June 11, 2018 by Angela

Let’s Talk About Aphasia

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month

According to the National Aphasia Association, aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing.

Aphasia affects about two million Americans. The most common cause of aphasia is stroke. About 25-40% of stroke survivors acquire aphasia. However, any type of head injury or other neurological causes can cause aphasia.

There are many types of aphasia. Some people have difficulty speaking while others may struggle to follow a conversation. In some people, aphasia is fairly mild and you might not notice it right away. In other cases, it can be very severe, affecting speaking, writing, reading, and listening. While specific symptoms can vary greatly, what all people with aphasia have in common are difficulties in communicating.

Communicating with People Affected by Aphasia

Below are a few helpful tips on how to communicate with a person who has aphasia. To download a free copy of the “Communicating Through the Barriers” poster below, visit the National Aphasia Associations website here.

Improve Your Communications Skills at Schurig Center

If you or a loved one is experiencing aphasia after a stroke or other neurological impairment, there is a place to go to improve your communication skills! We are pleased to offer a 10-week Aphasia Communication Group. Taught by a license speech therapist, this class provides the opportunity to practice and develop communication and cognitive skills in a supportive environment. Topics covered include: engaging in conversation, body language, communication strategies, listening skills, connections with friends, family, and your community. To get more info about this group, please visit our classes page here.

June 5, 2018 by Angela

The Most Killer Tomato Plant Sale Ever

In case you missed it, “the most killer tomato plant sale ever” was held at Schurig Center over three days in May.

Michelle, Karen, Midge and Lise
get ready for the sale

More than 400 healthy tomato plants made their way to new homes throughout Marin. The plants were grown from seed by clients who participate in the center’s weekly “Green Thumb Club” with volunteer Master Gardener Karen Halvorsen.

According to Karen, “The clients really put amazing heart and energy into these plants and this sale. With their help—including sneaking a few more seeds into those pots than I expected – we grew a record number of plants this year! I honestly wasn’t sure how we were going to sell them all. But clients really stepped up. I’m grateful to them and to our new and repeat customers. Now we’ve got more room for our next project!”

The tomato sale project was part of Schurig Center’s Thursday STAR Academy Class, which supports clients with opportunities to practice life skills and feel successful while engaging with their community. The word “STAR” stands for “Survivors Together Achieving Results.”

Each member of the team contributed to making the sale a success. Leading up to the event, participants worked together to make signs and took part in a mini marketing class.

Alyssa preps to help shoppers select a plant

On the day of the sale, self-proclaimed ‘tomato selling fiend’ Lisé and teammate TK shared their enthusiasm on the street to entice passersby to stop in. While others, like Alyssa, helped shoppers select from an array of colorful heirloom tomatoes varieties, like Green Zebra and Berkeley Tie-Die, using display cards that explained each tomato’s qualities.

The sale was well-attended and even had a few VIP’s stop by…

“One of our customers said he is even on the City Council, how cool is that? But seriously, this was really great because my dream before my brain injury was always to have my own dress shop, so today I got to practice what it’s like being a sales person. It was a blast!” beamed tomato salesperson extraordinaire Michelle.

TK inviting passersby to stop in

Program Coordinator Sara Chambers shared, “It was great to see how our sale and the learning and preparation that led up to it really helped clients experience the full cycle of their own skills and industriousness. From growing and nurturing the plants, to conceiving and creating marketing materials, planning the sale, and interacting with customers and community members, they were able to participate at every level of the process and know that they really made this happen! And all while raising funds to make projects like this and all the other great things we do at the center possible!”

As much as possible, therapists and educators at Schurig Center strive to ensure that the recovery work clients do is generalizable to clients’ lives in the community and at home.

“Understanding that sticks with a person often happens better when there’s a full-cycle experience to tie it to,” added Sara. “This project gave us that full-cycle aspect with built-in steps that as a group we could take together toward a tangible goal.”

Thank you to all who stopped by to take home a plant!

We hope the plants will bring joy to your home every time you enjoy a fresh tomato wedge in your salad or a delicious bowl of pasta smothered in fresh tomato sauce.

Very Special Thanks to Master Gardener Karen Halvorsen
Karen’s dedication, amazing green thumb, and countless hours of volunteered time help bring enjoyment and peace to all who visit the garden at Schurig Center.

We hope to see you at next year’s sale!

May 3, 2018 by Angela

A Beautiful Garden is a Work of Heart

May 3 is National Garden Meditation Day. There’s a reason that so many people enjoy gardening. What’s more relaxing than a day spent outdoors on a beautiful day? Sunshine and a breeze. Birds chirping. Hummingbirds enjoying a sip of nectar. The smell of flowers in the air.

It’s no wonder May has been designated “Gifts From the Garden” month.

Did you know?
Schurig Center is surrounded by a beautiful therapeutic garden.

A garden is the perfect place to find refuge from our day-to-day stresses and to reconnect with nature. But, it also has many benefits for those living with the effects of a brain injury.

The garden at Schurig Center provides a peaceful setting for Therapeutic Program participants to engage in Horticultural Therapy – an effective tool that improves one’s quality of life after a brain injury by offering cognitive, social, psychological, and physical benefits. Through hands-on garden activities, participants improve memory, cognitive abilities, and task initiation skills while also strengthening muscles and improving coordination, balance, and endurance. The garden also provides a sensory experience with an array of colors, textures, and fragrances to explore.

Gardening is a direct connection with our natural environment and life cycle that can bring about surprising results, both in improving motor skills and in reducing stress. By caring for plants, individuals also experience first-hand their impact on improving the ecosystem.

So, take some time today to restore your soul and refresh your body in nature. Tend to some plants and flowers…Stroll down a garden path…Rest quietly on a garden bench. Or, stop by Schurig Center and enjoy our garden.

Happy #GardenMeditationDay!

Learn more about the benefits of Horticultural Therapy at the American Horticultural Therapy Association website.

Join Our Host of Garden Angels, Donate by May 31!

Your gift before May 31 sows the seeds that help survivors thrive after a brain injury!

We need your help to raise $5,000 in May. Only YOU can help provide this life-changing healing in nature. Without your support, Schurig Center would not be able to offer rehabilitative services, like therapeutic gardening. These programs are designed specifically for brain injury survivors and are not available anywhere else in our area.

Gifts of $250 or more in the month of May will be honored with a personalized brick in the center’s garden!

DONATE ONLINE NOW!

Thank You!

Schurig Center’s garden has been lovingly created, designed and maintained by Marin Master Gardeners Patricia Compton and Karen Halverson and volunteers throughout the year. Through their constant nurturing and generous donations of plants, soil, and irrigation equipment, the garden has become an oasis of beauty.

We are also deeply grateful to Gwen and Martin Gans for their generous support of the garden in honor of this dedication: “Gardening, a blessing which rewards us with joyous moments unique among healing endeavors.”