Avoid Resident-on-Resident Violence in

Transcription

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Massachusetts Chapter Newsletter
Vol. 24, No. 1 • Winter 2006
www.alzmass.org
24-Hour Helpline: 1.800.272.3900
The Alzheimer’s Association serves the entire state
from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.
Ask the Right Questions
Mark Your Calendars Now!
Avoid Resident-on-Resident
Violence in Nursing Homes
See pages 12-13 for details.
By Paul Raia, Ph.D., Director of Patient
Care and Family Support
Thursday, March 9 to
surprising, since these incidents mostly
took place in Alzheimer’s special
care units.
There is no question that most longterm care facilities in Massachusetts are
indeed safe places, but there is a growing
public awareness, fostered by the local
media, that resident-on-resident violence
can be a problem.The good news is that
when family members, direct-care staff,
administrators, and state regulators work
together, this problem can be reduced or
even eliminated.
Assessing the number of violent incidents in assisted-living centers is difficult
because this data is not available to the
public. However, in recent months, the
Boston media has reported deaths, sexual
assaults, and other injuries caused by resident-on-resident violence. In all cases,
continued on page 21
PHOTO BY MARK LUINENBURG, ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION
It is hard to know exact figures concerning resident-on-resident violence in
nursing homes and assisted-living facilities because only a small fraction of these
incidents are reported. Generally speaking, only altercations that result in significant injury find their way into state
records. However, in a 2004 article in
The Journal of the American Medical
Association, Shinada-Togawa, the principle investigator, found 1,132 reported
cases of resident-on-resident violence in
Massachusetts in 2003, resulting in 294
serious injuries: 39 fractures, 106 dislocations, 105 bruises, 13 lacerations, and 31
head injuries. Pushing accounted for 64
percent of these injuries, with hitting,
biting, throwing objects, and stabbing
being the other means of aggression.
Men were twice as likely as women to
be responsible for this violence. Some 72
percent of the injured patients had been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, not
Using this study, we can compile a rough
profile of the typical resident apt to
exhibit aggressive behavior.This person
is a mobile, verbal male in his mid-seventies who is agitated, paranoid, and
delusional. He wanders in and out of
other residents’ rooms and is known by
the staff as having the potential for violence. He is most likely cognitively
impaired, perhaps diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s or a vascular dementia.
Fourth Annual
Flower Show
Saturday, March 11, 2006, Burlington
Fifth Annual
African-American
Community Forum
Friday, April 7, 2006, Dorchester
Run with the Alzheimer’s
Association Team in the
Boston Marathon
Monday, April 17, 2006,
Hopkinton to Boston!
Map Through the Maze
Wednesday, May 3, 2006, Marlboro
See pages 14-20 for details, and online
at www.memorywalkma.org
inside
From the President ......2
Public Policy................4
Annual Meeting...........5
Early-Stage Programs ...7
Medicine & Science.....8
Steger Concert...........10
Special Thank-You’s ...11
Memory Walk.......14-20
Support Groups ....23-24
The Alzheimer’s Association: the compassion to care, the leadership to conquer
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2 • MA Chapter Newsletter • Winter 2006
2005-2006 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Paul Attea, JD, Chairperson of
the Board
Mary Ann Marino, Vice Chair
Jeffrey Berry, PhD, Treasurer
Paul Donovan, JD, Clerk
Directors
Sandy Albright, Chair, Public
Policy Committee
Sanford Auerbach, MD
Edward Benz
Jane Cloutterbuck, PhD, RN
Peter Cohan, MBA
David Drachman, MD
Lillian Glickman, PhD
Karen Gold
Ann Hurley, DNSc, RN
Charles V. Keane*
Pamela Kunkemueller
Janet Lawrence, MD
Benjamin Liptzin, MD
Joseph Martini
Nancy Fernandez Mills
Timothy Morrison, MBA
Mary Pacella
Vincent Pina
Alan Rosen
Marcia Simons*
Stanley Solomont, BSB*
Reisa Sperling, MD, Chair,
Med/Sci Advisory Committee
Paul Stuka
Nelson Kin-Man Wong, MPH,
MSW
*Emeritus
Statewide Advisory Committee
Roberta Rosenberg, MEd, Chair
Ronald Agel, MBA
Betty Avruch
Frank Avruch
Richard Blinn
Mitchell Clionsky, PhD
Al Davis
Marcy Eisenberg
Martha Fields
John Ford, J.D.
Benjamin Foster, MBA, MLS
Fred Goldstein, JD
Gloria White Hammond, MD
George Hsu, MD
Joan Hyde, PhD
Diane Isenberg
Joan Johnson
James Keegan
Steve Kravetz
The Honorable Brian Lees
Suzanne Lissy
Rev. Thomas Mayers
Susan McDonough, MPA
Valerie Nolen
Nancy Quill
Bernard Reisman, PhD
Elaine Reisman, MEd
Kathleen Salmon-Robinson,
MHSA
Nina M. Silverstein, PhD
Kathy Simon
Paul Solomon, PhD
Rudolph Tanzi, PhD
Gerry Weber
President and
Chief Executive Officer
James Wessler, MBA
Newsletter
Betsy Fitzgerald Percoski,
Executive Editor
Stephen Anable, Editor
© 2006 Alzheimer’s Association,
Massachusetts Chapter, Inc.
Brian K. Johnson, Design Consultant
Printed by Printech
V I S I T
From the President
The year 2005 has come to a close,
and it has been a remarkable time
for the Alzheimer’s Association.We
celebrated our 25th anniversary, and,
with the leadership of our Board and
Statewide Advisory Committee, pursued an anniversary campaign that
brought critical new funds to the
Association, expanding our reach throughout
the Commonwealth.While the campaign will
continue through the spring of this year, it has
already yielded impressive results.
For example, we have launched new, in-depth
family care consultation services at each of our
five offices.We have invested in efforts to raise
public awareness about dementia, and added staff
to provide training for families and professionals
and conduct expanded community education
programs out of each regional office.We have
also allocated Association funds to support the
cutting-edge research program of the
Association.
All of this has happened during a period when
many events “competed” for our nation’s compassion.We are very proud that—with all of
these demands—our chapter was able to
respond to needs far from home. Last fall, two
members of our staff spent two weeks in
Louisiana and Mississippi, training professionals
and assisting Alzheimer’s families displaced by
hurricane Katrina.We were part of a national
effort to support the Mississippi and Louisiana
chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association.
311 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617.868.6718 • Fax: 617.868.6720
En Español: 617.868.8599
Outside the 617 area: 1.800.272.3900
www.alzmass.org
U S
O N L I N E :
However, we realize that our overwhelming commitment is to the
140,000 families in Massachusetts who
are living with Alzheimer’s every day.As
our 26th year unfolds, we reaffirm our
commitment to support these families
and professional caregivers, to advocate
on behalf of people with dementia, and
to fund medical research that may yield significant breakthroughs in the battle with
Alzheimer’s.
During these chilly weeks of January, perhaps
my using a weather analogy is appropriate. For a
long time after its founding, the Alzheimer’s
Association labored through dark and cold years
when progress against the disease seemed fleeting. Just as spring beckons two months from
now, so 2006 beckons with potential advances
against dementia, bringing us closer to our goal
of a world without Alzheimer’s.Without your
support, we would not be anticipating such
hope and progress.Thanks—to all of you!
James Wessler, President and CEO
[email protected]
Cape Cod & Islands: 508.833.8404
Lowell Area: 978.937.5576
Western MA: 413.787.1113
Worcester: 508.799.2386
W W W . A L Z M A S S . O R G
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Winter 2006 • MA Chapter Newsletter • 3
Volunteer Corner: A Conversation
Name: Kathi Coston
Hometown: Norwood, MA
How long have you been involved
with the Alzheimer’s Association,
Massachusetts Chapter?
I began volunteering at the
Alzheimer’s Association almost three years ago.
Originally, I thought I might help with some
clerical work or mailings, but upon realizing
that I had a background as a therapist, the
Helpline coordinator encouraged me to train as
a Helpline counselor.
Why did you become a volunteer?
My father died of Alzheimer’s disease three-anda-half years ago. Shortly after he was diagnosed,
I began to do some reading to learn about the
disease.At that time, I had no idea what to
expect in the future, what services might be
available for my dad, or even what we, as a family, needed to know.The Alzheimer’s Association
proved to be incredibly helpful.Through the
information and support they provided, I was
able to help my parents prepare for
the future and cope better with the
day-to-day problems that arose.
After my father’s death, I wanted to
volunteer in order to help others
the way I’d been helped.This has
allowed me to feel a special ongoing connection with my dad.
What is your biggest accomplishment as a
volunteer?
I have no one big accomplishment. I just love
the sense of being able to connect with people
over the phone so that they feel supported and
know that they are not alone in trying to deal
with this difficult disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association counts on more than
35,000 volunteers nationwide.The work of volunteers
is truly appreciated by the Association, and we offer a
wide variety of positions to meet your specific talents
and needs. If you’d like to receive more information
about volunteer opportunities, please contact the
Association at 1.800.272.3900 or
e-mail [email protected].
Regional Offices Expand Their Services
New staff and expanded services are helping the
offices in the Southeastern MA-Cape Cod and
the Islands and in the Northeastern MAMerrimack Valley regions of the state do more
for people and families affected by dementia.This
expansion follows the opening of new offices in
Worcester (2002) and Cape Cod (2003).
Judy Elste has been appointed coordinator for
the Southeastern MA-Cape Cod and the Islands
office. She will be based in the Sandwich office,
expanding the Association’s outreach, education,
and support in Barnstable, Bristol, and Plymouth
counties. She will be working closely with office
Coordinator Diane McCafferty, who will now
concentrate on expanding care consultation and
family support in the region.A graduate of the
University of Rhode Island, Judy is currently
earning a master’s degree in gerontology from
UMass Boston. Her previous experience includes
seven years with Bristol Elder Services and longtime involvement with Alzheimer’s issues.
2 4 - H O U R
volunteers
and staff
Debra Katt-Lloyd’s position has expanded to
coordinator for the Northeastern MAMerrimack Valley region. Like Judy, she will
focus on outreach, education, and support, and
on raising awareness of the Association’s services.
Previously, she held a dual role in the Association,
as greater Lowell coordinator and statewide
support group liaison. Based in the Lowell office,
she will continue to present Maintain Your
Brain™ workshops, which provide the public
with information about lifestyle habits that can
contribute toward brain health.
