Open Mic

The new Alzheimer’s Support Group is making an impact on families and caregivers dealing with the disease.  Around two dozen people attended the group’s second meeting.  The Village at Gleannloch Farms started the group to bring resources and emotional support to families.

“A lot of adult children are going through this and they need a place to go for support,” said Gay Garrett, Alzheimer’s Group organizer at The Village at Gleannloch Farms.  “We hope this group truly fills a void for families touched by this disease.” 

Author Caryn Gale spoke at the meeting.  She enjoys sharing her honest message about the disease with families all over Texas.  Her book When I Have Alzheimer’s is written from her personal experiences of providing care to her mother who had the disease.  Gale wrote the book as a guide for caregivers and for her own family.  Gale wants her loved ones to know what to expect and how to care for her if she eventually struggles with Alzheimer’s.

“After my mother died, I crawled out from under a rock and I put the book together,” said Gale.  “When you’re dealing with this, you see a lot of things and think, ‘What’s going on here?’ ‘Why is she reacting this way?’ ‘What do I need to do to get through this?’ If you have no one to ask or talk to about it, you’re at a loss and don’t know how to handle it.  I want to help answer those questions.”

Gale wants to see this Alzheimer’s support group succeed.  She has talked to a dozen groups so far and plans to spread her message as much as possible.

“I wish somebody would have come to hold my hand and talk to me,” said Gale.

More and more people are facing this challenge since 1 in 3 families are affected by the disease.  Many caregivers are looking for support, a way to lean on each other, and resources to deal with the obstacles they face. 

The Village at Gleannloch Farms wants to help families who are struggling with this disease.  The support group is free and open to the public.  The next meeting is Monday, May 21st at 6 p.m. at The Village at Gleannloch Farms.  The group is free, open to the public and a light dinner will be served at the next meeting.

The Village at Gleannloch Farms is a not-for-profit community offering 123 independent living apartments and cottages for active adults aged 62 and above. In addition, the community offers a continuum of care including 30 assisted living apartments, 18 memory support residences, and 35 private skilled nursing suites.

Located at Champion Forest Drive and Northpointe Boulevard, the community is situated on 25 acres and is designed to resemble the property’s original architecture. Architect of the project, three architecture of Dallas, incorporated native Gleannloch Farms stone and wood overhangs, balconies, trellises and fences to promote a “countryside residence” exterior. The community’s interior, designed by Faulkner Design Group of Dallas, features arts-and-crafts period influences using wood paneling, stained glass and wood-beamed ceilings.

The community adds to the already extensive variety of residential housing options available in Gleannloch Farms. Other Gleannloch Farms amenities include a lakeside aquatic and athletic complex, equestrian center, championship golf course, hiking and biking trails, and highly acclaimed schools.

In addition to a full range of health care options, The Village at Gleannloch Farms offers a variety of resort-style amenities including landscaped courtyards, multiple dining venues, and common areas totaling over 148,000 square-feet. The common area spaces include a 100-seat chapel, library and business center, creative arts studio, full-service beauty salon and barbershop, heated outdoor saltwater pool and fitness center.

For information about The Village at Gleannloch Farms please visit the community web site at www.villageatgleannlochfarms.com, or call (877) 312-2140.