Embracing the Human Spirit
A Brief History of Whole Person Care at Gaylord
August 3, 2023
The roots of Gaylord's integrative, whole-person care go back to its beginnings in 1902 as a tuberculosis sanatorium. The treatment for TB could mean many months or years of recovery at a sanatorium. At the turn of the century, families didn't have insurance to help cover illness and prolonged hospitalizations, and a health crisis could financially devastate a family. The stresses of home, family, and work obligations could weigh heavy on patients, hampering their recovery.
Because Gaylord physicians and staff understood the personal and emotional impact of hospitalization, they created opportunities to lessen the stress and financial burden. One of the first initiatives was a magazine agency, created in 1915, which employed patients during their stay at Gaylord. Organizations like the New Haven Library and the Graduate Club ordered magazines through the agency. In its first year, the enterprise returned about $700 to patients.
The staff also pioneered an approach focused on healthy food, fresh air, and family connections. Children were encouraged to visit because the staff believed patients could not get better if they were worried about their families.
A Silver Lining
In 1923, Mary Beehler introduced the skill of silvercraft to Gaylord as a form of occupational therapy and vocational training. With the help of a former patient, Gaylord Silvercraft was established in collaboration with Wallace International and Gorham Silver. It was a perfect fit for an institution whose neighboring town, Meriden, was known as the "Silver City."
Patients hand-wrought various items, marked with a winged hammer hallmark, that included bracelets, letter openers, crosses, rings, and pins. The shop's signature item was table flatware, including specialty pieces such as bonbon spoons and asparagus servers. During the first year of operation, the shop sold $700 worth of silver goods, and the patients earned $413. In the second year, patient earnings more than tripled to $1,500. Hundreds of patients made money to pay their bills and support their families as they learned a valuable trade they could use after discharge. Gaylord Silver Craft closed in the 1960s.
Caring for the whole person has always been a core Gaylord value and is seen as integral to a patient’s recovery, whether recovering from TB in 1902 or a spinal cord injury in 2023.