Aaron is a stroke survivor who has been attending Friendship Center twice a week for about a month. His wife Donna, a petite, energetic lady with a huge and infectious smile, reports that Aaron greatly enjoys his time at the Center. She says that on the days he is to come, he gets dressed first thing in the morning and tries to go out to the driveway to wait by the car.

 

Their son, Dave, lives with them, and he recently told Donna that he noticed she is not having the anxiety attacks at night that she used to have. She said that she finds herself able to have more patience with Aaron now that she is not with him all day, every day. Even his two days a week at the center gives her time for grocery shopping, cleaning, errands and just some down time.

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Anna, 84, is a member who had experienced serious depression for many years. She began attending Friendship Center after coming to live with her daughter and family. “It’s a striking change,” her daughter said. “Before, she would stay in bed until noon and go back to bed around 7pm. Now she is up first thing in the morning, dressed and ready for the Friendship Center van. Structure has been her salvation, and in turn, ours too. She comes home and chats away about what she’s done that day. To see someone come out from under a cloud this way is phenomenal.”