H E L P L I N E :
Volunteer
recognition
Congratulations to Joanne
Koenig-Coste (below, left),
lecturer, author, and dedicated Alzheimer’s
Association volunteer.
Joanne was recently recognized by Women in
Development of Greater
Boston (W.I.D.) with their
Community Cornerstone
Award for her outstanding
work with the Alzheimer’s
Association. As part of the
organization’s anniversary,
the Community Cornerstone Award was created
to honor and salute 25
extraordinary women who
have made a significant
impact in the community.
1 . 8 0 0 . 2 7 2 . 3 9 0 0
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public policy
Public Policy Update
By Kate Doyle-Boudreau, Director of Public Policy
Get
Involved!
You can get involved
in our Quality of
Care Campaign supporting legislation
and regulations to
help families living
with Alzheimer's.
Please join us in our
efforts to improve the
quality of care in
nursing homes and
assisted-living residences. For more
information: Kate
Doyle-Boudreau,
Director of Public
Policy, 617.868.6718,
ext. 2003 or
[email protected].
The Alzheimer’s Association Quality of Care
Campaign has been moving through the legislative and regulatory process. Our nursing home
bill, Senate Bill 420,An Act Relative to
Dementia Care Special-Care Units in LongTerm Care Facilities, was heard by the
Committee on Elder Affairs in October.The
Association’s testimony was presented by our
own CEO, James Wessler; Director of Patient
Care and Family Support Dr. Paul Raia; our
Helpline coordinator, Lindsay Brennan; and a
panel of health care professionals.All of our
attendees spoke on the merits of the legislation
and urged that the legislature enact it in a timely
manner.The benefits of the legislation include
having criteria for special-care units, staff training, resident safety, and therapeutic activities.
The legislation also contains many other provisions that will go far towards enhancing the
quality of life and safety for nursing home residents with dementia.
Impaired Assisted-Living Residents, was heard in
November.Again, the Association had a panel
presentation that consisted of family
member/board member Mary Pacella; Dr. Paul
Raia; and James Wessler.We stressed the importance of improving the quality of life for residents with dementia in assisted-living facilities.
The Special Commission on Assisted Living has
now adjourned and has made a series of recommendations on how to further regulate assistedliving residences to improve the quality of life
for residents with dementia. Proposed regulatory
changes would address the criteria for designation of special-care units, including dementia
care; staffing and training; quality assurance and
improvement; accountability; and disclosure.We
are looking forward to a regulatory hearing in
2006.To support our goal to improve the quality of life for people with dementia or for more
information, please contact Director of Public
Policy Kate Doyle-Boudreau at 617.868.6718,
ext.2003 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Our assisted-living legislation, House Bill 163,
An Act Relative to Services For Memory-
Association Collaborates on Dementia Care Practices
A central part of the mission of the Alzheimer’s
Association and Quality Improvement
Organizations (Q.I.O.s) is to improve the quality
of care and life for nursing home residents. Since
over half of nursing home residents in the
Commonwealth have dementia, special consideration of the unique needs of this population
is critical.
The Massachusetts Chapter is working with the
Massachusetts Quality of Life Coalition to
improve nursing home care.The mission of this
coalition is to support the nursing home community to create a person-centered living environment in which staff and residents can thrive.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2005 Dementia
Care Practice Recommendations for Nursing Homes
and Assisted-Living Residences, which is available at
www.alz.org/health/care/dcpr.asp, is a guide
providing consistent, high-quality care to residents with dementia. Its recommendations are
based on the fundamental principle that effective
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
care must be person-centered.This approach to
care involves knowing the resident’s abilities, life
story, and preferences, and using this information
to tailor care to the resident’s needs.
During the next three years, the Q.I.O.s, with
funding through their contracts with the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
will provide, among other things, technical assistance to nursing homes designed to help them
deliver optimum care to their residents.
The long-term care community is quickly realizing the extensive benefits developed through
partnerships among stakeholders committed to
improving nursing home care. In the spirit of
cooperation, the Massachusetts Chapter is committed to engage in partnerships around common goals related to dementia care and quality
improvement.
—Kate Doyle-Boudreau, Director of Public Policy
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PHOTOS BY BEST VALUE PHOTOGRAPHY
25th Annual Meeting
New board members, voted on earlier
Awards, Stories,
Capturing Our
History
this year: Karen Gold
joins our Board of
Directors. She was a
family caregiver for
her mother, who died
in 1992, and is currently a Board Member of the Horizon
Fund, a subsidiary of
Northern Berkshire
Health System, which
aims to help elders
lead independent and
healthy lives. She also
served as Chair of the
Annual Tanglewood
event.Also in the class
of 2005 is Vincent
(Vin) Pina,V.P. for
Human Resources at
a Cambridge-based
health care organization and a former
member of our Statewide Advisory Committee. He is also a
family member.The
third new member is
Paul Stuka, principal
and managing member of Osiris Investment Partners, LP, a
Boston-based investment partnership. In
recent years, he lost
his mother and an
uncle to Alzheimer's.
He is a member of
the 25th Anniversary
Campaign
Committee.
2005 Peter
Murtha
Inspiration
honoree
Bernard
Shapiro
inspired
us all.
Board members, friends, supporters, families, and
people living with Alzheimer's gathered for our
25th Anniversary Annual Meeting, a gala event
held at our neighboring Arsenal Center for the
Arts. Chaired by Board Member Pam
Kunkemueller, the evening was festive
and moving.
Services and a member of our Statewide
Advisory Committee Kathleen SalmonRobinson; and Gloria White-Hammond, M.D.,
co-pastor of Bethel AME Church in Boston,
pediatrician at the South End Community
Health Center and member of our Statewide
Advisory Committee.
Early-stage patients Bernie Shapiro and Bernie
Reisman, Ph.D., both of whom were honored
with awards, spoke of their lives with
Alzheimer’s.With their humor and passion, they
inspired the audience to live life to the fullest.
This year’s honorees: 2005 Alzheimer’s
Association, Massachusetts Chapter HonoreeGail Huff; 2005 Peter Murtha Inspiration Award
recognizing the outreach efforts of an individual
with early-stage Alzheimer’s—Bernard Shapiro;
Advocacy Awards—Bernie Reisman, Ph.D., and
Mary Pacella; Myer Saxe Memorial Fundraising
Award-Mary Ann Marino; and Safe Return
Reward—Director of the Office of
Intergovernmental Relations/Citizen's Corps
and the TRIAD of the Barnstable County
Sheriff's Office, Deputy David Vieira.
NewsCenter 5 reporter Gail Huff attended as
both an honoree and as moderator of a lively
panel discussion with Charles Hersch, Ph.D., an
early-stage patient; National Senior Vice
President of Advocacy and Public Policy with
the Alzheimer's Association Steve McConnell,
Ph.D. ;Vice President of Community
Relations for The Salmon Family of
Board Member Mary Ann Marino was
presented with the Meyer Saxe Memorial
Fund-Raising Award for her outstanding
work on the 25th Anniversary Campaign
by Board Treasurer Jeff Berry.
The Reisman family gathering in honor of Bernie
Reisman’s special award. Dr. Reisman has been a strong
and articulate advocate for people with Alzheimer’s.
2 4 - H O U R
Right : New Board Members Karen Gold and
Vin Pina enjoyed the special night.
H E L P L I N E :
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development
Donor Profile
Active Association volunteer Phyllis Hersch of
Lincoln, MA, has recently announced her intentions to include the Alzheimer’s Association in
her estate plans. Since her husband, Charlie, was
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003, Phyllis and
Charlie have participated in numerous
Association educational and support programs.
Since 2002, Phyllis has raised more than $20,000
for Association programs
and services through her
participation in Memory
Walk. In conjunction
with her attorney/financial advisor, she has
made thoughtful plans
for her family’s future
financial security, and she
wanted to include the
Association in her
planning.
Charles and Phyllis Hersch
Alzheimer’s Association:What motivated you to
include provisions for the Alzheimer’s
Association in your estate plans?
deal with it. I have participated in every program
offered that provided either information or support.When I was in the most emotional turmoil, the members of the Association staff were
there for me. I can’t say enough about how
important the Association has been for me. I
want it to be there for others as well.
In addition, I know that the Association is the
largest non-governmental funder of Alzheimer’s
research. I hope that by the time this money
comes to the Association, the cure for
Alzheimer’s will have been found.When that
happens, I want to believe that I’ve had a hand
in it.
Note: The Alzheimer’s Association recommends
that donors consult with their attorneys or
financial advisors about estate planning. For
more information about bequest wording or
including the Alzheimer’s Association in your
estate plans, please contact the Association
Director of Development Heidi Ganss Harris, at
617.868.6718, ext. 2007 or e-mail
[email protected].
Phyllis: I made the decision because the work of
the Association has been central to my understanding of this disease and my learning how to
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Page 7
SE Early-Stage Group Marks Founding
The early-stage support group of the
Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter
that meets in Dartmouth is marking its one-year
anniversary, taking pride in its numerous accomplishments and pioneer status.Although the
Association sponsors 14 support groups for
people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease—
one of the largest such offerings in the
country—there was no such resource in southeastern Massachusetts until the inception of the
Dartmouth group.
In short, the Dartmouth group allows its members to live stronger, feel more whole, and smile
at life once again.
eary-stage
programs
A new Southeastern MA early-stage support group
will be starting in January in Somerset. For information, please contact Paulette Masse at 401.559.5668.
“The best thing you can do for yourself and
your care-partner is to find a good support
group,” says one woman attendee.“The knowledge you find gives you much-needed strength.
My ties with the group have made a difficult
journey easier.”
The group meets every other Tuesday at the
Dartmouth Council on Aging (COA). It
includes people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and
other dementias, including Lewy-body dementia, as well as their care-partners, typically spouses (although adult children and siblings have
attended as well). Several members are among
the rising number of people affected at a young
age, including one who was 52 when diagnosed.
The group meets initially as one, then splits into
separate groups for those with memory loss and
those who are care-partners.
The volunteer facilitators are health care professionals and include a nurse, two social workers, a
psychologist, a geriatric care manager, and a
mental health counselor.
Members’ appreciation is constant and strong.
“There are no words to convey our gratitude,”
says one woman.“Family and friends are there,
but you can still feel so alone.This support
group is my salvation.”
