Catch a Dream program catches on at Osgood facility
Cindy DiFazio - Staff Writer

On December 3 Mary Ann Patterson, a Manderley Health Care Center resident, boarded a plane to Glendale, AZ, fulfilling her dream to visit her cousin, Mary Grimes.

Before moving to Arizona 15 years ago, Grimes had been Patterson's "guardian angel" taking her home for visits and to church on Sundays. So, when Patterson was given the chance to make a dream come true, she knew exactly what she wanted - a plane ride to Arizona to visit Grimes and to go swimming.

Patterson was accompanied by health care administrator in-training, Monica Ogden. The pair stayed for three days. They visited with Patterson's family, went to church and went Christmas shopping. Patterson did not get to go swimming because the Arizona temperature did not get above 70 degrees during their stay. Upon their return to Indiana, Patterson went swimming at the new YMCA in Greensburg, completing her "dream."

In 2004 a wheel-chair lift van was purchased by the facility. The van allows residents access to many community activities such as shopping, picnics, fishing and dining out, to name a few.

The van also has facilitated a "Catch A Dream" trip. On December 12 the handicapped-accessible van left for Memphis, TN, to fulfill two more "Catch A Dream" wishes.

Two Manderley residents, Betty Brown and Louise Miller, shared a dream of visiting Elvis Presley's home, Graceland. Both women have been Elvis fans since his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. So, accompanied by Director of Nursing Melissa Neal, restorative aide Roberta Scott, and Activity Director Teresa Sparkman, Brown and Miller enjoyed a two-day motel stay in Memphis, and admissions to Graceland. They also toured Beale Street and shopped at Peabody Place.

"Catch A Dream" operates from donations and fund-raising efforts. The community and Manderley staff, as well as residents' families have generously supported the effort.

For the Memphis trip, AmVets #17, Versailles, donated funds. Also helping out was an organization out of Indianapolis, "Never Too Late," that specializes in making senior wishes and dreams come true. "Never Too Late" paid for the motel room and Graceland admissions.

To contribute to "Catch A Dream," mail donations to Manderley Health Care Center, Activity Department, 806 S. Buckeye Street, Osgood, IN 47037. For more information, contact Teresa Sparkman, activity director, at 812-689-4143.