‘Hug tent’ provides safe embraces
LOUISVILLE, COLO. » Lynda Hartman needed a hug.
It had been at least eight months since she touched her 77-year-old husband, Len, who has dementia and has been at an assisted living center in suburban Denver for the last year.
Recently, she got a small taste of what life was like before the coronavirus pandemic.
Sort of.
Thanks to a “hug tent” set up outside Juniper Village at Louisville, Hartman got to squeeze her husband — albeit while wearing plastic sleeves and separated by a 4-millimeter-thick clear plastic barrier.
“I really needed it; I really needed it,” the 75-yearold said after her brief visit. “It meant a lot to me, and it’s been a long, long time.”
Hartman, who fractured two vertebrae and could no longer take care of her husband by herself, said she thought he was a little confused but that it was important for them to embrace again.
“We’ve been trying to do it for a long time,” she said. “It felt good. I kept hitting his glasses when I hugged him, though. And he got cold.”
Although the setup wasn’t ideal, Hartman said, “At least you can do something, and it’s important.”
Since the pandemic hit, similar tents have popped up around the country and in places like Brazil and England, where some people call them “cuddle curtains.”
The assisted living facility in the Denver suburb of Louisville, which has fully vaccinated its residents and staff, partnered with nonprofit health care organization TRU Community Care to set up the tent with construction-grade plastic on a blustery but warm winter
day in February.
“I think it’s just a huge weight off their shoulders, just being able to have that hug that they haven’t had in so long,” said Anna Hostetter, a spokeswoman for Juniper Village at Louisville. “When we were planning this and setting it up, and I saw pictures, I wasn’t sure if with all the plastic and everything you could really get that human contact. But I teared up on some of them. It was really special for our families.”
Staff are planning to keep hosting the hug tents.
For Gregg MacDonald, holding hands with his 84-year-old mother, Chloe MacDonald, was important
because they hadn’t touched since April. She likes to get updates on her grandson and granddaughter.
“Time is a precious commodity, so while we all wait to get back to more normality,
in the meantime, everyone is doing what they can,” Gregg MacDonald said. “So I appreciate any efforts that they are making to allow us to have more contact with everybody.”
Amanda Meier, project coordinator for TRU Community Care, said she, her husband and some volunteers built the hug tent around a standard 8-by-8foot popup frame and attached the constructiongrade plastic with glue and Velcro. Plastic arm sleeves built into the tent are attached with embroidery hoops.
Since the beginning of November, she has helped set up four hug tents in Colorado and said the feedback
has been positive.
“Lots of tears, but happy sort of tears, and a lot of shocked expressions of how in the world can we be doing something like this,” Meier said. “It’s so weird.”.
But after the initial weirdness, the benefits are clear, she said.
“You can see sort of relief in their bodies and their faces when they finally get to have that physical contact, which is really a basic human need,” Meier said. “And in these facilities, a lot of times they’re missing it anyway because they’re just not with their families. I don’t think it’s measurable, really. You just know it when you see it and feel it when you’re there.”
Feb. 22-28 is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, a national effort to make the public aware of the dangers and causes of eating disorders, their signs and symptoms and, what most individuals may not know, that recovery is possible.
This year, The Renfrew Center, the country’s first residential eating disorder treatment facility located in Philadelphia, is launching a concurrent national campaign called “Beyond the Screen” to shine a spotlight on the toll the pandemic has taken on individuals’ mental health. There is no denying screens are our lifeline right now, enabling us to remain connected to our families, friends and healthcare providers. But often the version of ourselves we present while video chatting is just a façade; in a year rife with unforeseen challenges, many of our lives Beyond the screen have far more layers than our one-dimensional, virtual selves reflect.
Eating disorders and body image issues are a source of distress that has been running rampant. In a culture obsessed with thinness, dieting and perfection, it can be difficult to recognize when a loved one — or even yourself — may be exhibiting thoughts or behaviors that have become high-risk, often leading to an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses that affect all ages, genders and races and, according to the National Association of Anorexia and Association Disorders (ANAD), about 30 million Americans of all ages and genders are suffering.
The number of women in midlife seeking treatment continues to rise and, according to ANAD, 13% of women over 50 experience disordered eating behaviors.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the most common types of eating disorders and their signs and symptoms. Recognizing an eating disorder and seeking treatment early on, can save a life.