Having bonded at the COA, the group has ventured forth for the occasional social outing, such
as taking in a Paw Sox game or going on a
cruise through New Bedford Harbor. It is not
easy being among the estimated 140,000 people
in Massachusetts to have developed Alzheimer’s
disease or a related disorder, but the group has
helped these individuals by allowing them to
know each other, pool their strengths and
resources, and meet professional volunteers to
help cope with this life-changing condition.
2 4 - H O U R
Outreach Coordinator Marcia McKenzie (left) and Coordinator of Early Stage Programs
Elaine Silverio (right) soon became friends with Brittney Hughes, a Mississippi social
work student who worked with displaced victims of Katrina--in their efforts to make a
difference in Biloxi.
Report from Biloxi
Our national organization put out the call to help our sister Alzheimer
Association chapters in Mississippi and Louisiana as they recovered from
hurricane Katrina.Two of our staff, Coordinator of Early-Stage
Programs Elaine Silverio, and Outreach Coordinator Marcia McKenzie,
volunteered to spend two weeks in Biloxi, Mississippi. Much has been
written about the aftermath of Katrina, and the stories continue.The
following excerpts from their web journal give a unique slice of life for
our volunteers.
Elaine: I talked to a woman from the Mississippi coast who had lost
everything. She told the tale of sitting on her house roof for three days
with her two dogs, waiting for rescue.An hour after her rescue, her
house exploded and she fled to Jackson, with the clothes on her back
and her dogs. She has lost everything and has been staying in a hotel in
Jackson for the past seven weeks, partially supported by FEMA.
Marcia: Yesterday, we spent the day in Biloxi and Gulfport.We did a
training in a nursing home that was not evacuated because they were on
higher ground.Thankfully they survived, but the nurses were telling us
stories of the patients with dementia thinking that the country was at
war because of all the helicopters that were flying around. One lady
asked to have a note from her doctor that would give her a discharge
from the army.
Elaine: One caregiver at our training had placed his wife in the facility
because he had suffered much damage to his home, but plans to take
her back home eventually. He has been care giving for his wife for six
years… He said that when he holds his wife’s hand, he can sense what
she needs and has learned how to create a peaceful environment.
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medicine
& science
In addition to what
you will read in our
Research Highlights
column each quarter, the Alzheimer’s
Association,
Massachusetts
Chapter maintains a
Directory of Research
Opportunities for
People with Memory
Loss & Their Families.
Our Directory lists
studies open to volunteers in Massachusetts—on behavior, caregiving,
diagnosis, drugs and
other treatments,
genetics, normal
aging, and nutrition, as well as
opportunities for
brain tissue donation. For more
information, call
our 24-hour
Helpline at
800.272.3900 or
visit us at
www.alzmass.org.
National Scientific Leader Visits
The Massachusetts Chapter was delighted to
host a luncheon for Dr.William Thies, senior
vice president for medical and scientific affairs
with our national Alzheimer’s Association. He is
among the most informed scientists in the
nation regarding dementia research here and
around the globe. During his November 10th
visit to our Watertown office, he met with staff
and volunteers to discuss the involvement of the
Association in advancing research and treatment.
Dr.Thies reiterated that the Alzheimer’s
Association has become the world’s largest private, nonprofit funder of dementia research,
awarding its first grants in 1982 and since funding more than $185 million in projects.This
year, five of 93 awards went to scientists in
Massachusetts, which remains a hub of research
activity in these very exciting times (see next
page.) About half of applicants to the
Association grants program propose investigations into various aspects of the “amyloid
hypothesis,” which assigns a central role to
abnormal processing of amyloid precursor protein, found widely throughout the body.This
abnormal processing yields a fragment called
beta-amyloid, which aggregates by stages into
the amyloid plaques that are one hallmark of
Alzheimer’s. Proponents of the amyloid
hypothesis see production and aggregation of
beta-amyloid as the key event in nerve cell
destruction.
While we don’t have all the answers yet, Dr.
Thies pointed to the number of gifted
researchers who are fast unlocking mysteries of
the aging brain.At the founding of our
Association 25 years ago, there were literally a
handful of scientists whose work focused on
dementia.The 1st International Conference on
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in
1988 drew only 300 researchers to Las Vegas.
The 10th International Conference, organized
by our Association, is expected to draw 5,000
people to Madrid, Spain in July.
“A major accomplishment of the Alzheimer’s
Association,” Dr.Thies said,“is that we helped
build the infrastructure that now supports
dementia research in the U.S.The evolution of
this infrastructure parallels the life of the
Association over the last 25 years.”
The Association is pushing for a $1 billion federal commitment for dementia research.Without
this commitment, the pandemic potential of
Alzheimer’s disease grows in direct proportion to
the aging of the 76 million-strong Baby Boomer
generation.Aging boomers with Alzheimer’s
could bankrupt our health insurance system.
This disease, said Dr.Thies,“is the one thing in
the way of boomers realizing their retirement or
second-career dreams.”
He also noted evidence that Alzheimer’s can
start 20 years before symptoms appear. Since
everyone has a different risk of developing the
disease, he identified “risk stratification” as one
goal of current research. By measuring early
pathology we may be able to identify those
whose genetic risk or whose other medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, elevate
their risk for Alzheimer’s, he said.
Dr.Thies expressed optimism about projects
such as the National Institute on Aging and
industry-funded Alzheimer’s Disease
Neuroimaging Initiative (to evaluate multiple
disease biomarkers), and the NIA’s Genetics
Initiative (to find genes that play a role in latelife Alzheimer’s).There is abundant reason, he
said,“to change the way we think about
Alzheimer’s.”The Alzheimer’s Association
Maintain Your Brain™ campaign, for example,
which encourages simple lifestyle modifications
and “equates a healthy heart with a healthy
brain,” has the potential to put us at lower risk
for the disease.
He described the push toward earlier diagnosis
and the burgeoning public demand for effective
Alzheimer treatments as “trains on parallel
tracks.” If one gets ahead, it will drive the other.
He also pointed out that the needs of families
for support and services will remain even as
more effective medications and treatments are
brought to market, as will the need to expand
treatment to historically-underserved
populations.
continued on page 22
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
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MIRAGE: Multi-Institutional Research in Alzheimer’s Genetic Epidemiology
Researchers are turning their attention to the
growing body of evidence from pathological,
epidemiological, and genetic studies that risk
factors for vascular disease also enhance the risk
of AD. However, since most epidemiological
studies lack neuroimaging data, it is unclear
whether the apparent association between vascular risk factors and AD is brought about by
ischemic injury to the brain, acceleration of the
primary AD neurodegenerative process, or some
other process.
Some vascular risk factors are more prevalent in
African-American and Japanese-American populations than in Caucasians.This study will build
upon earlier work by evaluating the association
between APOE, genes involved in vascular function, and other indictors of cerebrovascular
health. Other indicators include blood pressure
and structural brain imaging (MRI), and susceptibility to AD in these ethnic groups.
In order to carry out this project successfully,
researchers will recruit a sample of 1,000
patients (500 Caucasians, 300 African
Americans, 200 Japanese Americans) who meet
criteria for probable AD from 11 centers in the
U.S., Canada, and Germany.They will obtain
family history, medical history, and epidemiological information from the patients and their
first-degree relatives, using standardized questionnaires and established protocols.A
brief cognitive screening test will be
administered to the patient’s living siblings,
and also to spouses and children over age
50 who wish to participate. Please note,
however, that participation of the patients’
cognitively normal sisters or brothers is
critical to the success of this study. Blood
samples will also be collected to obtain
DNA.The relatives’ questionnaire and
brief screening can be done over the phone, and
the patient’s previous MRI may be useable.
All testing is free and there is a $100 honorarium once participation is complete. Principal
investigator for this project is Lindsay A. Farrer,
Ph.D., Boston University School of Medicine,
Genetics Program. For more information, please
contact Pat Morey, project manager, at
617.638.5040 or [email protected].
PHOTOS BY BEST VALUE PHOTOGRAPHY
For the past 13 years the MIRAGE project has
demonstrated that genetic factors play a major
role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) among patients screened in clinical settings.This research has also shown that the E4
variant of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the
strongest AD risk factor identified thus far.
medicine
& science
Howard Weiner, M.D., one
of the 2005 Research
Grant Recipients,
described his study at the
Annual Meeting, with
Reisa Sperling, M.D., Chair
of our Medical/
Scientific Advisory Committee onstage with him.
2005 Alzheimer’s Association Research Grants
Dean M. Hartley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical
School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. Transglutaminase’s Role in Neurodegeneration: $240,000 over three years
Susan L. Mitchell, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and
Department of Geriatrics, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston. Improving
Hospice Care in Advanced Dementia: $190,503 over two years
H. Eugene Stanley, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Physics, Center for Polymer Studies
Boston University, Boston. Understanding Formation of Neurotoxic
Oligomers in Alzheimer’s Disease: $250,000 over two years, a
Zenith Fellows Award
Research Grant Recipients for 2005 reported on their research projects
at the annual meeting. Shown here (l-r) are NewsCenter5’s Gail Huff;
Sr. VP of Advocacy and Public Policy Steven McConnell; Susan L.
Mitchell, M.D.; Dean M. Hartley, PhD., and Eugene Stanley, PhD.
Howard L. Weiner, M.D.
Robert L. Kroc Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical
School, and Co-Director, Center for Neurologic Diseases
Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston. Antibody-Independent
Clearance of Beta-Amyloid in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease:
$240,000 over three years
Michael S. Wolfe, Ph.D.
Brigham & Women's Hospital, Center for Neurologic Diseases,
Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School,
Boston. Inhibitors of Amyloid Production Selective for APP Vis-à-Vis
Notch: Investigator-Initiated Research Grant: $240,000 over
three years
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Liberty Alzhiemer’s
Partnership members
Joanne Chaulk and
Rachel Movitz enjoyed the
dessert reception.
