Berryville, VA - This month's (March 2016) Art in Nature class focused on "Releasing Butterflies" and decorating tobacco boxes. Student ages range from their sixties to nineties.​
​  THE MOST REMARKABLE THING? Several people who have difficulty speaking the simplest words, due to their health conditions, were talking. In fact, one gentleman who saw the butterfly for the first time said, "Would you look at that?"
   Close to 30 residents at the Golden Living Assisted Living glued corn, beans and shiny things onto and into their cigar boxes donated by the ​John B. Hayes Tobacconist on Piccadilly St. in Winchester, Va..
  The air was fresh, right after a light rain. Residents released dozens of butterflies together. Sugar water on carnation flowers helped the butterflies hang around a while before flying off into the garden patio. 
   As always thanks Anne Perrault and Jacob for inviting Rene' Locklear White Sanctuary on the Trail artist to lead the monthly art classes.
   Special thanks to Diann Waddell and Orysia Nasar for volunteering this month. 
   Volunteers interested in helping Rene' in June please contact: renewhite64@gmail.com or call 540-554-8730.

​Psalm 118:24:  “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
 
Job 5:11: "He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."

Psalm 27:13-14: "I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be strong, and may your heart be stout; wait on the Lord."

Isaiah 41:10: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

John 16:33: "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world." 

Romans 8:28: "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"

Romans 8:37-39: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 15:13: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Philippians 4:6: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God."
​
Hebrews 13:5: "Let your lives be without love of money, and be content with the things you have. For He has said: 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'"

Berryville VA – Thirty senior citizens most in wheel chairs with brushes immersed in paint, decorated their Valentine hearts and 9” x 12” mixed media paper with lavender, topaz, rose, lime and turquoise paints, then glued down affirmations, shiny stones and faux feathers – “their love letters to the world.” Seven students from Clarke County High School helped.
  
The biggest surprises in February? Half of the class is men over 70 years old, 17 students showed up early, more arrived throughout the 2-hour class eager to participate.  
 
This class is fondly called, “My Love Letters to the World," and includes elements from Native American culture.
 
In partnership with Anne Perrault activities director Golden LivingCenter - Rose Hill in Berryville, I initiated this art therapy program after watching my own mother, my aunts in Berryville and Stephens City and friends struggle with aging dementia, paralysis, cancer and quality of life. I love watching them see the beauty in things like simple beads, swimming fish and flying butterflies. Still they find comfort and peace with Art in Nature.
 
I use everything I have, including my understanding of nature and Native American crafts to teach and entertain these remarkable elders. The goal is simple, to help improve their quality of life. My biggest wish?  I wish I had started sooner, so I could have loved this longer.
 
Our elderly still have a voice and are able to declare their words and feelings through colors, shapes and shiny things. Activities like this give them a tool to tap into a different part of their brain to access their voices through art and music and to speak to you. Art therapy also helps give life back to our elders and imparts empathy, understanding and gratitude onto caregivers.
 
Volunteers are needed to help with monthly classes. During our Mar. 9 class we combine Native American Indian medicine wheel, agriculture and nature. I could use help planning and funding April, May and June classes.
 
Each month, residents receive 60 participation points in the form of corn, beans and squash seed for showing up. In Native American Indian culture we call this seed-trio, the “Three Sisters.”
 
Corn, beans and squash provided an unwavering dietary foundation to indigenous people for 10,000 years, ironically now these seed serve as a replacement for money for our elderly who have little extra money to spend and fewer opportunities to go shopping. My mother’s living center uses “lima beans” for activity points.
 
But this is more than a fun art class. It is about honor.

In Native American culture, our elders are central to our family and old age is honored and celebrated.
 
Different cultures have similar values.
 
When I was stationed at military bases in the South Korea, Koreans have a fundamental value that dictates that one must respect one's parents and this respect, along with a sense of community, is the “root of humanity.” The Chinese hold this as the “highest virtue.” And in India, elders support the younger ones.

The Lakota Indians have a sacred saying, “Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ,” about being related. These words are often used at the end of a sacred prayer or ceremony and are so protected very few people actually know its significance. I will not attempt to explain the full meaning of “Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ” for fear I may misuse or dilute its true meaning. But the point is, as humans we are all related.
 
