The Lighthouse

I looked at the newsletter put out by the Parkinson’s Support Group , and I was curious: so I called the Caregive Resource Center. Gave her my phone number and email address. Then the lady, Amy, called to provide the address where the Lighthouse Inn respite bnb retreat is located. We decided to attend. And enjoyed two full hours of live bluegrass music by the Sandy Back Porch. We were in the shade and seated onchairs on a cement pad. The weather was overcaast, breezy and beautiful. A grill master was grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs. And they took a break and we ate. and saw the large Arts N Craft room, fully stocked with all types of mediums paints, acrilics, fabric, canvas, wood, , things for making decorations, wreathsPrinting pads, ink pads, Stamps & Stensils,ribbons and beads. We met the Ocupatinol Therapist who will be seting up the exercize and therapy room. There were a ton of and large variety of equipment, like exercise bikes, leg lifts, arm press, etc… to address any anticipated Parkinsons symptoms. All brand new.

Amy’s father suffered from Parkinson’s. and he died this past year. Amy and her mother got the idea to provide a place where caregivers can take their partner and leave them there for 5 hours, Monday – Friday so the caregiver can have respite and know their loved one is being well cared for, having experience in the arts & Crafts, exercise/therapy, Music (AND another area I can’t come up with immediately) I do remenber they have Jigsaw puzzles that clients can work on puting together which is good for brain function. And they will have a bathroom and a cafe in the large building where the day time clients will, participate in art, music and exercise, etc,,

Then Amy’s mother died this year, too, but Amy has decided to continue on. She has very qualified staff, and the Lighthouse Inn currently have their first two clients. If you happen to live near The Villages you might want to check them out. So if your loved one’s disease progresses to where you don’t feel safe to leave them unattended, you can have an option for respite care.

I was only in the Large Inn main house, but I had to go thru a bedroom and a wheelchair assesssible shower to get to the potty. There were photos on their blog site that I found showing their little dogs, snuggling with guests.

Rather than charge us for providing great entertainment and a meal, they gave us the opportunuty to donate to a Parkinson’s fund

They said they have another event planned for November and then they will plan to have other s0ocial get togethers the last Friday of each month Beginning in January.