members and their families who are staying at Walter Reed. This is an opportunity for them to have a break from the hospital setting, enjoying an afternoon or evening out, while still not venturing far from the hospital. In addition, for the second season the DoubleTree will be opening up their rooftop pool to participants in the YRF Caregiver Program for some afternoon fun in the sun! This will kick off at the end of May.
Metro 101:
Metro 101 is a collaboration between Yellow Ribbon Fund, Red Cross and CYSS. This program is a free Metro/Public transportation orientation group to assist spouses and family members during their stay at Water Reed Army Medical Center. Its intent is to assist newcomers to the area with confidence in navigating the metro system as well as locating the essential shops, services and stores they may need during their stay. We understand that being in a new city can be overwhelming and therefore introducing the community to the easily accessible system will allow them more freedom and increase their comfort level while being in the Washington, DC area. To learn more about the metro/introduction program, please read the following PDF document: Transportation 101
The activities mentioned above ease the transition of relocation and present opportunities for family members to gain confidence in their ability to adapt to very challenging circumstances while networking and building support systems with other caregivers who are going through similar circumstances. In times of significant change and uncertainty, these small creature comforts can create feelings of normalcy, stability and well-being for those who have an extremely long road to recovery ahead.
