Established in
Bradford Vermont
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Back to Testimonials
A quote from the brother of a Resident living at Merry Meadow Farm for over 15 years.
"For over 15 years my brother has been a resident of Merry Meadow and during that time he has come to regard it as his home in the best sense of the word. The staff members have become a second family to him. He trusts them and relies on them on a day-to-day basis to support him when he is having a rough time, and to encourage him when he is striving to move forward.
The key to Merry Meadow's therapeutic approach seems to be a philosophy that first and foremost finds a way to make each resident feel safe and comfortable, and then provides them with a variety of opportunities to grow and experience life. There is a constant effort to find new ways to make each Resident's life better, both within their residence and outside Merry Meadow. For my brother this has meant everything from midnight snowshoeing, to one-one-one accompaniment to family weddings, to having specialized exercise equipment in his room. He has traveled with the Merry Meadow group, gone long distance biking and canoeing, enjoyed holiday parties and weekly social events. When he has been feeling good he has had the opportunity to take classes and do volunteer job work. When he has been feeling bad, he has had endless hours of attention from well-trained, caring staff members who have learned to speak the particular language of his illness.
At times the attention my brother has needed has been clinical in nature -- medication titration, psychotherapy, crisis intervention. Most of the time though his needs have been much more basic. He's needed someone to guide him through the small problems that trip him up, to put an arm around him when he's feeling down, to help him interact with a world that is often intimidating to him. Time and again, staff member after staff member has worked to find a particular approach to dealing with the latest challenge. Merry Meadow has provided the continuity my brother needs to feel secure and comfortable, plus the flexibility to adjust to his needs as they change over time.
Perhaps the hallmark of Merry Meadow's approach is their ability to provide each Resident the individualized care demanded by the complexities of their specific mental illness. Within a quiet rural setting, with a team of big-hearted people, they are able to give the clients space to live and grow as best they can despite their handicaps. Whenever I hear talk of heroes in our society, I always think about the people who I consider the biggest heroes in my world, those who dedicate themselves to making life better for people whose problems are so great that their own families cannot care for them. That especially includes those who have been watching out for my brother at Merry Meadow and I recommend them to anyone who wants to provide care for a loved one with mental illness beyond what they are capable of providing alone.
Sincerely,
Kevin K.
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