4th Annual Steger Concert Hits High Notes
Many thanks to the hardworking
members of the Liberty Alzheimer’s
Partnership (LAP), led by Sally Lopez
and Joanne Shaughnessy, for organizing the 4th Annual Benefit Concert with
Elliot Steger and Trio.The event, held in
Concord on October 28, raised more
than $14,000 for the Alzheimer’s
Association.Attendees enjoyed a delicious dessert buffet prior to the performance.The talented Dr. Steger, a
physician with Acton Medical
Associates, was joined
onstage by fellow
musicians Lello
Molinari on bass and
Jon Hazilla on percussion.They played
selections from Dr. Steger’s
newest CD, Joyful Blue, as well as
his previous recordings, and
some brand-new songs such as
Snap—all 200 audience members enjoyed snapping along to
this one! The Liberty
Alzheimer’s Partnership comprises community members and
professionals working in collaboration with the
Alzheimer’s Association. It is dedicated to providing outreach, advocacy, and support for people with Alzheimer’s and their families in the
PHOTO: HEIDI GANSS HARRIS
development
Thanks in large part to the genorosity of sponsors such as
Nashoba Valley Medical Center, located in Ayer, the annual Elliott Steger benefit concert raised more than $14,000
for Association programs and services. Shown with
NVMC CEO Andrei Soran are LAP members Alrene Parillo
and Margaret Perras.
Concord area.The Alzheimer’s Association is
grateful to the LAP and the many event sponsors including Nashoba Valley Medical Center,
Presenting Sponsor; and Emerson Hospital and
Middlesex Savings Bank, Benefactors.
Newlyweds Pledge from the Heart
Heartfelt thanks and best
wishes for a lifetime of happiness to the following special couples who made generous contributions to the
Alzheimer’s Association in
conjunction with their
recent weddings.
Robert Huntley and
Marjorie Morse, married
September 10, 2005, made a
generous gift in honor of
their wedding guests and in
memory of Joan Walsh,
V I S I T
Bob’s sister, who was diagnosed with Pick’s disease in
1998 and passed away in
December, 2003.
Eric Thielscher and
Betsy Nicholson
(right), married
September 10,
2005 in Gloucester,
MA at the Annisquam Village
Church, made a
generous gift in
lieu of wedding
U S
O N L I N E :
favors in honor of Elizabeth
Fuller Davis and in memory
of Adele Duhrssen
Thielscher.
favors in honor of their
guests and in honor of
Rebecca’s grandmother who
has Alzheimer’s disease.
Christopher
Lanni and
Rebecca
Hibschman,
Jon Anzalone and Pam
Taylor, married October 16,
married
October 16,
2005, made a
generous gift
in lieu of
wedding
2005 in Bedford, MA, made
a generous gift in lieu of
wedding favors in memory
of Pam’s grandmother,
Violette Taylor.
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Special Event Thank-You’s
A special thanks to the following supporters who
organized special event fundraisers on behalf of
the Alzheimer’s Association.We are grateful for
their dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm in
helping people with Alzheimer’s disease and their
families.
development
Caregiver,” which raised $500 for the
Association. Speakers included Association
advocate Betsy Peterson, author of Voices of
Alzheimer’s; Lauren Chartier; Sally Miller; John
and Marjorie Newburn, and Joanne Moore,
director of the Duxbury Council on Aging.
PHOTO BY ROGER APPELL
Odd Pine Farm in Ashburnham, MA donated a
portion of the proceeds from the sale of blueberries to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Dedicated Association volunteer Steve Carter,
golf pro at the Ipswich Country Club, Ipswich,
MA donated a portion of his fees from golf
lessons to the Association. Steve’s commitment
stems from his family’s experience with
Alzheimer’s.
The staff at Glenbrook Middle School in
Longmeadow, MA selected the Alzheimer’s
Association as the charity-of-the-month and
raised money through its “Dress-Down Fridays”
program. Similarly, employees at Pioneer
Investments of Boston donated more than
$1,700 through a recent “Denim Day” fundraiser, which is part of an ongoing program,
“Pioneer Helping Others.”
The Village of Duxbury of Duxbury, MA
recently hosted an educational seminar titled,
“Alzheimer’s Disease:Through the Eyes of a
Peoplefit Health and Fitness Center in Woburn sponsored a
fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research on October 1. Over 250
people attended the fundraiser, which included a silent
auction and entertainment, and raised over $3,000. Pat
Agostino (third from left), the owner of Peoplefit and a
physical therapist, organized the event because research
has shown that eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly,
and staying mentally and socially active may decrease the
risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
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Linda LaBier, race organizer for the
Forget-Me-Not 5K Road Race
smiled to runners and walkers
enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon while supporting the
Alzheimer’s Association. The road
race/walk-a-thon raised more
than $15,000, and was held on
October 2 in Braintree in memory
of Genevieve M. LaBier, Linda’s
mom, who had Alzheimer’s
disease. For information on next
year’s race (October 1, 2006),
please call 781.843.2336.
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alzheimer’s education/event c
Getting Started:
What To Do When Your Family
Member Has Memory Loss
This program provides an overview of
Alzheimer’s disease: how to get a diagnosis, addressing behavior and communications problems, and how to find local
resources. Presented by trained
Alzheimer’s Association staff and volunteers. Group size may be limited. Free
of charge.
To register or obtain further information,
please call 800.272.3900.
Charlton: Charlton Council on Aging
37 Main Street
Presenter: Julie Palmieri
Tues., Jan. 10, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Duxbury: Duxbury Council on Aging
10 Mayflower Street
Presenter: Diane McCafferty
Tues., March 21, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Framingham: Callahan Senior Center
535 Union Avenue
Presenter: Jan Chiampa
Co-sponsored by the Baypath
Partnership
Thurs., Feb. 16, 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Gloucester: Senior Care, Inc.
5 Blackburn Center
Presenter: Debra Katt-Lloyd
Wed., Jan. 11, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Hyde Park: Hyde Park Community
Center
1179 River Street
Presenter: Michael Kincade
Co-sponsored by the Boston
Alzheimer’s Partnership
Thurs., March 2, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Pittsfield: Berkshire Athenaeum
1 Wendell Avenue
Presenter: Barbara Milensky
Co-sponsored by the Berkshire
Partnership
Thurs., Jan. 12, 12:00-2:30 p.m.
V I S I T
U S
Memory Ride Celebrates Ten Years!
Join Us on July 15 & 16
Following the record-breaking year in 2005, plans are underway for the 2006 Memory Ride, scheduled for July 15 & 16,
2006.The two-day, scenic, 150-mile ride winds through
Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, ending up in
Boston.All proceeds raised by riders and
crew members go directly to fund
Memory Ride Will Be
Alzheimer’s research through the Alzheimer’s
Featured On the New PBS
Association, the world’s largest private funder
Series, Boomers!
of such research in the world.
Alzheimer’s Association’s Board
To register as a rider, crew member, or volMember, Nancy Fernandez Mills
unteer,
visit www.memoryride.org or contact
joined the 2005 Memory Ride
Rachel
Loughran at 508.564.5700 or
weekend with a camera crew from
[email protected].
the new PBS series Boomers!
Redefining Life After Fifty.This new
series will explore the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing
boomers as they contemplate their
4th Annual Flower Show
fifties, sixties, seventies, and beyond.
Longmeadow Place in Burlington, MA is
In an episode focused on health,
hosting its 4th Annual Flower Show to
Memory Ride will be highlighted
support the Alzheimer’s Association,
not only for its mission to find a
Massachusetts Chapter, beginning March
cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but also
9 at Longmeadow Place.The event feato promote bicycling as a great way
tures up to 40 arrangements donated by
to maintain your brain.To find out
local florists.You may purchase raffle tickwhen the show will air in your local
ets (one for $1 or six for $5) during the
area, visit www.boomerstv.com.
event to win an arrangement. For more
information, please contact Ann
Sheffield: Sheffield
Cooper at 781.270.9008. Thursday,
Please
Library
March 9 to Saturday, March 11
consult our website,
48 Main Street
www.alzmass.org,
for any recent
Presenter:
changes to
Sheri Iodice
scheduled
Co-sponsored by the
events.
Fifth Annual AfricanBerkshire Partnership
American Community
Forum
Sat., March 4,
1:00-3:30 p.m.
West Boylston:West Boylston Senior
Center
120 Prescott Street
Presenter: Julie Palmieri
Wed., March 15, 12:45-3:15 p.m.
Snow Date: Wed., March 22,
12:45-3:15 p.m.
O N L I N E :
The Fifth Annual African-American
Community Forum will be held on
Friday, April 7, from 8:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. at Russell Auditorium,
70 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester.
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t calendar: nov-dec 05, jan 06
Taking Control of Alzheimer’s Disease:
Techniques for Early-Stage Patients and Their Carepartners
Developed for early-stage people with
memory disorders, this four-part series
explores ways in which symptoms can be
managed and abilities maintained longer.
These sessions will combine education
and support to enhance understanding of
dementia, and to show how early-stage
persons can participate in decisions
affecting their lives.
The course will run for two hours per
session, for four consecutive weeks. It is
free of charge and has limited enrollment. Early-stage people, carepartners,
and other family members should plan to
attend together.
The Fallon Foundation Lifetime
Center, Worcester Medical Center.
Presenter: Elaine Silverio. Thursdays,
March 9, 16, 23, and 30, 10:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. Contact Elaine Silverio at
617.868.6718, ext. 2005 for
information and registration.
Alzheimer’s Association,Watertown.
Presenters: Elaine Silverio and Paul
Raia. Wednesdays, Apr. 12, 19, 26
and May 3, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Contact Elaine Silverio at
617.868.6718, ext. 2005 for
information and registration.
Pre-registration is required. For regis-
tration or additional information on
these or other early-stage programs, or
early-stage support groups, call
Coordinator of Early Stage Programs
Elaine Silverio, at 617.868.6718,
ext. 2005.
Somerset Public Library, Somerset.
Presenters: Paulette Masse and Judy
Elste. Thursdays, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and
23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Contact Paulette
Masse at 401.559.5668 or Judy Elste
at 508.833.8404 for info/registration.
Designed for people in any financial situation, this hour-and-one-half presentation will offer information by an elder
law attorney about important topics
such as wills, durable power of attorney,
health care proxies, and what Medicare
and Medicaid will and will not cover.
Too many people wait until it’s too late
before learning about these issues.
Dorchester: Codman
While this program is not intended to
substitute for a personal appointment
with an elder law attorney, it includes
the opportunity to hear about typical
issues and problems that can be avoided
or reduced by adequate planning.
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Please pre-register for this event by calling 800.272.3900. Space constraints
may limit group size.The program will
be offered at various times and sites
throughout the year.
Information and Support Sessions, bimonthly, for people diagnosed with Mild
Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to begin
late winter, 2006. Contact Elaine
Silverio at 617.868.6718, ext. 2005 for
information or interest.
