Shanti Potts isn’t nearly as concerned with the appearance of her Clark County memory loss support groups as she is with the aid it gives participants. Potts groups don’t have a website, or even a definitive name. All that matters to her is helping those who come.
Potts facilitates three different meetings for early stage memory loss victims and their families. One group meets the first Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Vancouver, another is the second Monday of every month at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran in Vancouver and the final group meets every fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Vancouver.
Potts said facilitation of the first two groups is done by her and another woman, Opal Swanson. Potts leads the Grace Lutheran Church meeting by herself and is described as more “activity based” than the others.
“Our group meetings usually start with a social hour and announcements of things happening in the community,” Potts said. “From there we split into three groups, one for the people with memory loss that’s a bit more geared for newer members, another for those looking for deeper support and one for the families who are supporting them.”
Potts said the family participation aspect of the support groups is key.
“They’re the one’s who are their primary caretakers through this debility,” she said. “It also helps family members stay connected in their relationships. When memory loss happens to a spouse, say, becomes a caretaker too and it can become hard to maintain those connections.”
Potts said her meetings never have predetermined ending times because she doesn’t believe it serves the purpose of her groups.
“This is about ‘people’ and some people need to talk more when they’re in crisis,” she said. “And it doesn’t bother me, I’m helping people who are struggling through this terrible condition and I love to do that.”
Potts’ groups normally have between 15-25 people. She said most newcomers are overwhelmed and anxious.
“Within six months to a year down the road though, they start to feel better and start to have hope,” she said.
Potts said another component to the support groups is monthly dining retreats. One of the usual eateries is Mill Creek Pub in Battle Ground where Potts said owner Russell Brent always gives them a private room. At another regular pizza joint, Potts said the same waiter always serves the group and — in case they forget — has memorized what each person with memory loss likes to eat and drink.
“We’ve got a good thing going with these groups here in Clark County,” Potts said.
Potts said the groups are volunteer based and are not for profit. She said running them stems purely out of passion.
“It’s everyone’s biggest wish to live and die in their own home,” Potts said. “We’re helping them as much and as long as we can.”
