ANAM CHARA WYOMING PART II

Anam Chara embodies new vision of growing older

By Christine Weber

Lifestyles Editor

TEN SLEEP – Peggy Tolman Quinn has a great respect and love for the elder population. As founder of Anam Chara – an assisted-living residence for elders – the home embodies a new vision of growing older.

“There is so much trauma in aging in our society,” said Quinn. “My vision for this came about during a traumatic time in my own life 16 years ago.”

What she calls as a ‘nervous breakthrough', Quinn not only suffered the death of her mother, but her grandmother and brother-in-law as well. She also went through a difficult divorce at the same time.

“There is a sacredness and importance to death. It is important to express love and forgiveness, making the grieving process easier to bear.” said Quinn

Shortly thereafter, Quinn – a registered medical technologist – was invited to attend an international hospital conference in Scotland on the isle of Iona.

While there she met a man who sensed Quinn wan an ‘anam chara'. As she explained it, anam chara is Gaelic for ‘soul friend'. In the ancient Celtic tradition it described a woman who served as mid-wife in all of life's major passages from birth through death.

Coming back from the conference Quinn knew she wanted to be this woman and live in a community with different generations. Leaving her former vocation, Quinn co-founded the elder home in Denver, Colo., and later a second home in Boulder, Colo., with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

It embodies her dream of bridging the medical model and holistic model of elder care by implementing teachings from both modalities.

“it is in the elder passages that Anam Chara places its focus,” said she. “An integration of physical, social, educational, emotional and spiritual assistance is offered to the residents and their families.”

Quinn is certified in a wide variety of holistic therapies. She has studied homeopathy, Reike and Bach flower remedies. Her practice at midwifing others through life passages includes the raising of three children, now “out in the world.”

Born and raised in Worland, Quinn is the daughter of Dean Tolman, a prominent rancher and artist, now retired. Once a vibrant and active man, her father's medical condition warranted living assistance.

Unable to leave her Colorado homes, she enlisted the help of her partner Don Henderson to care for her father.

Said Quinn, “Dad never had any sons of his own and what grew between them was a beautiful relationship.”

Wanting to bring an elder home to Worland, they knew Dean's Worland home was too small for such an undertaking. What Quinn describes as a miracle, the couple found and purchased a countryside home in Ten Sleep. Quinn' father now resides in Ten Sleep's Anam Chara

Quinn says she is now able to look at a totally different way of carrying her vision.

“My first home s I was the seed,” said Quinn. “I lived in the homes and cared for people. Now I feel the way this model is going to grow is for the community to commit.”

Continuing on she said, “I'm here to teach and mentor in caring for people differently – from birth to death.”

In the home, health care is holistic with self reliance being held as long as possible. So too are extensions of the arts of music, dance, pottery, painting, gardening and cooking.

Said Quinn, “In dealing with emotions, the well established body-mind relationship is upheld. This principle states that fear and guilt are counter productive to health and that love, joy and creativity are beneficial. Growth toward personal freedom from emotional bondage is actively pursued.”

Anam Chara's spirituality is inter-religious and trans-denominational. Each person is not only afforded total freedom in choosing his/her spiritual beliefs, they are also supported and facilitated in their personal practice.

So too is the sacredness of their death. Said Quinn, “Every death we have is a healing. We're here to create an environment to have the memory of their spiritual being.”

Daily News Photo by Christine Weber

From the Northern Wyoming Daily News of Worland Wyo. May 20 2003