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Living and Dying Program

The purpose of this program, which is already underway and in the process of expansion, is to provide healing services to people who are either facing the end of life or working to rebuild their life after experiencing a life-threatening illness or event. In addition, this program includes the development of an educational curriculum for health professionals and the general public about meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of people who are living at the end of life. As part of the Living and Dying Program, Ms. Altea and her RAHEF team provide visits to people in need, free of charge, at the RAHEF and in the healthcare setting. This program is directed by Ms. Altea, who has more than 25 years experience in practicing and teaching healing technique, and is conducted in close collaboration with medical professionals of participating hospitals and hospices.

Since the early sixties, horses have been recognized as valuable healing tools, and there are hundreds of therapeutic equestrian centers all over the country, helping make people’s lives more bearable through their therapeutic riding techniques. This Horses For Courses program will concentrate on providing a beautiful healing environment and in joining with a bonifide Equine Therapy Center based in Southern Vermont, to give aid and relief to the sick. Equine Therapy is used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders, including MS, mental illness, cerebral palsy and brain injury. According to the North American Riding for the Handicapped Ass. Inc. Hippotherapy, which means "treatment with the help of a horse", has benefited more than 26,000 riders with disabilities.
Our benefactor, Llewella Day, was a horse breeder and rider all her life, and it was her hope that we might somehow bring horses back onto the farm for the purpose of healing. Because of her tremendous love of horses, and her life long commitment to the health and well-being of her animals, this program, more than any other, is for her, and has been developed in her honor.

We are currently preparing for discussions with equine societies in the area for potential collaborative programs with them so that we’re ready once we have funding established
The program may also be combined with a children's day camp program.
As well as this, Rosemary is also affiliated with various hospice, cancer, rehab and loss organizations, for example, Imus’s organization, Tomorrow's Children, and so we’re preparing to also discuss possible collaborative projects with such organizations, including day camp for kids which will very possibly include equine therapy.

This program will serve to utilize the art of drawing and painting as a therapeutic approach to emotional, psychological, and spiritual healing for children who are facing a life-threatening illness or who have a family member facing a life-threatening illness. The program will include the development of an educational tool and curriculum, to allow children to express through art and color the emotional and physical areas they would like to feel better. Discussion and color visualization exercises will be facilitated by the RAHEF and child psychology professionals. In addition, a training program will be developed to instruct health professionals in how to use the curriculum in their own institutions. The purpose of the program is to build on coping skills and facilitate the healing process by allowing children to express their fear, sadness, anger, and other emotions through a non-threatening modality, and in a professional and supportive environment.  The program will be conducted in close collaboration with the child development and psychology professionals of participating children’s hospitals and treatment centers.

Camp Over-the-Rainbow for Kids

The most important thing to remember about children who are ill is that they are children. This program will serve to provide a fun and healing place for children who are facing a life-threatening illness or for children who are disadvantaged. Children and their families will spend their camp time at the RAHEF—600 acres of paradise in the Green Mountains of Vermont—participating in art therapy programs, enjoying nature, visiting with the animals, and doing what all kids do best—having fun. This program will include participation of necessary medical and psychology professionals, and will be conducted in close collaboration with children’s hospitals, treatment centers, children’s organizations, and their professional faculty.

Schools often provide excellent information on human biology, birth, growth, and overall health and well-being. However, rarely do they address the important questions children have about death. Too often, young children hear about the death of friend or loved one, do not understand what they hear, and become fearful. This program will serve to collaborate with school systems to provide an educational forum to address children’s questions and fears about death in a non-threatening and supportive environment. Working in close collaboration with school staff and child development professionals, this program will, in a gentle and loving way, utilize an age-appropriate curriculum to address dying as a natural part of living and to encourage open discussion of questions and fears about dying with parents, teachers, and health professionals.

This program will function to meet the RAHEF mission to provide healing services to animals, including both pets and wildlife. The launch of this program will include healing services provided by RAHEF staff, free of charge, at the RAHEF and in area animal shelters, veterinary centers, and rehabilitation sites.  In addition, the RAHEF will host educational seminars to provide vital information on health and healing of our animal friends for pet owners, and animal advocacy organizations and professionals. This program will be conducted in close collaboration with professional animal shelter, wildlife rehabilitation, and veterinary medicine organizations.