Guide to different types
At The Renfrew Center, we know there is never a single cause for the development of an eating disorder. Rather, it’s a perfect storm made up of many factors. The three most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
Anorexia (clinically known as anorexia nervosa) is self-imposed starvation. Individuals with anorexia are often profoundly dissatisfied with their body image and usually express a strong desire to lose weight.
One of the key features of this disorder is denial. Although obsessed with food, individuals continually deny their hunger and do not recognize that they are physically and emotionally fragile.
Bulimia (clinically known as bulimia nervosa) is the repeated cycle of out-of-control eating followed by some form of purging. The purging associated with bulimia may be self-induced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics or obsessive exercising. Individuals with bulimia are preoccupied with their shape, weight and body image as a source of self-esteem.
Binge eating disorder (also known as compulsive overeating) is uncontrolled eating or bingeing followed by periods of guilt and depression. A binge is marked by the consumption of large amounts of food, sometimes accompanied by a pressured, frenzied feeling.
Warning signs
The following common warning signs may indicate someone may be suffering from an eating disorder. It’s important to remember that an individual may have symptoms of more than one of these diagnoses or may not show all the warning signs for a specific disease, but they may still need help.
Someone with anorexia may be thin and continue to be thinner, staying on a diet because she feels overweight due to a distorted body image. Excessively discussing food, cooking or dieting and allowing body image to be the primary factor to her selfworth may also be evident. Thinning hair or loss often occurs.
Someone with bulimia may engage in binge eating, particularly as a reaction to stress and may feel her eating is out of control. Engaging in vomiting, laxative use or exercise and using the bathroom frequently after meals are also signs. A person’s weight does not signal they are suffering from bulimia, although they may experience frequent changes in weight.
An individual with binge eating disorder turns to food as a way of coping with feelings, eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry. They may eat to the point of feeling uncomfortably full, followed by feelings of shame, guilt or embarrassment.
Women in midlife
For most people, the word eating disorder evokes thoughts of a thin teenager or young adult. However, eating disorders affect people from all walks of life. The Renfrew Center has seen an increase in the number of women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s seeking treatment for their eating disorder, often for the first time. Over the past decade, there has been a 42% increase in the number of women over the age of 35 who sought treatment at Renfrew.
Women in midlife face unique circumstances that may increase their vulnerability to developing an eating disorder. They may experience the same body dissatisfaction, body image distortions and fear of food that young women do, but these issues are often made more difficult to cope with when combined with the aging process. We live in a culture obsessed with thinness and youth, with constant media messages pressuring women of all ages, but particularly women in midlife, to alter their appearance or change themselves in some way to conform to that ideal.
Midlife women also experience unique milestones and life events, like divorce, grief/loss, infidelity, postpartum changes, empty-nest syndrome, menopause or career changes. These women may find it more difficult to seek help when experiencing these stressors due to feelings of guilt because they often must leave behind family members or jobs that rely heavily on their presence every day.
What to do if your loved one is suffering
Research shows the sooner an eating disorder is diagnosed and addressed, the more likely treatment will lead to sustained recovery. Don’t shy away from expressing your concerns with a loved one, but do recognize that a trusting relationship will make this easier.
Curb your impulse to comment on weight or appearance; even alarmingly underweight people are sensitive to any talk about their weight or shape and this may derail your interaction. Express concerns about general well-being first and then name the behaviors that trouble you.
For example: “I’ve noticed you don’t seem happy,” “I’m concerned something’s bothering you,” “You seem tired and distracted,” “I haven’t seen you eating much at mealtime,” “Are you having some problems eating?”
Remember, denial and shame accompany eating disorders: remain nonjudgmental, avoid pressing too hard, leave the door open for future conversations and continue to be aware of the loved one’s behavior at home or in social settings.
Eating disorders can be a matter of life or death. Knowing the signs and symptoms, providing early intervention and accessing appropriate treatment can give your loved one the opportunity to fully recover and lead a successful, eating disorder free life.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, speak with your primary care physician or a treatment facility, such as The Renfrew Center in Philadelphia or Radnor, Delaware County. Programming consists of a comprehensive range of services including day treatment, intensive outpatient and outpatient groups. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have temporarily shifted our day treatment and intensive outpatient programming to a virtual platform that is fully accessible to patients from the safety and comfort of their homes. Renfrew is accepting patients at its residential facility in Philadelphia and has put necessary procedures in place to ensure the continued safety and well-being of patients.
For more information, visit https://renfrewcenter.com or call 800-RENFREW.