T.J. Samson | Destination Health | October 2019

October 2019 3 Wellness To help fund the construction of the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home, the T.J. Community Mission Foundation has received a $2 million USDA Rural Economic Development Loan through Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (Farmers RECC). In 2015 the board of directors of the T.J. Com- munity Mission Foundation identified a critical need in our community for a residential hospice home, where people can receive compassionate end-of-life care and they and their families can find counseling and comfort in a homelike setting. The name Shanti Niketan was selected by lead philanthropic supporter Bharat Mody, MD. In his native language, shanti means “inner peace.” The full name translates to “a peaceful place.” As a result of discussions with the T.J. Com- munity Mission Foundation, Farmers RECC ap- plied for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development zero-interest loan to enable the hospice home project to progress. The loan funds will be disbursed to the T.J. Com- munity Mission Foundation and will be repaid over time through donations to the Foundation and normal operations of the hospice home. “We are pleased to be able to partner with the T.J. Community Mission Foundation to meet this need in our community,” says Bill Prather, Presi- dent and CEO of Farmers RECC. “Part of our mission is to improve the quality of life for the member-owners of our communities. We believe this project fits perfectly with that mission, and we are happy to be able to help.” LOOKING TO THE FUTURE The 10,400-square-foot facility will be located on Glenview Drive and will include eight inpa- tient rooms, kitchen and living spaces, and private areas for families and guests. Each patient room will have access to a private patio. “We all know of someone who could have benefited from this type of facility and the highly specialized service it provides in a family’s great- est time of need,” says Neil Thornbury, CEO of T.J. Regional Health. “The board of the Commu- nity Mission Foundation appreciates the strong partnership with Farmers RECC.The support they have shown this project is a testament to their commitment to this community, and we are grateful for their continued support.” In-home hospice care will continue to be the choice of many, but for some families and indi- viduals, that option may not be realistic. For them, having a specially-designed hospice setting will provide the relief and peace of mind necessary to address other end-of-life discussions and decisions. To donate to the T.J. Community Mission Foundation, visit tjmissionfund.org or call 270-651‑4348 . Of the monies donated to the Foundation, 100% will be used to fund the hospice home project. You’ve probably heard about rehabilitation ser- vices for adults who’ve had a stroke, heart attack or severe injury. But did you know that children can also benefit from rehab services especially tailored to them? The care they re- ceive often makes life a little easier for both the children and their parents. That’s true whether a child was injured in an accident or diagnosed with a disease or condition, such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. And it’s good to know that this specialized care— occupational, physical and speech therapy—is available right here in Glasgow. “We have an amazing group of therapists who are extremely passion- ate about their jobs,” says Stephanie Smith, an occupational therapist at T.J. Samson’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Services Department. WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES T.J. Samson’s pediatric rehab department serves children through a pediatric-friendly outpatient clinic and area schools. Many children may benefit from therapies, including those who: ●  ● Have delays in reaching developmental or language milestones. ●  ● Have balance or coordination problems or muscle weakness. ●  ● Have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, spina bifida or Down syndrome, sensory integration disorders, feeding difficulties, or dyslexia. ●  ● Have been injured. In addition to a highly qualified staff, T.J. Samson’s outpatient clinic fea- tures an amazing sensory motor gym with swings, climbing structures and zip lines that allow the therapists to be creative in their treatment plans. “And it highly motivates the children,” Smith says. Therapy can help improve many aspects of a child’s life, making their day- to-day living more comfortable. For instance, it can improve their ability to perform activities of daily living independently, like dressing, feeding and buckling their own seat belts.Therapy can boost social skills and self-esteem. It can improve writing and reading. It can help kids improve their mobility, balance, coordination, self-care tasks and strength. And it can help nonverbal children communicate with their parents and other caregivers. In short, pediatric rehab can make life easier, more comfortable and hap- pier for all involved, Smith says. “I’ve had parents ask, ‘What if we don’t do therapy?’ If you do it, the struggles are less for your family,” Smith says. “We want our children to not have struggles. We want to foster a confident, self-sufficient child. We want them to be happy. We want them to be comfortable. We want them to be as successful and independent as possible.That’s what we hope to do with the family-oriented, individualized plans of care we create. We help children to become as independent as possible.” Pediatric rehab services are available by referral. Ask your child’s doctor if therapy is right for your child. Creating a hospice home for our community Helping kids be their best Tha t ’s the goa l o f our ped i a t r i c rehab s e r v i c e s C.A.M.P. TJ for kids! T.J. Samson’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Department also offers a week- long summer day camp for kids who receive therapy services in a school, clinic or other setting. The camp, which recently celebrated 20 years, allows kids to work on therapies—such as fine/gross motor skills; sensory, strength and social skills; speech/language; handwriting; and coordination—while having fun. For instance, this year the camp had a carnival theme. To download an online application, go to tjsamson.org . Under “Our Services,” click “Rehabilitation” and then “C.A.M.P. TJ.”