{"id":108094,"date":"2019-08-28T17:37:44","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T22:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=108094"},"modified":"2025-05-14T17:23:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T22:23:09","slug":"alumnis-memory-farm-gives-dementia-clients-a-new-sense-of-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/for-our-wellness\/alumnis-memory-farm-gives-dementia-clients-a-new-sense-of-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni create “Memory Farm” for dementia sufferers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Johanna and John Jameson, founders of Memory Farm, LLC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was while getting her doctorate in neuropsychology that Johanna Jameson consistently noticed the gaps in care for those living with dementia.\u00a0<\/span>One of the things she noticed was\u00a0<\/span>that many patients suffering from dementia still\u00a0<\/span>wanted to, and could<\/span>, do<\/span>\u00a0physical activity<\/span>\u00a0but weren\u2019t given any options<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I\u2019ve worked my whole career with dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s sufferers and dealt with a lot of caregivers<\/span>,\u201d the Counseling Psycho<\/a><\/span>logy alum\u00a0<\/span>explains. \u201c<\/span>What they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>shared with me over and over again was that though their loved ones\u2019 memories were gone, they were still physically strong<\/span>. Their\u00a0<\/span>physical needs hadn\u2019t changed,<\/span>\u00a0and they needed a<\/span>c<\/span>tivities that stimulate\u2026activities that t<\/span>raditional daycares didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>really\u00a0<\/span>offer.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Miniature goats for client interaction.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/span>An idea began to germinate and it all came together when she and fellow TCSPP <\/span>alum\u00a0<\/span>John Jameson got married. The ceremony took place on an organi<\/span>c f<\/span>arm, an<\/span>d as Johanna explains, \u201c<\/span>I that it would make a beautiful setting for people with dementia. I\u00a0<\/span>knew it could be something where we could develop an active method of dementia care and offer something more dignified<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Together, the couple launched<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Memory Farm<\/span>, LLC<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Located\u00a0<\/span>46 miles west of\u00a0<\/span>Chicago<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0offers\u00a0<\/span>farm-based activities in a safe and accepting env<\/span>ironment for those with dementia.<\/span>\u00a0Activities offered include animal therapy where clients interact with miniature goats a<\/span>nd a therapy dog, yoga<\/span>, lawn games<\/span>\u00a0and flower, sensory and vegetable gardening<\/span>\u00a0and harvesting<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s no institutionalized feel here because we\u2019re on a farm,\u201d John, a graduate of the I\/O Program<\/a> put in.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>The activities and the surroundings help to give<\/span>\u00a0dementia sufferers a<\/span>\u00a0sense of purpose. They feel like they\u2019re making a difference, and are part of something bigger than themselves. They\u2019re part of a community.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The three-acre farm\u00a0<\/span>includes a farmhouse w<\/span>here the\u00a0<\/span>Jamesons<\/span>\u00a0live and organize<\/span>\u00a0indoor activities<\/span>\u00a0like baking, arts and crafts and chair yoga for<\/span>\u00a0clients; a barn with a potting shed for potting plants and another barn<\/span>\u00a0that they hope to use for equine therapy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
The sensory garden at Memory Farm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe backyard is fenced in, so it\u2019s safe for wandering, which is a difficult behavior see<\/span>n in dementia,\u201d Johanna says<\/span>. \u201cThe fence looks like typical fencing, and it doesn\u2019t look like they\u2019re going to typical daycare. They\u2019<\/span>re coming to a farm and\u00a0<\/span>helping us out. There\u2019s purpose and work, and there\u2019s dignity in that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They also<\/span>\u00a0offer services for caregivers, including counseling services, support groups and monthly social events.\u00a0<\/span>Adult day cover services are also offered on an hourly, half-day or full-day basis, giving many caregivers a much-needed respite from what can be difficult work<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s been a unique journey. We haven\u2019t found a business like this<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0so there wasn\u2019t a\u00a0<\/span>subscriptive<\/span>\u00a0business model that we c<\/span>ould just drop right into this,\u201d John continues.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>W<\/span>e find ourselves ahead of the curve, and hopefully being on the front end of a field that\u2019s going to create a lot of difference in a lot of lives, specifically because we\u2019re focusing on quality of life<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Barn housing the potting shed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The <\/span>Jamesons<\/span>\u00a0met in 2014 through a student<\/span>-run Facebook group. They were both taking classes on the Chicago Campus<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>We met because of our affinity for veterans. The group was for students interested in working with veterans. I ran the social media around it, and one day John commented, I liked the comment and we started a conversation.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the rest is history,\u201d John says with a laugh. \u201cIt was a Wells Street love story!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Memory Farm is located at 46W747 Main Street, Elburn, Illinois. The email address is memoryfarm85@gmail.com and the telephone number is 630.306.0660.<\/span><\/p>\n

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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about our academic programs, fill out the form below to request more information or you can apply today through our application portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TCSPP alumni and married couple Johanna and John Jameson launched Memory Farm, LLC to offer dementia sufferers an active method of care that gives them a sense of purpose and dignity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":108098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[704],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1086],"class_list":["post-108094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-our-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumni create "Memory Farm" for dementia sufferers - Insight Digital Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Memory Farm, LLC offers dementia sufferers an active method of dementia care that gives them a sense of purpose and stimulates physically and cognitively.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/for-our-wellness\/alumnis-memory-farm-gives-dementia-clients-a-new-sense-of-purpose\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alumni create "Memory Farm" for dementia sufferers - 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