Laurie Kay and Leslie SanFilippo, founders of the non-profit Stardust Sanctuary in Hampshire, both know how spending time with a horse can be a good experience for people who are facing physical or mental health challenges.
Almost 10 years ago, SanFilippo would drive her mother, Carol, to visit Kay’s two horses that were being boarded at Tenaya Farm in Woodstock.
Carol was battling Alzheimer’s disease at that time. She was a member at Senior Services Daycare on Grove Street in Elgin. When people noticed that Carol was smiling more often and sleeping more soundly through the night as a result of her time at the farm, other daycare members also wanted to visit the horses.
When Senior Services Daycare shut down in Elgin, Cherished Place Adult Day Services stepped in. They operated in Elgin for three years until they moved to 417 West Main Street in West Dundee. Cherished Place currently has two locations, one in West Dundee and one at 800 West Oakton Street in Arlington Heights.
“The West Dundee location is a satellite facility for adult day care only,” said Debbie Chwalinski, nurse director at Cherished Place in West Dundee. “The Arlington Heights facility has been in operation for the past 20 years.”
Membership at Cherished Place in West Dundee includes hot lunch plus morning and afternoon snacks, medication administration, on-site nurse, personal care assistance including showering, and activities such as art classes, exercise, Bible study, computer access and baking classes.
SanFilippo’s mother died before Cherished Place moved to West Dundee. SanFilippo’s father, John, now enjoys spending time at Cherished Place.
Stardust, which currently has seven horses, brought two from its team, Ariel and Jazzy, to visit with Cherished Place members in West Dundee on Friday, Nov. 13.
According to its website, Stardust Sanctuary is affiliated with O.K. Corral Series and The Homes for Horses Coalition.
Stardust started an Alzheimer’s Enlightenment program because its founders believe that “horses can affect the brainstem in a positive, focused way by repetitive motion such as grooming and walking. The present moment can bring us to an awareness which can build memories and open us up to more.”
Stardust also has an animal interaction workshop for children known as “Twinkle Stars.” Kay and SanFilippo believe that “children want to feel safe and secure. Horses want the same. A child is a natural leader. When a horse does cooperate with a child, inner love and self-esteem improve.”
In addition to its horses that are used for groundwork therapy sessions, Stardust has a foster program for small and large animals. It also has an animal network for pets whose owners can no longer keep them and for special needs animals that cannot be placed.
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While Stardust is currently renting space for its operation in Hampshire, SanFilippo said it is on the lookout for its “forever home.”
A food drive for horse, dog and cat food and/or financial donations for Stardust is running until the end of November.
For more information, contact Bob Petit at (815) 529-1148; [email protected].
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.