African-American EarlyStage Support Group in
Dorchester
Contact Donna Allen
Chapter
at 617.825.5000 or
Participates in
Elaine Silverio at
2006 Boston
617.868.6718,
Marathon
ext. 2005 for
In partnership with the
info/interest
Boston Athletic Association,
for this new
our Chapter is proud to be
group!
part of the 110th Boston
Marathon, to be held on
April 17, 2006. Boston’s is the
world’s oldest marathon and
one of the most prestigious.
PHOTO BY OWEN MCBRIDE
Legal & Financial Issues & Answers
MCI Group
Square Branch Library,
690 Washington St.
Presenter:Attorney John
Ford. Wed., Jan. 11,
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Duxbury: Duxbury Council on Aging,
10 Mayflower St. Presenter:Attorney
Brian Barriera. Tues., March 28,
Gloucester: Senior Care, Inc., 5
Blackburn Center. Presenter:Attorney
Stephen Spano. Wed., Jan. 25,
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Granby: Granby Council on Aging,
Participants on the Alzheimer’s
team will benefit from regular
meeting and coaching/training,
and will raise funds for the
Association.To obtain an
application form or find out
Pittsfield:
more information about
Berkshire
being part of our
Athenaeum,
team, please contact
1 Wendell
Carolyn Whipple
Ave. Presenter:
at 617.868.6718
Attorney Paula
or e-mail
Kahn Almgren.
carolyn.whipple
Thurs., Jan. 19,
@alz.org.
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Sheffield: Sheffield Library,
250 State St. Presenter:Attorney Brett
Kaufman. Thurs., March 30,
48 Main St. Presenter:
Attorney Benjamin Smith.
1:00-2:30 p.m.
Sat., March 18, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Holden: Holden Council on Aging,
1130 Main St. Presenter:Attorney
Laura Traiger. Tues., Jan. 17,
4:00-5:30 p.m.
West Roxbury: Ohrenberger
Community Center, 175 West
Boundary Rd. Presenter:Attorney
Alex L. Moschella. Thurs., Feb. 9,
10:00-11:30 a.m.
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memory walk
13th Annual Memory
Southeastern MA Walk
Surpasses Expectations
By Sheila Watnick,Associate Director of
Development/Special Events Manager
PHOTO BY ELLEN SHUB
Over three beautiful fall weekends, 7,000 walkers took steps to end Alzheimer’s disease during
our 13th Annual Memory Walk, held from
September 17 to October 2.To date, the ten
regional walks held this year have grossed an
unprecedented $1.1 million.
trails and around a picturesque lake. The next
day, the Central MA Walk offered a proliferation
of indoor activities for the over 100 youngsters
whose parents were participating, including decorating memory boxes and visors, making balloon animals, and enjoying a magician and
clowns. Children’s activities were equally plentiful in a tented area at the South Shore Walk at
historic Plimoth Plantation.At the spirited
Southeastern MA Walk, Fall River Mayor Ed
Lambert welcomed walkers who enjoyed a local
dance troupe, the always-colorful Parrotheads
(Jimmy Buffett fans), complimentary massages,
and a pizza lunch.
Perfect weather greeted the Northern Essex
Walk the following weekend, as participants
made their way through beautiful Bradley
Palmer State Park in Topsfield.At the Northern
Quabbin Valley Walk, held concurrently,
participants were entertained by a young Irish
step dancer and ate some delicious barbecue.A
local Boy Scout troop provided invaluable help
with set up, break down, and serving food, and
long-time Regional Leader Wanda Landry
received a surprise birthday tribute.
Spirited walkers head
down the Charles River at
the Greater Boston Walk.
In its new location at Bristol Community
College, the Southeastern MA Walk jumped
from attracting 350 walkers who raised $47,500
in 2004 to over 500 walkers who raised $65,143.
Also experiencing major growth were the
Central MA Walk, which expanded to 1,000
walkers and raised $66,568 and the Northern
Essex Walk, which grew to 400 walkers and
brought in $61,052.The Greater Boston Walk,
led by Corporate Chair Alex Moschella and
first-time Premier Sponsor Moschella &
Winston, attracted an unprecedented 2,200
walkers who brought in a walloping
$318,000…$32,850 in sponsorship alone!
On opening day, Berkshire Walk Honorary
Chair Jim Ruberto, mayor of Pittsfield, enthusiastically greeted the crowd, setting the tone for
the experience and a route through mountain
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
The following day, at the Pioneer Valley Walk,
everyone enjoyed an Outback Steakhouse barbecue accompanied by a country-and-western
band.A talk by early-stage patient Joanne
Perreault also captivated the audience. One hundred miles away, in historic downtown Lowell, a
guitarist played 50s and 60s rock and did an
Elvis impersonation for those who’d turned out
for the Northern Middlesex Walk.
The Neponset Valley Walk kicked off the final
weekend of fundraising with a family-friendly
stroll through Bird Park in Walpole, ending in
some streets that were a virtual maze of yard
sales.The high-energy Greater Boston Walk
occurred in picture-perfect weather, wonderful
for the route along the Charles River. Children
on hand worked off any extra energy by jumping up and down on an inflatable “moonbounce” attraction.
A banner effort, by all involved!
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All winner totals are based on the
day of Walk or before (online
funds had to be received by 3 p.m.
the prior Friday). Congratulations
to our top statewide winners:
Top Corporate/Organization
Team – Diocesan Health
Facilities, Southeastern MA
$17,383
Top Family Team – Team Leary,
Neponset Valley $15,882
Top Individual Adult – Harriet
Smookler Hyman, Greater
Boston $23,477
Top Team Walker – Suzanne Lissy,
Don Schulman Forget-MeNots, Greater Boston $9,430
Top Youth 17 and Under - Billy
Oddy Ashenden, Dave’s
Dynamos, Northern Quabbin
Valley $3,085
First-, second-, and thirdplace winners for each
category for each regional walk
are on the website at
www.memorywalkama.org.
We are proud to salute the
following regional first-place
winners:
BERKSHIRE
Individual Adult
Barbara Milensky $1,100
Team Walker
Donna Smith, Home Instead
Senior Care $770
Corporate/Organization Team
GDAIS Remembers $2,667
Family Team
Viola Family and Friends
$1,450
State’s Top Walker Raises $23,477
Harriet Smookler Hyman Leads Group of 18 High Steppers,
Raising $119,040
Congratulations to the 18 walkers who qualified for our
three-year-old High Steppers fundraising club (walkers raising $3,000 or more). Collectively, they raised $114,804 by
walk day. (Last year’s 16
High Steppers raised
$90,364.) Leading the
group is six-year walker
and family member Harriet
Smookler Hyman of
Wellesley. Harriet, who has
earned a special getaway for
two, has raised a total of
close to $60,000 in six
years. (Right, with mother
Debby Smookler on left.)
PHOTO BY JUNE RYAN
And the Winners Are…
“I have seen the predicted progression of Alzheimer’s in my mother
as the physical deterioration of the brain steals the memories that
once made up the lifetime of a vibrant lady. Each year, I set my
Memory Walk goal higher. My largest fundraising effort this year
was a huge tent sale with donations of goods from family, friends,
and the business community.”
Youth 17 and Under
Katie Kavey, Marion’s Hope
$280
Youth 17 and Under
Neve Palmieri $425
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
Individual Adult
Harriet Smookler Hyman
$23,477
Team Walker
Suzanne Lissy, Don Schulman
Forget-Me-Nots $9,430
Moschella & Winston, LLP
$10,755
Individual Adult
Susan Healy $1,840
Team Walker
Audrey Egan,Team Marge
$1,450
The Hermitage $7,060
Family Team
Team Sharry – Fine and
Dandies $3,000
GREATER BOSTON
thank you!
y Walk Tops $1.1 Million!
memory
walk
continued on next page
2 4 - H O U R
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PHOTO BY SPIRIT WOLF
memory
walk
Regional first-place winners, continued
Family Team
Don Schulman Forget-MeNots $9,956
Youth 17 and Under
Sharie
Regensberger,
Genworth Financial
$1,005
NEPONSET VALLEY
This young walker takes
advantage of the many
children's activities at the
Central MA Walk.
Individual Adult
Lisa Berch $2,120
Team Walker
Phyllis Hersch,
Team Leary $6,302
Corporate/
Organization Team
Unforgettables c/o
Maples Rehab &
Nursing Center
$3,851
Family Team
Team Leary
$15,882
Youth 17 and Under
Katrina Simon,
Medfield Schools
$380
NORTHERN ESSEX
Individual Adult
Mary Demakes $2,125
Team Walker
Jean Bastable,The Atrium
$3,100
The Atrium $5,055
Family Team
Mary Jane’s Crew $3,290
Thank you for your
support, walkers!
We could not have done it without you!
Special thanks to Statewide Honorary Chair, U.S.
Representative Edward Markey, and Statewide
Medical Chair, Bradley T. Hyman, M.D., Ph.D.
For complete listings of Memory Walk exhibitors, donors
of goods and services and volunteers, as well as stories and
photos, please see our website at
www.memorywalkma.org.
Our spring 2006 issue will feature some of our Youth 17
and Under walkers. Next year’s walks will take place
September 16-17 and September 30-October 1.
