Anna and Jerry retired, moved to Princeton, MN, to be near family and planned to travel together. Jerry’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis changed those plans. Not only were vacations out of the question, but even shopping trips became more challenging. Anna turned to Elim Oasis Adult Day Services for help.

Betsy found similar challenges when her husband Richard was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She worried about Richard wandering away while she was running errands. Finding Elim Oasis eased those worries.

Elim Oasis provides professional support for Jerry and Richard, and respite for Anna and Betsy.

Meet Anna and Jerry

Jerry was struggling to adjust to moving to Princeton. Then Anna learned about Elim Oasis through the Veterans Affairs caregiver program. She thought it would benefit him to be out of the house and around other people.

“It talked about how they focus on dementia. That was the first thing for me,” Anna says of her research into Elim Oasis. After talking with Elim Oasis director Monica Reichel, she knew Jerry should go there.

Jerry began attending two days per week and then went up to three days per week. He didn’t understand why he was there, but he did get accustomed to it and the staff.

Anna has noticed the difference.

“He’s much happier when he comes home,” she says. “And he’s not as antsy on the days because he’s accustomed to getting up in the morning and going somewhere. And then there’s the activities, because they keep him busy all day long … It really stimulates his mind. I mean he does things now that I never thought he would ever do.”

For example, Jerry participates in volleyball; crafts and woodworking, including using power tools.

Anna says having Jerry attend Elim Oasis has benefited her, as well.

“It’s given me more peace of mind,” she says. “It’s given me a chance to recharge where I feel like I can deal with everything better because I get that chance to just literally be me. Dealing with the disease is very emotionally draining.”

Even on Jerry’s bad days, Anna is confident he will be OK at Elim Oasis.

“They’re not going to treat him any different and they’re going to make sure that he’s OK,” Anna says. “It really is that peace of mind.”

Elim Oasis allows Anna the opportunity and peace of mind to do things she needs to do and go places

“I feel safe knowing that he’s taken care of and that he’s safe and that he’s with a group of people that I know look out for him and he’s made some friends there,” she says. “It’s given me a chance to have that time to recharge so that I can take better care of him and I’m more patient.”

For these reasons and more, Anna confidently says, “I would recommend that place to anyone.”

Meet Betsy and Richard

Betsy knows Cassia and its Elim Care predecessor well. She first worked for Elim Care beginning in 1976 and served on the Elim Care board of directors at one point. Both her mother and mother-in-law lived at Elim Wellspring.

In June 2024, that connection expanded to Elim Oasis. Located in Freshwaters United Methodist Church, the adult day program is just down the road from Elim Wellspring.

Their experience with Elim Oasis has been extremely positive.

“Every time I pick him up, he’s smiling, talking with staff and bantering back and forth, and he gets in the car and says, ‘I had fun today,’” Betsy says.

That’s despite every visit to Elim Oasis starting the same way.

“Every single morning, my husband is a little apprehensive and wants to know I’ll pick him up because he doesn’t remember being there,” Betsy says. “… He’s so happy when I pick him up. It’s so nice to see him smiling and enjoying something like that.”

Betsy compliments the staff for how they interact with her and Richard.

“I can tell he likes the staff and they are so friendly when I drop him off,” she says. “They say, ‘Hi, Richard, here’s your coffee. Oh, you need cream.’ Monica is so good.

“For me, as a caretaker, it’s such a relief to know he gets such good care for such a reasonable price all day five days a week.”

She says she has peace of mind and fewer worries when Richard is there. And, she benefits from him being there, as well.

“It allows me to refresh. It allows me to think clearly,” Betsy says. “When someone is around you repeatedly asking the same things, time away from that allows you to refresh your brain, run errands you need to do without worrying about him.”

Betsy speaks highly of Elim Oasis.

“I unquestionably recommend it to others,” she says. “I would say give it a try because it’s good for the person who attends and for the caretaker outside of that time. It’s good for both of you to have that time away from each other and know your loved one is being well taken care of.”