By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Alyssa McCurdy fell in love with memory care and caring for the elderly when she worked at Brookdale Senior Living as she was going through nursing school.
After working in other healthcare settings for many years, she is ready to return to the world of memory care as a respite service provider in Bowling Green. McCurdy Senior Respite Service, geared specifically for short-term respite for individuals experiencing various levels of memory loss, opens for business on March 1 in its freshly decorated and welcoming space at 110 ½ W. Poe Road.
The idea for the respite service had been percolating for a while, according to McCurdy. When she was director of nursing at Brookdale, caregivers would call to ask if they could drop off a loved one for a couple of hours while they went grocery shopping or to an appointment.
“We didn’t provide that type of care, but I would sit there and think there really wasn’t any place locally that did that,” she said.
More recently, she found herself in a similar situation. Her mother, Nancy Lee, is a 14-year brain cancer survivor. The chemotherapy and brain traumas from surgeries resulted in some memory loss, which recently escalated after she experienced seizures and meningitis. Because of the increased memory issues and the inability of her mother to be alone, McCurdy has become her mother’s weekday caregiver, while her father is at work.
“This idea kind of came to me when I had a doctor’s appointment and thought, ‘I wish there was someplace I could take mom for just a couple of hours.’ But there is nothing,” McCurdy said.
The solution, prompted by a little push from a close friend, was to start a senior respite service, where she could continue to take care of Lee and provide a break for other caregivers in the community.
“Caregiver burnout is real,” she said. She saw that in the hospice nursing that she does on the weekends, but often hospice provides volunteers to sit at the homes to give caregivers a break.
“I wanted to start this place to help other families like ours whose loved ones can’t be alone anymore. We all need breaks and to carry on with our lives,” she said. Finding facilities that offer respite care is next to impossible, but there is also the added concern of trust. “We need someone we can trust to take care of our loved ones,” McCurdy said.
With 12 years as a registered nurse and nearly 20 years in healthcare, first as a high school aide at Wood County Hospital, followed by work at Brookdale and several hospital settings, McCurdy wants to become that trusted caregiver. She is ready to get to know her clients and their families and to earn their confidence by providing compassionate, fun and affordable safekeeping.
She will not be offering nursing services or providing meals for participants. Individuals who are in respite care over the lunch hour will need to bring a packed lunch. McCurdy has a refrigerator to store the lunches, but she wants to focus on quality and compassionate care, not making meals for clients. She will have snacks and beverages available for no extra charge.
Initially, she will accept up to five people at a time, with her mother being the sixth person in her care. All of the respite will be done at the West Poe Road space. As she gains a better understanding of the needs within the community, adding an in-home component may become part of Phase 2, she said, but for now, she is the sole provider. Her strength is caring for seniors with memory loss.
Activities planned during the days might start with a “get moving” activity in the morning or an activity such as a craft. She plans to provide activities tailored to individual needs. An intake form upon enrollment includes such questions as: What do they like to do? What did they do when they were working? What kind of hobbies do they like?
“This will be a place where we are going to hang out, have fun and take care of their memory care needs,” she said.
The space has a reading nook set up for quiet, individual reading, a craft area and a table for puzzles, games and snacks. She plans to bring in entertainment, such as pianists or other musical entertainers, and offer special activities such as music and manicures or sports game days. The bathroom is wheelchair accessible and equipped with grab bars for safety.
Respite care will be available for a two-hour block at a cost of $30, four hours for $50, and all day for $75. She will offer multiple-days-per-week specials and veterans discounts. Hours for the care are Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more or to schedule respite care or a visit, call McCurdy at 419- 601-1079.
An open house is scheduled for March 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the community to visit, meet her and check out the space.
McCurdy has had tremendous support from her family and the community. The Kirian family, which owns the brick building that also houses Kirian’s Home Shop, have been welcoming and helpful, she said. Brookdale has donated some of the furniture, and Executive Director Shelly Ruehl has lent a helping hand because of her commitment to memory care.
Because support is crucial when it comes to memory care, McCurdy plans to offer a monthly support night for family members and caregivers who are struggling through changes in their loved ones. She led many memory care support groups at Brookdale and saw the benefit of bringing together caregivers and families. The sessions will include an educational component, such as general memory care, and include time for people to connect with others in similar situations.
The meetings, open to anyone in the community, not just clients, will be free and provide free respite, “because I think it is important,” she said. “People need to have an outlet to discuss things and meet up with other families who are going through the same thing.” The first gathering will be March 26.
