Loneliness and Isolation Can Have a Terrible Impact on Your Health
Aging isn’t optional, but isolation, loneliness, and boredom can be!
According to a 2020 study by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, social isolation and loneliness . . .
Increases the risk of a premature death.
Increases the risk of dementia by approximately 50%.
Increases the chance of heart failure or coronary heart disease, hospitalization, emergency room visits, and stroke.
Thyme 4 Friends is on the frontlines combatting this epidemic. Just like our namesake herb—thyme—we want to be known as your mood enhancer, immunity booster, and a community that improves your overall well-being.
Our goal is to stimulate a senior’s mind, body, and soul. And because we measure our success in smiles, laughter, and “time flies when you’re having fun” moments, every encounter will have participants excited for the next class.
You’re in the right place, if you believe:
Senior adults have still incredible memories yet to be made.
Growing old can be an exciting and wonderful time.
The “golden years” represent rich life experiences that we can all benefit from.
The elderly should be able to receive in-home care, rather than being made to leave it for socialization, stimulation, and support.
A fun and engaging community is the best way to beat to boredom.
It’s never too late to learn, make new friends, and have new experiences.
Spoiling grandkids is both a right and a privilege.
Our commitment to you is that we will always be a safe and consistent venue for seniors, as well as their families and caregivers. We will always strive to be a fluid and flexible community of friends as we regularly meet to elevate one another's mind, body, and spirit.
Whether Thyme 4 Friends is your favorite senior’s social hour for the week, for the day, or they show up to every available class, we promise to celebrate every moment that we have together.
A Note from Our Founder
I still can’t believe how lucky I am to get to do this work every day!
When the pandemic struck, I went from thinking about retirement to working seven days a week—and loving it!
Supporting senior adults is my passion, and I’ve found that each and every one has enhanced my life more than I could imagine. Whether they’re sharing a giggle-worthy joke or a touching memory from decades ago, the members of our community continue to show me that growing older can be done with gusto.
If you’re not familiar with T4F, let me tell you a little more about us in the hopes that you’ll entrust your loved one to our care . . . because we do caring really well.
Thyme 4 Friends is an outgrowth of my work with seniors in roles such as the Assistant Director of Plymouth Harbor Adult Day Program in Atlanta and Activity Director at Brighton Gardens of Dunwoody, Ga. With a degree in business management and a double minor in education and psychology, my career has been shaped by serving my favorite demographic: those over 50 years of age.
In fact, I’ve had so much fun working with senior adults that when my then eight-year-old granddaughter, Marti, joined me at “the office” one summer, she came home excited to tell her mom that she wanted to be an Activity Director! Marti said it was like being at a party every day, and though this was a while back, it’s still my goal for each participant. Whether our community is engaging in trivia time, stretch exercises, or brain games, I want everyone to be rejuvenated in body, mind, and spirit.
That brings us to Thyme 4 Friends. Though this community didn’t always have a name, it was an idea in my mind and heart for many years. I wanted the opportunity to care for more seniors, especially those who wanted to stay home rather than living in a facility or traveling to another location.
I believe families should be able to keep their loved ones home forever, and that it is possible to have an in-home support system that not only sustains them, but adds value to their later years.
And though none of us planned for the pandemic, Thyme 4 Friends was a silver lining. While all of the adult daycare programs were closing, I knew that so many seniors still needed social stimulation—and I realized that I could provide an essential alternative. Staying socially distant may be a physical requirement, but it doesn’t have to be an emotional one.
In such an isolating year, our community found hope and healing together. And we are now excited to offer this opportunity to more seniors like you or your loved one.
We have big plans for the future and would love for you to be part of them. Please let us know how we can support you!
Marlene Russell, Founder of Thyme 4 Friends