Message from Cyndy on COVID-19

3/19/2020 email to friends of DFC NoCo

Dear friends of Dementia-Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado,

Like every other organization you’ve ever had any connection with;), we want to assure you that we are honoring the CDC, state, and local recommendations to suspend all of our classes and life enrichment programming through the end of March.  We will reassess next steps and options later as we expect restrictions to continue changing over time.

During this challenging season, we encourage you to watch out for your neighbors, especially those who are older or live alone so that social distancing doesn’t become devastating isolation. We’re already seeing some of our NOCO friends transform increased social distancing to increased social compassion.  THIS is why we love serving in our communities!

Unless quarantined or prohibited for other reasons, maybe you could run an errand or drop off a meal for someone who is at risk in crowds, lonely and unable to visit a loved one, or exhausted after a shift in a healthcare facility or senior care community.  You can always offer a smile and a calming presence too.

If you need help, please don’t deprive your neighbors of the joy of serving when you could benefit from their care.  This is who we are in Northern Colorado.  We are people who care.  We are surrounded by heroes who won’t be created in this crisis.  They will be revealed.

In an online message from Timberline Church this weekend, Pastor Darren Fred read a quote by Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky.  Regardless of your faith or creed, I believe it will inspire you toward increased social compassion as well:

“Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place.
Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern.
Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another,
must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.”

Please check out our website (dfcnoco.org) and Facebook page for ongoing updates.  Thank you for your support of our nonprofit organization and for your care of others in our communities.

Be wise and well following the guidelines of the leaders in our healthcare community.

Cyndy Luzinski, Founder and Executive Director