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
Youth 17 and Under
Emily Griffin $757
NORTHERN MIDDLESEX
Individual Adult
Paula Doyle $3,855
Team Walker
Ann Cooper, Long Meadow
Place $4,236
LifeCare Center-MV $11,342
Family Team
Three Sisters $10,580
Youth 17 and Under
Dustin Schaefer, LifeCare
Center-MV $1,000
NORTHERN QUABBIN VALLEY
Individual Adult
Paul Fredette $2,500
Team Walker
Joni Kelley,Wachusett Manor
$1,151
Wachusett Manor $3,275
Family Team
Dave’s Dynamos $4,575
Youth 17 and Under
Billy Oddy Ashenden, Dave’s
Dynamos $3,085
PIONEER VALLEY
Individual Adult
Seymour Frankel $4,136
Team Walker
Art Ford, Mackie’s Team $5,711
Jazzercise $8,205
Family Team
Team Callahan $14,920
Youth 17 and Under
Cory Potvin $1,033
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Individual Adult
Pamela Jakubasv $250
Team Walker
Patricia Ricketts,Team Arbor
$2,248
Diocesan Health Facilities
$17,383
Family Team
Bea Remembered $2,548
Youth 17 and Under
Lauren Grygiel, Jack’s Pack
$250
Lauren Desrosiers, Jack’s Pack
$250
Congratulations to
all our High
Steppers:
Harriet Smookler Hyman,
Greater Boston $23,477
Marilyn Hayes, Greater Boston
$17,640
Suzanne Lissy, Greater Boston
$9,430
Phyllis Hersch, Neponset
Valley $6,302
Mary Ann Lavoie, Greater
Boston $5,782
Art Ford, Pioneer Valley
$5,711
John Niland III,
John Yahres, Pioneer Valley
$5,202
Irene Bremis, Greater Boston
$4,520
Seymour Frankel, Pioneer
Valley $4,136
Ann Webster, Greater Boston
$3,935
Paula Doyle, Northern
Middlesex $3,855
Gail Wolfe, Greater Boston
$3,585
Nancy Nichols, Greater
Boston $3,370
Edward Benz, Jr., South Shore
$3,214
Alex Moschella, Greater
Boston $3,105
Jean Bastable, Northern Essex
$3,100
Billy Oddy Ashenden,
Northern Quabbin Valley
$3,085
SOUTH SHORE
Individual Adult
Edward Benz, Jr. $3,214
Team Walker
Christine Page, Garry’s Team
$2,695
The Mighty Dux $7,493
Family Team
Papa’s Kids $2,877
Youth 17 and Under
Stephen Walsh $700
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Congratulations to the 106 walkers who each raised between $1,000 and $2,999 to become our 2005 Elite
Feet fundraising club members.These individuals collectively raised $156,308 on or before the day of the
walk. Our sincere congratulations and thanks go out to the following:
PHOTO BY MARY DEMAKES
Ngozi Amadi, Greater Boston
Ann Batchelder, Greater Boston
Megan Benhardt, Neponset Valley
Lisa Berch, Neponset Valley
Jeff Berry, Greater Boston
Debi Boucher, Central MA
Laura Brooks, Greater Boston
Gloria Brunelle,
Northern Middlesex
Brad Burkart, Greater Boston
Maureen Buxton, Pioneer Valley
Michael Cahill, South Shore
Claudette Carbonneau,
Northern Middlesex
Bruce Card, Central MA
Amy Carmusin, Greater Boston
Peter Cohan, Greater Boston
Anne Colburn, Pioneer Valley
Heidi Conrad, Northern Essex
Lynn Cooper, Neponset Valley
Kathy Cremin, South Shore
Marie Curcio, Greater Boston
Jean Day, Northern Quabbin Valley
Mary Demakes, Northern Essex
Pat DeMayo, Northern Essex
Donlyn DeStefano, Greater Boston
Joyce Dossett, Northern
Quabbin Valley
Audrey Egan, Central MA
Catherine Evans, Greater Boston
Gail Faber, Neponset Valley
Sue FitzPatrick, Greater Boston
Jeannine Follett, Neponset Valley
Maureen Ford, Pioneer Valley
Paul Fredette, Northern Quabbin
Valley
Mike Gagne, Pioneer Valley
Maureen Gallagher,
Northern Middlesex
Lillian Glickman, Greater Boston
Barbara Gold, Greater Boston
Bea Goldberg, Greater Boston
Ann Marie
Goodwin,
Northern Essex
Tom Goodwin,
Northern Essex
Valerie Gramolini,
Northern
Middlesex
Nancy Hannigan,
Northern Middlesex
Robert Hanningan,
Northern Middlesex
Timothy Hannigan,
Northern Middlesex
Sally J. Hansford, Greater Boston
Heidi Ganss Harris, Greater Boston
Rachel Hawk, Greater Boston
Susan Healy, Central MA
Sonia Helman, Greater Boston
Megha Jain, Greater Boston
Karen Jellison, Northern Essex
Shirley Joseph, Pioneer Valley
Joni Kelley, Northern Quabbin
Valley
Melissa King, Greater Boston
Pam Kunkemueller, Greater Boston
Janice Levenson, Central MA
Glenda Lombard, Greater Boston
Colleen Lovering,
Northern Middlesex
Diane Marcou, Northern Middlesex
Mary Ann Marino, Greater Boston
Connie Martin,
Northern Middlesex
Diane McCafferty,
South Shore
Elizabeth
McCarthy,
Greater Boston
Mary Ann
McGrain, Central
MA
Barbara Milensky,
Berkshire
Ann Morano,
Pioneer Valley
John Niland IV,
Greater Boston
Dawn O’Connell,
Northern Essex
Mary Pacella,
Neponset Valley
Christine Page, South Shore
Jeff Peacock, Jr., Greater Boston
Cory Potvin, Pioneer Valley
Helen Potvin, Pioneer Valley
Bernadette Powers, Greater Boston
Betty Jo Prins, Greater Boston
Amy Purnell, Greater Boston
Barbara Raineri, Greater Boston
Judy Rauchwarger, Greater Boston
memory
walk
PHOTO BY ROYSTER HEDGEPETH
106 Elite Feet winners raise additional $156,308
Early stage person
Joanne Perreault
addresses a crowd of
1,200 people at the
Pioneer Valley Walk.
Looking on are Roxanne
Mosher and Denise
Beaulieu, regional
leaders, and WWLP 22's
Barry Kriger,
honorary chair.
Thanks to Our Regional Leaders
Our ten regional walks would not have run as smoothly without the commitment and
dedication of those making Memory Walk a true team effort.With great pride, we salute
our regional leaders:
Berkshire: Barbara Milensky and Steve Smith
Central Massachusetts: Deb Boucher, Sue Corbett, and Maureen Siergie
Greater Boston: Shaleen Tethal and Nancy Cohen
Neponset Valley: Kathleen Duffus Coullard, Joe Emerson, and Jamie Gutner
Northern Essex: Kathy Goodwin
Northern Middlesex: Sara Efstathiou
Northern Quabbin Valley: Wanda Landry, Jean Day, Sharon Smiledge, Karen Varnum,
and Maize Deane (regional committee)
Pioneer Valley: Denise Beaulieu and Roxanne Mosher
Southeastern Massachusetts: Michelle Beneski,Ana Marques, and
Brian Woolley
South Shore: John Scott and Maureen Bradley
2 4 - H O U R
Left: Danielle Tremblay, Brynn Thomson, Colby Thomson,
Julia Tremblay and Allie Champlain take part in the Northern
Essex Walk in memory of Bob Thomson.
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Elite feet winners, continued
Sharie Regansberger,
Greater Boston
Bernard Reisman, Greater Boston
Elaine Reisman, Greater Boston
Patricia Ricketts, Southeastern MA
Scott Roberts, Greater Boston
Mary Robohm, Neponset Valley
Richard Roche, Greater Boston
Alfred Rose, Greater Boston
David Rosen, Greater Boston
Maryann Russell,
Northern Middlesex
Pat Scarborough, Central MA
Dustin Scharfer,
Northern Middlesex
Al Schubach, Pioneer Valley
Jack Sharry, Central MA
Robin Shaw, South Shore
Elaine Silverio, Greater Boston
Katherine Sinclair, Pioneer Valley
Phyllis Smith, Northern Essex
Will Soucy, Northern Middlesex
Maryanne Stout, Pioneer Valley
Bess Stowell,
Northern Quabbin Valley
Ellie Sullivan, Neponset Valley
Jessica Tipping, Greater Boston
Judy Tucker, Northern Essex
Christine Trainer, Greater Boston
Ed Wade, Greater Boston
Jim Wessler, Greater Boston
Josh Wessler, Greater Boston
John Whelan, Greater Boston
Maureen White, Greater Boston
PHOTO BY JULIE CAYER
memory
walk
TEAMS:
The Heart and Soul of Memory Walk
By Carolyn Whipple, Special Events Coordinator
When this year’s 312 Memory Walk teams (59 more than last year) took
steps to end Alzheimer’s, they constituted the largest number of teams in
the Walk’s 13-year history.With the help from three-year veteran team
captain Sue FitzPatrick, the Alzheimer’s Association launched a new
Team Captain Mentor Program to aid new and returning team captains
with the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to be a successful team
recruiter, fundraiser, and individual leader for their team.We are grateful
to the leadership and expertise the following pioneer mentors brought
to the program: Deb Osuch, Southeastern MA; Christina Page, South
Shore; Mary Demakes, Northern Essex;Allyson Witt, Northern Middlesex;
Jennifer Goldblatt, Neponset Valley; Jennifer Buckley and Sharon Johnson,
Greater Boston; and Sam Spinelli, Pioneer Valley. It’s never too early or late
to form a Memory Walk team or become a team captain mentor for
2006. Contact Carolyn Whipple at [email protected] or
617.868.6718.
Southeastern MA’s Diocesan
named top 2005 team
Hailing from the Southeastern MA Walk, the
200-member Diocesan Health Facilities team
leads our prestigious group of six 2005 High
Stepper Teams ($10,000 and above) with
$17,383! In addition to team members doing
their own personal fundraising, special events
included a dress-down day, bake sale, ice cream
sundae party, silent auction, raffle baskets,
employee luncheon, karaoke night, and forgetme-not sales.
“The Diocesan Health Facilities—including
Catholic Memorial Home, Madonna Manor,
Marian Manor, Our Lady’s Haven, and Sacred
Heart Home—are committed to providing
quality care to our residents living with
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.The
Southeastern Massachusetts Memory Walk was
an excellent opportunity for our homes to
honor and show our support and dedication to
these residents.”
—Erin Kanuse and Manuel Benevides, Co-captains
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
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PHOTO BY LOU ESTHATHIOU
memory
walk
PHOTO BY KAREN GOLD
PHOTO BY HEIDI GANSS HARRIS
Pittsfield
Mayor Jim
Ruberto,
honorary
chair of the
Berkshire
Walk, and
his wife
Ellen lead
the Walk in
honor of his
mother
Edith.
PHOTO BY ELLEN SHUB
The family of Elinor Lee Davis gather in her memory at the
Northern Middlesex Walk.
Historic Plimoth
Plantation provided the
perfect backdrop for
Board member Ed Benz,
Jr., his wife Amy, and
daughters Haley and
Georgia to enjoy the
South Shore Walk.
Dr. Brad Hyman, statewide
medical chair; Alex Moschella
of Moschella & Winston,
Greater Boston corporate
chair, and Paul Attea,
Association Board chair, catch
a few minutes before the
Walk begins.
