'Grateful To Give Back:' How Memory Care Residents Are Sending Hope To Flood Victims

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Bead by bead, the Anthem Memory Care residents at Churchill Place in Glen Ellyn and Emerald Place in Glenview made friendship bracelets for victims of the recent flash floods in Texas. Once the brightly colored bracelets were done, they displayed words like "courage" and "hope" to send some solidarity in the wake of the devastating flooding.

"Our residents really got creative with the messages and charms that they were adding onto bracelets that they made," Senior Life Engagement Director Jennifer Boonstra told Patch.

"We had residents that were putting in Bible verses, their community’s name, "faith," "love" and a variety other sayings."

She said the "residents jump at the opportunity to be creative."

Boonstra said the project was inspired by the United Nations International Day of Friendship, which takes place on July 30.

In 2024, residents of the communities made each other friendship bracelets, so this was a way of extending that love. The bracelets will be sent to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief program in Victoria, Texas.

The gesture of goodwill benefited residents, too, Boonstra told Patch.

"So many of our residents were volunteers and helped with non-profits prior to their dementia diagnosis and it’s important in our Anthem communities to continue that tradition," she added. "Residents were able to have that purpose in their day by creating these bracelets."

Boonstra said the residents were "grateful to give back during this hardship."

Service projects are a big part of life for residents in Anthem communities, she said. In the past local residents have made dog treats for nearby shelters, Puka shell bracelets for Maui fire victims and t-shirts for victims of the war in Ukraine.

"At our Anthem communities, we believe in giving our residents a sense of purpose and giving them opportunities to still have a connection to the world outside of here, despite their dementia diagnosis," Boonstra said.

"When residents saw the devastation of the floods in central Texas, they were heartbroken and immediately trying to come up with ways to help. Our life engagement teams in each community then help foster this by brainstorming ways for our residents to help out in a way that gives them that sense of community and purpose."