Leeza’s Place

Leeza’s Place at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center

Main Topic of Business:

501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization; healthcare

The Goal of Leeza’s Place: Leeza’s Place is the signature program of The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation.  It is A Place for Caregivers offering free programs and supportive services to educate, empower, and energize caregivers impacted with chronic and progressive illness.

 

Company Bio:

Developed in response to the challenges Leeza and her family encountered while seeking specific and needed support, Leeza’s Place is a potent source of information, strength and purpose. Nestled within your own community, Leeza’s Place is a multifaceted reprieve, for both caregivers and the recently diagnosed, that integrates educational programs, connective social activities, emotional support, and intergenerational programming designed to help you navigate through your community’s continuum of care. Leeza’s Place was designed to ensure that others experiencing what the Gibbons family encountered would have access to new, supportive settings created for the purpose of educating, empowering and energizing.

What you can expect

The cornerstone of each Leeza’s Place is a specially trained “Leeza Care Advocate” whose primary responsibility is to guide caregivers and their loved ones through the emotionally charged maze of memory disorders: educationally, supportively, and confidently. There is nothing ordinary about Leeza’s Place – everything done here is designed to induce a more positive outcome for those whose lives have been turned upside down. Each Leeza’s Place has been carefully crafted to empower both the caregiver and the recently diagnosed by offering services that create self esteem, relieve symptoms, impart knowledge, reduce stress, promote inclusion, and ultimately improve the quality of life while helping you to acquire advocacy, coping and care-related skills.

All of the programs at Leeza’s Place are the direct result of listening to and understanding the unique needs, values, pressures and goals of caregivers and their loved ones. Programs have been designed to provide educational and empowering strategies that are not currently available. Although services may vary from site to site, each Leeza’s Place locale will provide programs that offer support on three levels – emotional, educational and social – for caregivers, families and their recently diagnosed loved ones.

 

Personal Bio:     Kathy A. Miller

Kathy A. Miller is the Leeza Care Advocate for Leeza’s Place at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, IL. Kathy learned personally about the difficulties of caregiving, first with her grandfather who died with Alzheimer’s disease in 1973, and again when her father died of cancer in 1995. Kathy witnessed the physical, mental, financial, and emotional toll upon her mother and knows that caregiving is the most difficult job of a person’s lifetime. Because of her personal experiences, Kathy’s motto has become, “the best way to take care of others is to take care of ourselves,” though she knows those words are sometimes difficult to live by.

Kathy is a true advocate for community awareness, education, and supportive programs available for caregivers and their loved ones. Kathy has that same passion for telling the world about Leeza’s Place at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center.

Kathy has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, in Menomonie, WI, and an MA in Management from St. Mary’s College inRochester,MN.

 

Personal Bio:     Kim Jackson
Leeza Care Advocate
Leeza’s Place atProvenaSaint JosephMedicalCenter
kjackson@leezasplace.org

 

Kim Jackson is the Assistant Advocate for the Leeza’s Place inJoliet,Illinois. Kim’s desire to work with the community and reach out to others drew her to Leeza’s Place. Her talents are used to design programs that will help energize, educate and empower the mind and body. Programs in art, walking it off, journaling, memory workshops, photography, paint to music and crafts are just a few of the classes Kim has brought to the caregiver to utilize as a stress release. She is an accomplished author, of the published book “Journaling, The footprints of your life…” and coordinates this guidebook into her Memory Program at Leeza’s Place.  Her passion is reaching out to those in need.

 

Services Provided:

 

Programs:

Educate – Our educational programs, developed and delivered by members of our community, are tailored to the expressed needs of caregivers.  An example of educational programs offered at Leeza’s Place include: elder law issues, summer/winter safety, incontinence, fall prevention, grief and depression, finding a physician, neurological services and resources, finding professional help, medication management, activity-focused care, memory screenings, and the list goes on.  We welcome guest speakers to help educate caregivers on the variety of services and programs available in our community.

Empower – Caregivers become empowered through education, support, and social connections.  Whether creating a scrapbook, writing your life story, making a video of your treasured memories, or linking with other caregivers, the journey of caregiving becomes more manageable with the support of Leeza’s Place.  You quickly realize that you are not alone when you walk into Leeza’s Place.  A spirit of family, of love, of caring creates joy, peace, and empowerment when life becomes overwhelming.  Caregivers become mentors.  Whatever phase of the journey, caregivers become the foundation for each other.  They give each other the strength to go on.  They cry, they laugh, they live one day at a time, but most importantly, they inspire others.  In the process of helping others, caregivers find the power and strength to help themselves as well.

Empowering programs offered at Leeza’s Place include:

 

Energize – Taking care of oneself is the most selfless act and number one priority for caregivers.  Burnout, depression, and stress can quickly rob caregivers of energy and the strength to continue with the “marathon” of caring for someone with memory loss.  At Leeza’s Place we offer fun, relaxation, and a big dose of pampering.  Throughout the year, we host several energizing and fun events for caregivers and the community, including: Fuzzy Slipper Night, Pajamas & Pampering Party, Building a Better Birdhouse Workshop, Afternoon Tea Party’s, Crochet Stress Away classes, Walk It Off walk group, and summer picnics… fun for the entire family but especially focused on offering much-needed TLC for the caregiver.

Weekly energizing programs offered at Leeza’s Place include:

 

A complete list of programs is available on our web site (www.leezasplace.org, select Joliet location) or by request (added to our monthly newsletter mailing list delivered hardcopy or electronically).

Volunteering at Leeza’s Place:

With the help of volunteers, Leeza’s Place is able to continue to design and offer new services and programs that provide a nurturing and life renewing place for caregivers and their loved ones to prepare for the journey ahead, and to stay on a safe course.  We are always looking for caregivers, professionals, and friends to help us with: community outreach, special events, and fundraising.


Funding Leeza’s Place:

Leeza’s Place is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization. ProvenaSaint JosephMedicalCenter’s Foundation provides general operating support to Leeza’s Place through the generosity of grant funders and private donors.

 

Hours:
Monday, 9AM – 5PM
Tuesday, 9AM – 5PM
Wednesday, 9AM – 8PM
Thursday, 9AM – 5PM
Friday, 9AM – 2PM
Other hours available by appointment

Contact Information:
Leeza’s Place atProvenaSaint JosephMedicalCenter
113 Republic Avenue,Suite105
Joliet,IL 60435
Ph: 815-741-0077
Fax: 815-741-7069
Web Site: www.leezasplace.org
E-Mail: kmiller@leezasplace.org
Contact: Kathy A. Miller, Leeza Care Advocate
Kim Jackson, Leeza Care Advocate Assistant