Six High Stepper teams have raised a total of $80,862. Congratulations to the following:
Diocesan Health Facilities,
Southeastern MA $17,383
Team Leary, Neponset Valley $15,882
Team Callahan, Pioneer Valley $14,920
LifeCare Center, Northern Middlesex
$11,342
Moschella & Winston, LLP,
Three Sisters, Northern Middlesex
$10,580
2 4 - H O U R
Our second-highest fundraising
group of teams, Elite Feet Teams
($5,000-$9,999), raised $125,332 by
walk day and include the following:
Don Schulman Forget-Me-Nots,
Team Linda, Greater Boston $9,909
Mackie’s Team, Pioneer Valley $9,534
Genworth Financial, Greater Boston
$9,409
Jazzercise, Pioneer Valley $8,205
Hoodsie’s Gang, Greater Boston $7,797
The Mighty Dux, South Shore $7,493
The Hermitage, Central MA $7,060
H E L P L I N E :
Newton Wellesley Alzheimer’s Center,
Team Josephine, Greater Boston $6,402
Pleasant Memories, Southeastern MA
$5,737
Boston University, Greater Boston
$5,698
Welch Team, South Shore $5,513
Beaumont/Whitney Place, Central MA
$5,433
Sherrill House, Greater Boston $5,347
Long Meadow Place,
Northern Middlesex $5,136
College of Worcester Consortium,
Central MA $5,108
The Atrium, Northern Essex $5,055
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memory
walk
With Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Memory Walk’s growth was made possible in great part by $142,925 in sponsorship. In addition to
national sponsors, Genworth Financial, Creative Memories, and Kindred Healthcare, the
Massachusetts Chapter is grateful to the following companies and individuals:
STATEWIDE SPONSORS
Exclusive 25th Anniversary Cap
Sponsor:
Benefactor:
Exclusive Mug & Pedometer
Sponsor:
John Moriarty & Associates
Patron:
Friends:
In-Kind Sponsor:
Media Partners:
REGIONAL SPONSORS
Gold and Silver sponsors and media partners are listed below. Bronze sponsors and exhibitors are
on the website at www.memorywalkma.org.
BERKSHIRE
Gold: Berkshire Healthcare
Systems
Silver: EPOCH Assisted
Living at Melbourne,
Berkshire Bank
Media Partners: WBRK 1340
AM and 101.7 FM
CENTRAL
MASSACHUSETTS
Gold: Webster Five
Foundation
Silver: Blaire House of
Worcester, Radius
Healthcare Centers
Media Partners: WTAG-AM
and WSRS-FM
GREATER BOSTON
Premier: Moschella &
Winston, LLP
Gold: BU Alzheimer’s Disease
Clinical and Research
Program, Commonwealth
Ambulance, GWV Vacations,
McLean Hospital,
Stanley Solomont
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
Silver: Hearthstone Alzheimer
Care; Janssen Pharmaceutica;
Margolis & Associates;
Putnam Investments;
Rounder Records; Salter
HealthCare; Simmons and
Schiavo, LLP
NEPONSET VALLEY
Silver: Caritas Norwood
Hospital
NORTHERN ESSEX
Silver: Private Home Care,
North Shore Lights and
Sound
Media Partner: WESX
NORTHERN MIDDLESEX
Gold: LifeCare Centers of
America
Silver: Trinity Ambulance
Media Partner: WCCM
1490 AM
NORTHERN QUABBIN
VALLEY
Media Partner: WJDF
97.3 FM
PIONEER VALLEY
Gold: AGE Institute of
Massachusetts, Outback
Steakhouse
Silver: The Arbors – Amherst,
Chicopee and Westfield, East
Village Place, Janssen
Pharmaceutica, Landmark at
Monastery Heights, Radius
Management Services, Reeds
Landing
Media Partners: WWLP-
TV22, KIX 97.9, MIX 93.1
SOUTH SHORE
Silver: Plimoth Plantation
Media Partners: Plymouth
Bulletin,WADT
SOUTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS
Silver: The Arbors at Taunton,
Cummings Health Care
28536_Alz_NL_Q5
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Page 21
Ask the Right Questions continued from page 1
the victims had some form of dementia.Again,
this is not unexpected, since more than 50 percent of the residents in the Commonwealth’s
almost 200 assisted-living facilities are there
because they have a dementia that impairs their
ability to take care of themselves.
Feeling the pressure of these media reports as
well as the complaints of their constituents, the
Massachusetts Legislature has authorized the formation of an Assisted-Living Blue Ribbon
Commission to recommend new regulations to
make assisted-living residences safer places.Two
representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association,
Massachusetts Chapter were appointed to the
commission.The Executive Office of Elder
Affairs, which regulates assisted-living facilities, is
a strong advocate for people with Alzheimer’s
disease, and is due to release the new
regulations soon.
least eight hours per day.Ask what the monthly budget for the activities program is and how
many activities staff members work on
each shift.
patient care
& family
support
• An Alzheimer’s-friendly environment.Whether
it is an Alzheimer’s special care unit or a traditional integrated nursing home or assisted-living facility, you should be able to easily find
your way to the important common spaces
and to residents’ rooms.The facility should be
brightly lit and include an outdoor area that
residents can visit with supervision.
• A behavioral team that meets regularly to
discuss residents who have the potential for
violent behavior.The team’s goal is to be
proactive and develop interventions to prevent
altercations.
continued on next page
PHOTO CREDIT
Here are some benchmarks to consider
when shopping for a safe, long-term care
facility:
• There should be a commitment to training and
mentoring direct-care staff.We suggest that
when direct-care workers are hired they
receive a minimum of 12 hours of training to
control residents’ emotions and behavior, and
one additional hour of this training each
month.All other staff—kitchen, housekeeping,
maintenance, clerical, and administrative—
should receive at least two hours of
such training.
• The Mission Statement and Policies and
Procedures of the facility should state the goals
of the facility and protocols to achieve these
training goals.
• A 1-to-8 staff-to-resident ratio of nurses’ aides
(resident care assistants), licensed nurses, activity staff, and unit manager from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m.
• A strong activities program.This is one of the
best weapons against acts of violence.Activities
should be suitable for adults, enjoyable, and
allow the residents the opportunity to practice
their remaining skills.We recommend that
activities take place seven days per week for at
2 4 - H O U R
When you tour the facility, ask visiting family
members if you can call them later to discuss
whether resident-on-resident violence has
been a problem at the facility.
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patient care
and family
support
Ask the Right Questions continued from previous page
Here are some questions to ask when
assessing a facility’s ability to avert residenton-resident violence:
• How many direct-care staff have left during
the past year? High turnover might be indicative of poor training, understaffing, low wages,
and poor management.
• How often has the facility discharged a resident for behavioral problems or sent a resident
to a psychiatric hospital to be medicated?
More than five to ten such incidents per year
might indicate lack of proactive behavioral
management skills.
• How many families have been required to pay
for or provide companion care for a loved-one
who may be violent?
• Has the facility received any deficiencies in its
state inspections? How many violent incidents
in the facility were reported to the state?
When you tour the facility, ask visiting family
members if you can call them later to discuss
whether resident-on-resident violence has been
a problem at the facility.
Do not be afraid to move your loved-one out of
a facility where resident-on-resident violence
has taken place and no appropriate actions have
resulted to keep the other residents safe.You can
send a strong message to the facility’s owner by
moving your loved-one and spreading the word
that safety issues exist in the facility.
No facility can guarantee that there will not be
resident-on-resident violence under its roof. But
if you are a careful shopper and ask all the right
questions, you can significantly reduce the risk
of your loved-one becoming a victim of
violence. Consider this tactical shopping a gift
of love.
PHOTO: EYEWIRE
National Scientific Leader Visits
continued from page 8
For the first time, according to Dr.Thies, there
is growing evidence that we will be able to
intervene in the disease process to limit its disabling effects and related cost.Alzheimer’s still
does not fit the typical “medical model” recognized by most primary care physicians—that is,
something they can easily diagnose and for
which they can often prescribe very effective
medications. Nevertheless, he said,“Within the
next two decades,Alzheimer’s will be seen as a
chronic disease that will be managed. It will still
occur, but, like heart disease, we will be able to
manage it.”
You can make a lasting
legacy by including the
Alzheimer’s Association,
Massachusetts Chapter
in your estate plans
and will.
V I S I T
U S
O N L I N E :
NOTE: The editors thank Val Nolen of the
Massachusetts Chapter’s Statewide Advisory
Committee and Gerald Flaherty of Chapter
staff for the synopsis of Dr.Thies’s wide-ranging
comments.
