Maloney, who has Alzheimer’s, had a front row seat at the magic show performed Thursday during the regularly scheduled Thursday Club - Alzheimer’s Respite Program.
Maloney, along with others who are in the early phase of Alzheimer’s, comes to First Lutheran Church each Thursday to spend fours hours in a variety of activities.
Those four hours gives caregivers a much needed break from their responsibilities and also provides the person with Alzheimer’s some social interaction. Lunch is also provided.
The Thursday Club began about 3½ years ago and James Stephen’s wife, Elaine, 69, was one of the first participants.
About a 1½ years ago, Mrs. Stephens’ Alzheimer’s advanced to the point that she needed to be placed in a nursing facility that specializes in Alzheimer’s care.
“These are the greatest people in the world,” he said of the program. “She really enjoyed it here. She roamed around more than others, but each participant has a volunteer assigned to them.”
Stephens said he didn’t necessarily get a lot done when his wife was attending the Thursday Club, but it was a relief to know she was in a safe place, having a good time with people who cared about her.
“She is a precious lady,” Joyce McKinney, co-director of the program, said of Mrs. Stephens. “She used to whistle for us all the time.”
Something she still does, according to Stephens.
Mrs. Stephen’s dementia progressed, Stephens said, to not being able to cook, clean or work in the yard, things she always wanted to do.
When the Stephens traveled, Mrs. Stephens served as navigator with map in hand. It’s something her husband misses.
“I’ve discovered traveling by myself, that it’s a problem when you get in heavy traffic,” he said.
Stephens said it’s been difficult to witness the progression of the disease as it takes away his wife, a little bit at a time.
“Right now, there’s probably only 10 percent of her remaining,” he said. “I’m married, but I don’t have a wife.”
In an effort to remember who the Thursday Club members are, or were before the disease began to chip parts away, a volunteer puts together a memory board of the individuals.
The posters line one side of the room in First Lutheran’s fellowship hall. Families pull together photos of the participants, which are artfully applied, to the poster board.
In the center of Maloney’s memory board is a photo taken when she was a beautiful young woman. The other photos provide snapshots into her life, including one of her two dogs and another of Maloney dressed up as an Easter bunny. Together the pictures provide clues as to why she’s such a happy lady.
The Thursday Club came about because different organizations saw a need. The Alzheimer’s Association got involved, as did the Area Agency on Aging and area churches.
Jean Kitchens shares responsibility with McKinney in running the program.
Kitchens said she was asked initially to direct the program, but she made a counter offer, saying she would rather be a co-director.
“The Lord provided Joyce,” she said.
Stephens found out about the program through his church, First Baptist in Belton.
McKinney said some people don’t consider volunteering with the program because they think it will be depressing.
“It’s actually very uplifting … to see the participants laugh and have a good time and there is great bonding among the volunteers,” she said, “though it is sad when the disease progresses to the point where the person with Alzheimer’s can no longer attend.”