The Bible book of Leviticus 19:32 says, “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.”
 
In the military it is about, “esprit de corps” or “Band of Brothers.” We face dangerous circumstances together. We spill blood and struggle with life and death together. We are tied together by more than comradeship and a determination that comes from being together and seeing it through together.  
 
Seeing your loved ones grow old; being with them when they die; you growing old; someone being there for you when you pass over, these are shared struggles. Growing old and death is a natural rhythm of life.

At some point in the United States it has become socially acceptable to place our parents in retirement facilities. My mother moved to one by choice. Being in a retirement home is not a dishonor.
 
We honor our elders by visiting assisted living facilities and volunteering. If we avoid them, we are missing an important part of their life and our own life.
 
Let us not fear aging nor avoid those who do. If we fear aging, it keeps us from living full lives. Maybe we should call it esprit de life – a rite of passage. May we all share in it.

HELPERS NEEDED. 
 
Volunteers and donors are needed to help our elders declare their artistic independence. Artists and musicians are needed to help use art and music therapy to enhance the quality of life for our elderly patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other diseases. Seeking artists and non-artists, musicians, boy scouts, girl scouts, young adults to help assist with:

• Preparing for a unique art auction around the 4th of July celebrations
• Planning future classes for March, April, May and June
• Planning and holding a special graduation ceremony in July for senior citizens participating in the art therapy program
  
• Planning and holding “Three Sister Traders Post” for residents to trade their “Three Sisters” seed for little specials like air fresheners, socks and gift bags
• Contributing donations to stock the Traders Post and purchase supplies.  
  

 
Together we can reduce suffering helping our elders enjoy this amazing chapter of their lives with dignity and delight.
 
The next art therapy class for this session is scheduled for all Golden LivingCenter – Rose Hill Virginia residents on March 9. Volunteers interested in helping René or donating to the July Trading Post please contact her at 540-554-8730 or renewhite64@gmail.com or visit www.SanctuaryontheTrail.org.

Local Groups Help Residents Understand Medicare vs. Medicaid

By Merris Badcock
Senior Virginia Bureau Reporter WHAG-TV • NBC25 • Your4State

Native American Church elder Rene' White (Feather) completed her re-certification test with a passing score of 84% today, making this her second year as a certified-volunteer Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) counselor through the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA). Rene' founded the Medicare Cafe concept and helps people who need help with Medicare.

Native American Church of Virginia -- Not everyone can bring down a dead tree safely without preparing carefully and cutting correctly. Life is that way too.
   This particular 120' + feet dead pine tree caused fear in the heart and mind of one senior citizen who feared it will fall and destroy her home. So Chris cut it down.
   Now, cutting a tree is dangerous work. There is much to consider especially power lines, bouncing off branches and other buildings. But some people, like Chris, have the gift of preparing and sawing the tree to fall exactly where he or she intends it, by judging the fall, balance, leverage, lean, wind and rot.
   Some people's lives are filled with rotten trees, taking up space, causing fear, causing doubt, causing sickness. If you know someone who lacks the skills to get rid of the rot in their lives, encourage them to seek professional help.
  When we help others cut the bad out of their lives, we help them create new space for something good to grow. With practice and patience, and working together as neighbors caring for neighbors, we can learn to remove all the bad and create space for new possibilities in everyone's life.

      The Native American Church of Virginia (NAC of VA) is seeking volunteers to help more low-income families apply for and understand their Medicaid and Medicare benefits in 2015.
      “A lot of low-income individuals are eligible for help, but many don’t know how to apply nor have a computer.” said NAC of VA President René White (Feather). “They could be receiving “Extra Help,” lower premiums, in-home nursing care, light cleaning, lower prescription costs or even therapeutic shoes but more volunteers are needed.”

     In Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to expand Medicaid eligibility for low-income Virginians, according to sources. Wednesday’s budget (Dec. 17) release is expected to expand publicly funded Medicaid health insurance eligibility to 400,000 able-bodied, low-income adults.

     With more people getting older and seniors living longer, the need for understanding Medicare and Medicaid is growing.
     Anyone interested in becoming Medicare/Medicaid volunteer counselor, free training is available in every state. Those interested in volunteering in Virginia or learning more about what is available in their state can reach René directly below.