Welcome September. I appreciate the changes a season brings and the opportunity it gives me to realign my focus on the next phase. Instead of planting and growing a garden, my focus turns to preserving the fruits and vegetables thereof. The loaded fruit trees look like they needed some thinning out in the previous months. Had I done this the fruit would have been bigger and more desirable. This was a hard summer for me with the death of my father. My attention has been all over the place, or not at all. The encumbered branches remind me I need to thin out the less important in order to concentrate my energy on fewer things to achieve bigger and more fulfilling results. Some weighed down limbs appear to be at their breaking point. I can relieve the heavy burden by taking some of the load. Choosing where to start, or what to focus on first is the real challenge.
Do you ever feel like you’re at a breaking point? Do you feel alone, overwhelmed with responsibilities, or mourning? Do you wish you could unload some of your worries? If so, please take advantage of a support group before you break. Meeting with others in like situations is sweet, planting friendships, which can grow and may be preserved for a lifetime. Branching out strengthens us to better meet our challenges. The experience and knowledge shared in a group will produce good results.
The purpose of this newsletter is to share information about organizations which I know about in hopes to help you. In case it’s impossible for you to get out, or you don’t live in this area, I’ve also included links to useful and inspiring websites.
If you have an activity, announcements or other information you’d like shared in this newsletter, please add them in the comments or email Barbara@UnitingCaregivers.com.
I love autumn and I’m ready for a change! I hope you are too.
FREE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR STROKE AND BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS
September 5, 2019 – Utah Valley Aphasia Choir meets at 6-6:45pm on the 1st Thursday of the month, prior to the support group at the BYU Speech and Language Clinic. It’s for all brain injury, and stroke survivors, caregivers, family, and friends. Come and enjoy the power of music and friendship together. Everyone interested is welcome to join.
September 5, 2019 – Utah Valley Brain Injury Support Group meets at 7-8:30 p.m. on the 1st Thursday monthly at the BYU Speech and Language Clinic, Room #177. Address: 1190 North 900 East, Provo, UT 84060. For questions call Lori Johnson at (801)422-9132.
September 10, 2019 – Brain Injury Alliance Support Group for Adults, 6-8 p.m. meets every 2nd Tuesday monthly at Sanderson Community Deaf Center, 5709 South 1500 West, SLC, UT 84123. This social group is for caregivers and survivors. Come join us for a birthday celebration with dinner and games this month. Bring your favorite topping, side dish or dessert to share if you’d like. For more information, please call Jennifer (801)386-2195, or Beth (801)585-5511.
September 19, 2019 – IMC Caregivers and Survivors Education and Support Groups, meets at 7 p.m. every 3rd Thursday monthly at Intermountain Medical Center, 5171 S. Cottonwood St., Murray, UT 84107, building 1.
Caregivers and Survivors meet this month together on the 9th floor, in the Neuroscience Conference Room. An entertaining special guest speaker, Dr. Matt Townsend will be speaking to us on relationships. For more information, please call (801)314-2086 or email Emily Redd emily.redd@imail.org
September 24, 2019 – University of Utah Brain Injury Support Group meets at 7-8 p.m. every 4th Tuesday monthly at Sugarhouse Health Center, 1138 E. Wilmington Avenue, SLC, UT 84106. This month I will be leading the discussion on AligningYour Focus.For more information please call Annie Wallace at (801)581-2221.
FREE WEEKLY GROUPS INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH CARE NEURO THERAPY in Murray, Utah
Aphasia Talking Practice Group – Meets every Tuesday, Noon-1 p.m. at 5770 South 250 East #G50
Meditation Group – Meets every Wednesday, 3 p.m. at 5770 South 250 East Cafeteria Conference Room
Cognitive Skills Group – Meets every Thursday Noon-1 p.m. at 5770 South 250 East #G50
Contact: Emily Redd at Emily.redd@imail.org
FREE EPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THOSE EFFECTED BY SEIZURES
Together we share coping strategies, provide encouragement, comfort and advice from people with common experiences. For more information contact Margo at (801)455-6089 or Utah@efa
September 11, 2019 – Provo Epilepsy Group for All, meets at 7:00 – 8:15 pm on the 2nd Wednesday at the Provo City Library, 555 N. University Ave., Provo, UT.
September 12, 2019 – IMC Epilepsy Group for All, meets at 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday at the Intermountain Medical Center, 5171 S. Cottonwood St., Murray, UT Bldg. 6, 1st floor – CR2 in the Doty Education Center.
September 18, 2019 – SLC Epilepsy Group for All, meets at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday at the SLC Main Library 200 E. 400 S., SLC, UT (3rd floor conference room).
September 26, 2019 – West Jordan Epilepsy Group for Teens, meets at 7 – 8:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday at the West Jordan Library, 8030 S. 1825 W., West Jordan, UT. Come and enjoy an activity and meet other teens with epilepsy. There are two teachers overseeing this group.
The Logan Epilepsy Support Group for All is the process of looking for a replacement moderator that is as passionate about supporting their community as the last one. This Support Group will be postponed until further notice. If you have any questions, concerns, or information you would like to share, please contact Margo Thurman @ 801-445-6089
HELPFUL WEBSITES:
http://www.caregiver.org (online webinars for caregivers)
http://www.braininjury.com (medical, legal, information resource)
http://www.abta.org (brain tumor education and information)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi (brain injury facts, programs, education)
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/all-disorders (education for brain injury, stroke and other neurological disorders)
http://www.msktc.org/tbi (TBI Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center) national leaders in TBI research and patient care.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support (resource for those with MS)
http://www.epilepsy.com/utah and/or http://www.epilepsy.com (seizure education and support by state or national)
https://biau.org (resource for those with brain injury)
http://www.brainline.org (preventing, treating and living with TBI)
http://www.uilc.org (Utah Independent Living Center is a resource center which enhances independence of persons with disabilities)
ACTIVITIES TO DO WEBSITES:
https://store.usgs.gov/access-pass (free pass to National Parks & Federal Land Agency areas)
https://twilightinsight.wordpress.com/hobbies/hobbies-or-healing-the-brain/tbi-and-selecting-a-hobby (select a hobby – ideas especially for TBI survivors)
http://wanderookie.com/blog/2015/07/27/12-beautiful-wheelchair-accessible-trails-in-utah
(wheelchair accessible trails in Utah)
wasatchadaptivesports.org (Wasatch Adaptive Sports)
http://www.discovernac.org (National Ability Center)
https://healthcare.utah.edu/rehab/support-services/trails.php (University of Utah TRAILS Program)
https://www.meetup.com (meet up groups)
SHARING WEBSITES:
http://www.brainline.org/abbymaslin (blog about loving and learning after TBI)
http://www.unitingcaregivers.wordpress.com (caregivers sharing stories, tips and thoughts)
Thank you for reading. I hope you found the information helpful and will follow this website via email to receive notifications of every new post. The “Follow” button is located at the beginning of the newsletter. However, if you want to subscribe only to a monthly newsletter, please email Barbara@UnitingCaregivers.com. I will add you to the newsletter email list and send it to you.
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