Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center
1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104

SEPTEMBER 17 @ 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Uncovering the Blessings of the Caregiver Journey –A Day of Reflection

Spend some intentional time this Spring being reaffirmed as a caregiver for someone with a long-term illness or condition, including, but not limited to, dementia. This retreat utilizes a lens for understanding the spiritual or meaningful dimensions of the caregiver role and is tailored to uplift participants who may or may not provide hands-on care for their loved ones, but who are actively involved in their lives.

Topics that will be explored are intrinsic to the caregiver journey, especially compassion/burn-out, family dynamics, the necessity of self-care, and the often conflicting emotions that accompany the caregiver journey. Throughout the program, participants will be invited to engage in storytelling, prayer/meditation, writing and other exercises that validate the caregiver experience and provide therapeutic tools for the ongoing commitment of caregiving.

The morning session will envelope the themes of caregiver grief, healing, and hope within each participant’s current circumstances while the afternoon session will concentrate on caregiver endurance and renewal. Resources will be offered in both sessions related to what is examined. A journal is a great companion for this program.

This registration is for the full day program, 9:30am-4pm. There is also an option for the afternoon session alone, 12pm-4pm, which may be helpful for those who cannot get away for the whole day. Lunch is included in either in both options. Guided by Gordon Creamer.

Gordon Creamer, creator of the Mission Bridge, earned his master’s in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University. He has been involved in programming and operations in healthcare since 2001 at various Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Hospice communities. Affirming the journey of adults, individuals with memory impairment and members of the LGBTQ+ community is a passion for him. In the last several years, he has fostered support groups and programs for caregivers and those who are grieving losses. Gordon is also a certified spiritual director who welcomes all in discovering the spiritual life as a means of healing, growing and thriving.

For more information, please visit

www.themissionbridge.com

Caregiver’s Retreat – FULL Day