A CFS Village
April 28, 2007 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
There is a movement brought forth by the Well Spring Foundation in Langley, BC to start a wellness community for sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Subsidized housing (cottages) surrounding a wellness centre and mall, where patients can do a little shopping and relax with a cup of coffee.
Here is a little bit of the vision:
Imagine a landscape rising to your right and to the rear of the buildings. You are approaching the administration headquarters of the Foundation. You enter and on one wall are the Architect’s drawing of the Village; on the other wall is a special picture. On the main floor are the administrative offices of the Foundation and the Village. Upstairs is the residence for myself and family. Past the office is the main dining room that will seat over 300 people, and will also be used for Awareness Seminars, Educational Programs, and Entertainment etc. The dining room is very elegant, airy and has lots of windows. Past the dining room at the far end are doors to the town square.
Through an exit to the right of the Headquarters and connected by an enclosed walkway, is the Wellness Center Building. It is an open concept building centered on a mall or market place. Around the sides of the mall is the Coffee Shop and Ice Cream Parlour, General Store selling Watkins Products, the Craft Store, Hair Salon and Spa. In this mall residents can hang out and enjoy a game of chess, do a jigsaw puzzle, or just a cup of java. Off to one side the Wellness Center will also have the Complementary Alternate Therapies including our special tubs and saunas as well as our visiting specialists.
And here is a little more information surrounding the housing of the residents
These two buildings will be the first built and they will be the areas that the public are invited to come and view. Next will be the first of many cottages that will either house three or four residents or two couples, in their own separate living quarters with bedroom, bathroom and a small sitting room and kitchenette.
These cottages will be built around a town square concept; the road around the town square will only be open to golf carts and emergency vehicles. The town will have park benches, a town clock and be landscaped to entice the residents to come out of their homes and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the town square and get to know each other on their way back to full health. The residents will be allowed to roam the town square 24 hours a day, since some of the residents will be nocturnal. Accessibility to the dining room will also be 24 hours a day for residents and workers. The Village will be totally fenced and monitored. At the headquarters building will be lots of parking for visitors, volunteers, the public and staff.
A really important aspect to note here is, that this facility or compound will be as “green” as possible. The Wellspring foundation is looking at incorporating a living water septic system, and solar energy. I can only hope that most other toxins which can be found in new housing will also be eliminated.
More information can be found here
I am not advocating this type of living. I have nothing against living communally. This plan just seems a little strange to me. I haven’t spoken to the person running this foundation, nor will I be attending the open house that is scheduled for today. However, I do believe that it is very possible to be able to live independently while also living with CFS/FM. I just get the feeling that this compound is a prettied up version of living in a nursing home. I don’t know about you, but I have about 45 years plus of living before I end up in palliative care.
Besides, their vision makes me think that I would be living in an episode of The Prisoner (especially the driving of the golf carts). If you haven’t yet seen this remarkable television show (from the 60’s) check it out…it will definitely give your brain a work out.
There is no way that I will be known as the new number 6. And it could happen in that village.
Be Seeing You!
Wow, they’ve taken squeezing money out of sick people to twisted new heights. Coffee and ice cream? That’s just what people with inflammation and sleep problems need! Why on earth does it need to be fenced and monitored? Sounds like something out of science fiction.
Sylvia, I totally agree….
you should watch The Prisoner, and you will see why I believe this village idea came from the show.
I was just waiting to hear about the big floating bubble.
Valid questions you have, I am going to see if I can find some answers.
If any of you have any more questions (Sylvia included) leave a comment or email me….I am interested in finding out a whole lot more about this village.
Laura,
You may be able to live independently, but not all ME/CFS sufferers have the physical ability – or the support – to do so. I live independently myself, but I am fairly clear mentally and willing to be the “squeaky wheel” to get the care that I need. Not everyone is able to be like that! I am also blessed to live in Australia, where people with disabilities have some government support available.
I have 40+ hours per week of government paid help (care, cleaning, nursing), plus a very helpful flatmate, and other support systems for emergencies, and I *just* manage to cope… and I know many people who are sicker than I am. Some of them are in nursing homes, or have been in them – something like this would be a lot nicer than being surrounded by elderly people and staff who know nothing about ME/CFS or even doubt that it exists.
I agree with you that living in the community is preferable IF it is possible… but sometimes it is just not possible.
I don’t know anything about this proposal, or about you, except what is on this page. I know that this comment probably should be worded more politely, but I don’t have the energy. Please take my word that I don’t mean to be rude – the fact that people who have ME/CFS very severely are often not noticed is a sore point for me.
For anyone who is interested, the best information about severe ME/CFS that I know is at http://www.ahummingbirdsguide.com/
Best wishes,
r
PS
I hope they mean monitoring to keep everyone safe, not inside!
I know what you mean about Prisoner
Ricky,
Thank you for the insightful comment. Actually, I know just how lucky I am, that I am able to live independently….this was not always the case. The truth is though, I no longer have a choice. I don’t have any other kinds of options. I work very hard at having to manage an illness and whatever it takes to survive. And while I agree that a concept (the village) like this might be a good one ( I was quite excited about this village, before I read the details), there is something about these plans that just doesn’t sit right with me. And its not just one thing.
The fact that it states in the vision, that residents are “allowed” to walk through the village 24 hrs a day. Or that there are no cars are allowed on the compound, only golf carts (although if its for green reasons, i suppose i can understand that), and the stores selling only Watkins products (when she herself is a Watkins rep)….my list goes on and on.
Like I said, I have not spoken to the foundation, and I did not go to the open house. But this proposed site is less than an hr from my house, and I do plan on asking her some questions about her proposal.
Hopefully, I can get some answers, and will post them here, when I do.
Wow, just the word village along with the pictures triggered visions of “Prisoner”. I am just watching it for the first time. Some days I wish I had a small village with like minded people to live with. But I would be afraid that being around other suffering souls constantly would be a bit depressing, sometimes just going to a support group is too hard to deal with. I wouldn’t mind being pampered a bit tho’. I agree with Ricky, if I were unable to live independantly I would appreciate a community like that. I don’t know if my family would though. Hard to say unless you are in the situation.
Roxy,
The picture that I posted is actually from the Prisoner village. Like I said, I am quite conflicted about this village. I originally thought it was a good idea, until I read more about it….but you bring up a point that I hadn’t thought about, and that is the support group connection. This may be part of my problem with this village, since my experience with support groups was not a good one, this may be clouding my vision with this village.
As for being pampered, if you can manage to put aside a little extra money every month (doesnt have to be a lot) I will always suggest a monthly spa day. It’s a great treat, and will give you a little boost, when not feeling fantastic. If only because you come out of the spa feeling pretty.
I do a lot of wellness stuff, but the day spa makes me feel really good about myself (and very relaxed)…that doesn’t always happen at the other places.