Tim is a resident at Palm Garden of Jacksonville located in Duval County in Florida, a Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facility. Tim spent a year in bed there after suffering a bad fall. Yet he decided to participate in a unique project that he said helped encourage him and made him feel good.
A Civil Money Penalty Grant is Awarded
Palm Garden of Jacksonville offers enhanced clinical services, innovative therapy, and compassionate healthcare. Their mission is to create a compassionate environment and to inspire hope and healing.
This past May, Palm Garden of Jacksonville was awarded a Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment grant to implement a unique approach to address loneliness, called the Java Project.
The Java Project consists of three peer support and mentoring activity programs, called Java Music, Java Memory (for people living with more advanced dementia) and Java Mentorship (residents reaching out to connect with other residents). All 3 groups focus on residents helping residents.
From Bed Bound to Helping Others
Staff shared that Tim became a Java Music group participant. Java came at the right time in his life. Last spring, with the encouragement of Palm Garden staff, he began the arduous journey of getting out of bed and back into life.
There were many little steps and hard-won victories. At first even sitting up in his wheelchair for 20 minutes was painful, but he forged on.
These days Tim can stand on his own and take a few steps. He went from being totally bed bound to being part of the day-to-day life of the facility.
Java Conversations led by Tim
He was one of the Java Music group’s first participants and faithfully attends each week. The weekly Java group gelled, and participants began to enjoy the fellowship and chances to share and support one another.
Tim shared that it motivated him to help others and invite others to Java. A month ago, staff encouraged residents to start leading evening activity clubs, Tim chose to do a Java theme group, “Java Conversations”. Now he has as many as 10 people show up for his weekly evening Java groups.
Donna Schwartz states: “It has been so good for everyone here at Palm Garden Jacksonville. I’ve noticed a new cohesiveness in their friendships. It’s added something positive to the community and given them a sense of belonging.
They have developed new friendships through their connections in Java. Palm Garden Jax feels blessed to be part of the Java Project!”