“She was so smart.  She dedicated her life to teaching others.” one of the care coordinators shares, attempting to hold back tears. 

The care coordination team is sitting in a circle in a spacious, well-lit room in the offices of Friends Life Care. Other coordinators nod, heads down.  They all can relate to the grief in the voice of their peer.  Another coordinator speaks of how at peace their member seemed with end of life.  Yet another shares a member’s favorite quote that makes the room smile and laugh. 

Care Coordinators Forge Connections

When a Friends Life Care care coordinator is given a new member to serve, they strive to build a meaningful connection right away. Coordinators visit with a member in their home, learn all about each individual’s amazing life stories, play with their pet, chat with their adult children, and partner with them on prevention, holistic wellness, and care.  

It’s not uncommon to hear a coordinator share that a member has started to feel like family to them.   

Bittersweet Blessing

These unique relationships are both an incredible blessing to a care coordinator and our team and a painful loss when they end.  When a member passes away, we mourn this loss.  As an organization, we make room for this grief each year. The care coordination team gathers for a celebration of life to honor the lives of these members, their friends.  

During these meetings, care coordinators reflect on the grief of losing their members. They share their feelings, remember, and mourn the individuals who have passed.  

Celebration of a Life Well Lived

One by one, the coordinators share memories and feelings about those who have passed.  The team hears about a member’s unique and wonderful accomplishments, travels, kindness, sense of humor, volunteer work, personal passions, and more.  

Sometimes, the loss of a particular member feels so overwhelming that the coordinator will choose to honor them with a moment of silence; verbally sharing their feelings of grief would overcome them by emotion.   

The Meaning of Mandalas In a Celebration of Life

At this year’s meeting, as the team held their celebration for the incredible lives lived, they colored mandalas in memory of their members.  Mandalas are Hindu and Buddhist symbols that are used as a meditation instrument.  With each stroke of color added to the mandala, they slowly transformed their feelings into a beautiful, colorful artwork that served as a tribute.  

If you wish to learn more about mandalas or explore how to use them to celebrate a life well lived, you can find free printable mandala coloring pages here.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributed by:

Katie Starrantino, LCSW, M.Ed, CDP — Director of Wellness Initiatives
(she/her)

Katie has been working in the medical field for over 10 years.  During this time she has assisted in meeting the psychosocial needs of individuals living with cancer, rehabilitation patients, nursing home residents, primary care patients and individuals with a dementia diagnosis.

Katie is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a masters degree in social work from West Chester University.  In addition, she has a masters degree in human sexuality from Widener University.  She is a certified dementia practitioner. And she is also trained to teach the Alzheimer’s Association’s Person Centered Habilitation Training curriculum.

Katie developed and carried out various wellness programs for non-profit organizations, aimed at keeping patients feeling their best. Katie enjoys forming relationships with her members and assisting to keep them to be happy and healthy.

 

 

 

Friends Life Care  posts on the eMeetinghouse blog. as another way to share health, wellness and prevention information to aging adults.  Friends Life Care is a mission-driven nonprofit that — for over 30 years — has been helping older adults — especially Friends Life Care members — to thrive at home as they age.  If you are not yet a Friends Life Care member, connect with us with questions for one of our Plan Counselors on the benefits joining.