28536_Alz_NL_Q5
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Page 23
Abington: Pam Bailey
781.871.0200
Acton: Joanne Chaulk
866.447.0009
or Jean Fleming
978.264.9643
Agawam: Holly Williams
413.821.9911
Amesbury/Newburyport: Patricia Lavoie
978.290.1797
Andover: Kristine Arakelian
978.623.8321
Arlington: Laurie August
781.316.3400
Athol: Wandra Landry
978.249.3717
Attleboro: Caren Gelotte or Susan Olson
508.222.6655
Michelle Hallock
508.222.4950
Auburn: Brenda Rojas
508.832.2200
Belmont: Nava Niv-Vogel
617.484.5501
or Lauren Storck
617.484.0949
Beverly: Beth Roberts
978.921.1392 x44
Linda Goddard
978.922.3622
Trish Crean
978.927.4227
Pam Taylor or Darcey Adams
978.921.5020
Boston: Barbara Hawley Maxam
617.724.0055
or Maureen Tardelli
781.391.7878
Braintree: Eileen Schongold
781.848.3678 x141
Ailsa LaCoste
781.843.1860
Bridgewater: Kathy Hayes
508.697.0929
or Sue Daniels
508.697.4368
Brighton: Naomi Krasner
617.789.2783
Brockton: Nancy Bresciani
508.583.2517
John Scott
781.952.2284
Brookline: December Heffernan
617.730.2753
Burlington: Joanne Fitzpatrick
781.273.7010
Stacey Kohler
781.744.8114
Ann Cooper
781.270.9008 x202
Barbara Ryan
781.270.4946
Cambridge: Alice McCarter
617.547.3543 x24
or Mary Costello
617.547.7836
Beth Benoit or Ruth Gordon
617.491.1815
Canton: Susan Sheehan
781.828.7450 x307
Chelmsford: Patty Keane
978.251.8491
or Christine Sweeney
978.251.8880
Susan Antkowiak
978.934.0000
Chicopee: Holly Williams
413.821.9911
Concord: Patricia Oliphant
978.318.0046
Dalton: Sandy Epperly
413.238.5584
Danvers: Gwen Kopka
978.750.4540
Carol Lundgren
978.762.7625 x12
Dartmouth: Jean Melia
508.997.9396
Dedham: Denise Hughes
781.329.1520
Dorchester: Donna Allen
617.825.5000
Duxbury: Sandi Wright
781.585.2397
East Longmeadow: Mary Anne Stout
413.566.5511
Edgartown: Susan Desmarais
508.627.4368 x16
Fairhaven: Sharon Jensen
508.991.8600
Merri Garren
508.997.3193
Fitchburg: Harriet Klayman
978.343.5216
Foxboro: Diane Caldwell
508.339.7183
Framingham: Susan Schieb
508.879.8000
Judy Sabol
508.788.6050
or Maura Moxley
508.872.1866
Franklin: Linda Williams
508.528.4600
Gardner: Kelly Lanza
978.632.5477
Judy Wilson
978.632.1230
Gloucester: Claire Phillips
978.281.9765
Great Barrington: Karen Hutson
413.528.2650
Susan Peisner
413.528.1881
Joan Nimmo
413.528.4560
Hingham: Jo Ann Mitchell
781.749.5417
Eleanor Blair
781.749.4774
Holden: Naomi Sohlman
508.829.0270
Holyoke: Dottie Blain-Hamel
413.322.5625
Hopedale: Brian Pillo
508.482.5995
Hopkington: Roseann Bond
508.435.0222
Jamaica Plain: Susan Kelley
781.322.4574
2 4 - H O U R
Kingston: Sandra Fahrenholt
781.585.4100
Lancaster: Kristi Mendoza
978.365.4537
Lee: Dolores Thimot
413.243.4747
Leicester: Eva Dawson
508.987.8056
Leominster: Trisha Keating
978.537.7411
Lexington: Sandra Simon
617.558.9086
Littleton: Gail Mallardo
978.486.3512
Longmeadow: Matt Audette
413.567.6211
Lowell: Margaret Swanson
978.459.0546
Ludlow: Ginny Sinkoski or Jeannie Banas
413.787.1113
Lynn: Cheryl Wall or Sarah Smith
781.598.4570
Valerie Jacobs
781.592.5661
Mansfield: Julie Bolt
508.261.1333
or Joan Baldini
508.285.7445
Marlboro: Maureen Diana
508.481.9898
Andrea Turner
508.485.4040
Medford: Douglas Lloyd
781.324.5759
or Sheila Witkus
781.395.5542
Methuen: Nancy Trick
978.682.3582
Middleboro: Robella Coates
508.946.2490
Carol Ann Landreville
508.588.2622
Maureen Bradley
508.947.4774
Milford: Marlene Fregeau
508.473.0862
Millbury: Michelle Stevens
508.793.0088
Milton: Susan Sheehan
617.898.1094
Nahant: Rev. David Dodge
781.581.1202
Nantucket: Pam Meriam
508.325.5360
Natick: Lois Pecora
508.655.5000 x3988
or Jim Worthington
508.655.3344 x3999
Needham: Sherry Jackson
781.455.7555
Jamie Gutner
781.258.6333
New Bedford: Jean Melia
508.997.9396
Newburyport: Amy Faucon
978.465.5361 x122
Newburyport/Amesbury: Patricia Lavoie
978.290.1797
Newton: Jan Champa
617.928.0007
Sheryl Clarke
617.630.2767
North Adams: Beth Hinkley
413.664.4536
North Attleboro: Michelle Hallock
508.222.4950
or Barbara Middleton
508.699.0131
Northborough: Aimee Rizzo
508.393.5655 x256
Northbridge: Cecilia Boatman
508.234.6481
Norwood: Mary Beth Lynch
781.769.4495
Peabody: Linda Smith
978.531.2254 x137
Pittsfield: Louise Posnick
413.445.2300
Bea Cowlin
413.499.0524
Beth Hinkley
413.499.1992
Plymouth: Sharon Mazzilli
508.747.3332
or Maureen Bradley
508.947.4774
Quincy: Wendy Wichroski
617.471.5595
Kathy Prince
617.471.5712
Rockland: Laureen Walsh
781.681.1075
Roxbury: Ilene Marsh
617.361.7486
or Michael Kincade
617.868.6718
Saugus: Ngozi Amadi
781.233.8123 x271
Sharon: Mary Fegan
781.784.6781
or Christine Lewis Dushku
Shelburne Falls: Susan Sprung
413.625.2502
or Jackie Stanford
Somerset: John Rogers
508.679.2240
South Hadley: Gerri Bennett
413.532.8098
Southbridge: Roger LaMontagne
508.765.9771
Susan Klezcka
508.248.7344
Springfield: Ginny Sinkoski
413.787.1113
Ellen Nepomuceno
413.781.5070
Kathryn Nowak-Crane
413.782.1800
Stoughton: Denise Conley or Christine Galanis 781.344.7300
Karen Sprague
781.344.7661
Swansea: Judy Andrade
508.379.9700
Tewksbury: Kathy Moriarty
978.657.0800
Paula Drelick
978.851.3121
H E L P L I N E :
support groups
Support groups provide a forum for family members and
friends of people with
Alzheimer’s disease or
another dementing
illness. Groups also
exist for people who
have early-stage
Alzheimer’s disease—
refer to Specialized
Groups at the end of
the alphabetized list
of communities.
At these groups, people learn about the
disease, share concerns and information, and support
each other in coping
with the effects of
Alzheimer’s disease or
one of the related disorders. Groups may
vary in size, frequency
of meeting, and leadership style but are
often termed lifesaving by their members.
Our website
support group leader
list, found at
www.alzmass.org,
is updated frequently.
For more information
about Massachusetts
support groups, call
our Helpline at
1.800.272.3900.
Please call the listed
group leaders for
details.
(continued on back page)
1 . 8 0 0 . 2 7 2 . 3 9 0 0
28536_Alz_NL_Q5
4/28/06
9:38 AM
Page 24
support groups
We make every effort
to keep this list upto-date. If you have
any problem contacting a group leader,
please call our
Helpline at
1.800.272.3900.
Support groups are
free and open to the
public. In addition,
many day programs
and long-term care
facilities offer groups
for families of their
patients. Support
groups are independently run and this
listing should not be
construed as a recommendation.
Support Groups continued from page 19
Turners Falls: Molly Chambers
413.773.5555 x262
Wakefield: Hugo Wiegall
781.224.2800
Ware: Stasia Wozniak
413.967.2225
Wareham: Carolyn Cardoza
508.758.2173
Dianne Connelly
508.295.1040
Watertown: Ruth Gordon
617.491.1815
Webster/Dudley: Debra Boucher
508.791.8131
Wellesley: Peggy Mullen
508.533.7020
West Groton: Heidi Whitehair
978.448.4122
West Springfield: Val Moschilli
413.781.1282
Westboro: Aimee Rizzo
508.366.9933 x3706
Susan Garvey
508.366.9131
Westfield: Ellen Nepomuceno
413.781.5070
Westford: Joanne Shaughnessy
978.264.4666
Weston: Shirley Earle
781.893.0154
Westport: Susan Oliveira
508.636.1026
Westwood: Colleen Murphy or Susan Hely
781.326.5652
Weymouth: Lynne Wilkinson
781.337.3121
Julie Barcelo
781.340.9100
Williamstown: Paul Jangrow
413.458.8127 x108
Woburn: Jennifer Jaroch
781.932.0350
Worcester: Faith Bandama
508.791.5543 x3319
Catherine Sabatini
508.753.4791
Patrice Fanjoy
508.752.2546
Walter Ohanian
508.754.3800
Debra Boylan
508.755.7277
Cindy Lamica
508.852.5800 x203
Katherine Ferreira
508.791.4200
Deb Boucher
508.791.8131
Specialized Groups
Adult Child Caregivers
West Roxbury: Susan O’Connell
or Kathy Vitello
Children’s Group (ages 8-12)
Danvers: Kris Haring
Families of VA Patients with AD
Bedford: Chris Jagiello
2 4 - H O U R
617.325.1230 x253
978.774.4400 x4007
781.687.2701
H E L P L I N E :
Please don’t toss
this Newsletter!
C
We encourage you to
“recycle” Newsletters
to a friend, doctor’s
office, house of worship, or club—and let
us know if you wish
to be removed from
our mailing list.
Interfaith Support Group
Framingham: Malka Young
508.875.3100
Springfield: Marcia McKenzie
413.787.1113
NEW! Early Stage Alzheimer’s African American
Group
Dorchester: Donna Allen
617.825.5000
NEW! Support Group for People with MCI
(Mild Cognitive Impairment)
Elaine Silverio
617.868.6718 x2005
People under 65-Early Stage & Early Onset Alzheimer’s
and Their Caregivers
Cambridge: Nancy Cohen
781.788.0044
or Susan Rowlett
617.868.6718 x2049
People with Early Stage Alzheimer’s and
Their Caregivers
Attleboro: Michelle Hallock
508.222.4950
or Barbara Middleton
508.699.0131
Beverly: Darcey Adams
978.921.5020 x2101
Brockton: John Scott
781.952.2284
or Christina Galanis
508.427.6099
Concord: Arlene Parillo
781.863.1166
or Carol Steiner
978.264.9643
Dartmouth: Peter Ham
508.997.0794
or Maureen Hebert
401.438.0008
Duxbury: Joanne Moore
781.934.5774
Milton: Susan Sheehan
781.828.7450 x307
Natick: Joanne Koenig-Coste
508.879.5338
or Lois Pecora
508.655.3344 x3988
Somerset: Judy Elste
508.833.8404
or Paulette Masse
401.559.5668
Westboro: Aimee Rizzo
508.366.9933 x3706
or Muriel Baum
508.435.0019
Worcester: Suzanne LaPointe
978.534.3427
or Deb Boucher
508.791.8131
Spanish-language Group/En Español
Boston: Conchita Rodriguez
617.868.8599
Spouses’ Group
Brockton: Geralann DiDomenico
508.427.6099
311 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617.868.6718 • Fax: 617.868.6720
www.alzmass.org
We are a member of
Thank you for your
payroll deduction
contribution.
Address Service Requested
1 . 8 0 0 . 2 7 2 . 3 9 0 0
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U.S. Postage
PAID
Watertown, MA
Permit No. 50215

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