Home Is Not Just A Place, It’s Also A Feeling

Home is not just a place, it is also a feeling.

My name is Naome. My husband Leonard and I share 38 years of marriage and a passion for poetry and fitness. We have built a wonderful life together, however, our lives changed significantly not too long ago.

In 2016, Leonard was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a condition that causes hallucinations, paranoia, delusions and various cognitive challenges. This creates obstacles for him as he tries to live his best life, but it hasn’t stopped him from being the kind of person that he is deep down.

Our journey has felt daunting at times. We reached out to friends and family who told us about Acclaim Health and what it offers.

I learned so much. Acclaim Health supports both the mental and physical wellbeing of people – and supports their family caregivers at the same time.

We have lived in Oakville for many years, and can honestly say that Leonard’s second home is at Patty’s Place. It is a warm community where he can enjoy a wide range of activities in the Walmley Club adult day program and then, every few weeks, retire to his suite at JIM’s Suites to relax in the evening. He knows he’s surrounded by a caring and supportive group of staff and other club members. Leonard tells me “There’s always a lot going on… for what the needs are, they really fulfill.” 

Leonard and I have spent the majority of our adult lives together. Naturally, when we are apart I can’t help but worry. The day I started worrying a little less was when Leonard came home one day and shared “Everyone has an opportunity to… go and be where they want to be,” shared Leonard. “I like it overall, so I’m a lucky man.”

At that moment, some of the weight and worry that I had been carrying for so long subsided….as I continued to breathe, my spirits were uplifted. I run my own practice as a registered psychotherapist, so I too help people every day. It can be a lot to balance while providing care for Leonard.

If you feel this type of care is important, join the Because You Care Campaign. You can help families and people living with dementia experience the extraordinary level of compassion and kindness that Naome and Leonard have felt.

Give now and your donations will be matched by 50% thanks to JIM (the amazing donors behind JIM’s Suites).

The kind and thoughtful staff at Acclaim Health make life with dementia a bit more manageable and make us feel supported. They have allowed me to have the freedom to do things that I couldn’t do before – small and big, such as having some more time for myself during the day or going away for a week to Greece to celebrate our son’s wedding. All the while, I know that Leonard is in good hands.

Despite the challenges that we go through together, Leonard can still light up a room with lighthearted jokes, kind comments, and insightful ideas. It brings me comfort and joy to know that he feels empowered. Patty’s Place is a safe space where everyone can be themselves and feel at home.
This truly means everything to me.

Naome (Wife, Mother, Caregiver, Psychotherapist, Friend)

P.S Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Our lives are one of many who have been touched greatly by Acclaim Health. We hope this inspires you to rally together with us as a community.