DONT STOP DREAMIN

Don’t Stop Dreamin’ (DSD) is a 501c(3) nonprofit, based outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2012 by Mary Susan Tack-Yurek, Chief Quality Officer of Quality Life Services and President of Don’t Stop Dreamin’. DSD grants dreams for residents living in Quality Life Services ten (10) personal care facilities, as well as patients in Three Rivers Hospice. Our mission is to create everlasting memories that enrich the lives of our residents by bringing joy and happiness through the granting of their dreams. While caring for our residents, we have learned that many of them have spoken about things they wish they had done, or things that they would like to do, before time runs out. This is how Don’t Stop Dreamin’ was created.

To our knowledge, no other nursing home facility offers such an incredible opportunity for their residents and patients. Quality Life Services is family owned and operated for over 50 years and takes pride in giving the best care possible. Every facility has a Dream Ambassador that is responsible for both submitting applications and coordinating with residents and their family members regarding their dream requests. Extreme consideration is given to every request to ensure the safety of the resident or patient. DSD utilizes their own wheelchair accessible van and a TracFab All Terrain Wheelchair, where required to fulfill dreams.

Since 2012, DSD has fulfilled over 500 dreams for our residents and hospice patients, some of which are either terminally ill, elderly, or nearing the end of life. For all dreams that require leaving the facility, a nurse or aid is also paid to travel along to ensure the safety of the resident. DSD also pays for family members to accompany them on the dream to share in the experience with their loved one. In addition to fulfilling dreams, we are also creating everlasting memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Listed below are just a few examples of recent dream requests completed:

• Sarah, a mother of two, severely weakened from battling cancer, and no longer able to care for her two young children, requested a visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo to recapture a special day that she had shared with them there, prior to her diagnosis. Many tears of happiness, hugs, and an abundance of smiles were had that day, in addition to the memories and photos that Sarah’s daughters will have forever.

• Iris, a resident at our New Castle facility, and also a United Stated Army Veteran, shared a conversation that she missed her son very much and that she had not seen him in over two years. Sadly, her son did not have the financial means to get back to Pennsylvania to visit with his mother. To her surprise, DSD flew him in from Texas and held a family gathering with dinner for everyone. The entire family was so thankful for this opportunity, but more importantly, Iris and her son were reunited, if even for just a short visit.

• A staff member at our Westmont facility overheard residents reminiscing about memories of watching movies at a drive-in theater. The resident council requested a dream for an outdoor movie theater night for ALL the residents to participate in. DSD purchased a projector, an outdoor screen, and even a slushy machine! Everyone had a wonderful time enjoying the movie, wrapped up in blankets this past August. This equipment can now be shared with the other nine facilities for all to enjoy an outdoor movie night.

In the past, we have given other residents and patients the dream of flying in a hot air balloon, a helicopter, and an airplane ride. For others, it was a trip to the local casino, a chance to attend a Pittsburgh Pirates home game, or a 102nd birthday celebration with family and friends. We’ve sent others to see their favorite musicians, such as George Strait, Bruce Springsteen, and The Rolling Stones.

While those are some of the more elaborate requests, we also receive dreams for items as simple as a new pair of slippers, books to read or color, or a small tree to decorate for the seasons. For some, that is all that it takes to give them the will to fight their illness, or more importantly, their will to live. In addition to fulfilling dreams all year long, during the holiday season, we work with our facility administrators to provide small gifts for our residents that no longer have family or friends to visit.