“A tree planted by the river is evergreen . . .” This Jeremiah verse 17:8 has been my mantra in providing dementia care. As a healthcare worker I have seen how quickly an elder can die though still breathing, still receiving excellent medical and physical care. The river that once flowed through their life, had moved as surely as a tree that was uprooted. Transplanted to a sterile environment that lacks the unique characteristics that once made them thrive. This environment has many caretakers that tend their physical needs but just a few whose role is to tend their spirit. As an activities director, I take my role of providing quality of life very seriously. I feel the call to define and provide the river. It’s a calling that I cannot ignore.
Evergreen
