Aging Gracefully in L’Arche
Dear friends,
The dream of L’Arche lived in the hearts and minds of a small group of St. Louisans years before Kim, Pauline, Jimmy, Chip, Justin, Janet, and others founded our first home in 2011. The dream has always been for people with an intellectual disability to have the opportunity to live fully and age gracefully.
Is this not the dream of each of us? To have a safe place to live with family and friends who know and care for us. To experience meaningful participation in our community by singing in the choir or a lady’s night out or going to the baseball game with a buddy. To know the joy of leisure time, traveling, and long meals where we eat, laugh, and talk about the day.
L’Arche members sang songs together around the table at Friendship Dinner!
In my dream of living fully and aging gracefully I am known by others. Yes, there are ups and downs; but I am never isolated because I belong, and I help others to belong. In this dream there is a rhythm and harmony in my life with others around me.
In October, I went to our monthly friendship dinner, thirty of us sharing a simple meal together. The room was full of lively banter, and I could see, hear, and feel my dream and the dreams of others as Chip laughed loudly, Jordan gave out fist bumps, and Jeff, with a huge smile, demonstrated the mechanical wonders of his new power wheelchair. The dream was real as Richard and Sam playfully teased about the upcoming Halloween party where they would face off as Batman versus The Riddler.
Batman captured the Riddler at the Halloween party, just as he planned!
If we are to live fully and age gracefully, we need to adapt and change together. When L’Arche began in 2011 there were no wheelchairs or walkers or concerns about second-floor bedrooms. Ten years ago, no assistants had to stay up through the night to provide support. Today, however, these changes are apparent in each of our homes.
For all of us, supporting others to age gracefully requires new skills. Every moment of the day, whether delicate or ordinary, requires us to be competent and compassionate. Our most vulnerable people often need an advocate in order to be heard. Listening deeply, even when there are no words, is a skill we all need, especially our L’Arche staff. Our professional commitment must meet each person where they are each day. There is a certain solemnity and privilege in this that our amazing staff and Board of Directors have embraced.
Is it possible to maintain the highest quality of care with dignity and respect, bookended by laughter and fun, on a day-to-day basis? Our lived experience confirms the dream of our founding members – yes, it is possible!
Earlier this year, a ribbon cutting to celebrate our new property on Litzsinger was attended by friends, supporters, neighbors, and local politicians. I had a sense that, deep down, they had all come because they share our dream of living fully and aging gracefully. They came out to encourage us and to echo our “Yes!”
L’Arche Assistants support Core Members to participate in chosen activities even as they age.
Quality care in L’Arche is both simple and very complex. Like love, it is freely offered; but our care costs a lot in terms of human effort and financial resources. It cannot happen apart from our commitment to celebrate each person’s unique gifts and contributions at every stage of their human journey.
I am passionate about the irreplaceable value of each person in L’Arche. I witness the willingness and generosity of so many people who dig deep and go the extra mile. That is what we need.
As we approach the end of 2022, I invite you to dig deep, to go the extra mile, and to be generous in your financial giving. Perhaps you understand the complex and often unrecognized costs of supporting an aging community member, something that is now part of daily life in L’Arche. It is because of you that we can carry on our promise of highest-quality care with dignity and respect as we adapt to changing needs.
Those whose lives have been entrusted to L’Arche St. Louis need you.
Will you renew your financial support by making a gift today?
Thank you for your partnership, trust, and investment.
Your partnership and financial investment enable us to live our dream that each member of L’Arche St. Louis is empowered to live fully and age gracefully. May you experience joy by investing in L’Arche this holiday season.
Peace to you,
Paula Kilcoyne
Executive Director and Community Leader
P.S. Please use the button below or at the top of the page to send your support. You can also donate by mailing a check to 9445 Litzsinger Rd, Brentwood, MO 63144, or call us to talk about how you would like to support L’Arche financially.
