Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Readers, 

Here it is again — that sliver of time that exists between storm season and holiday season, a breath, a pause. And then, the weeks whir and it’s a new year. 

Give yourself a few moments. Exhale. Consider how you’d like to end the year. These last months invite your presence, your intention. 

You deserve good things. 

My hope is that this new Care Partner Connection issue helps you navigate 2024’s remaining days from an empowered, healthy place. May you feel held, guided, appreciated by the words you find here. 

We are always in reverence of the work you do, but November is National Caregivers month, and we hope you can hear us when we say, “Thank you.” 

May this entire issue exude our gratitude, and may you feel buoyed by our bevy of upcoming workshops and events, which include The Ribbon of Grief workshop on Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. and our Caring for the Caregiver workshop on Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. Both sessions take place at Charter Research. 

We are also launching a new Self-Care Saturday yoga class Nov. 9 at 9:00 a.m. You can learn more about the zoom sessions in our article about yoga’s benefits. 

We wrote about our Songs & Stories Fall Fundraiser, too, which takes place Nov. 14 at the Dr. Phillips Center. Performers are Chase McGill and Hunter Phelps — songwriters who each have been nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s Songwriter of the Year award. We are so excited for this one. 

And our Embrace the Moment Excursion takes us to Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees on Nov. 19. 

In December, we’re hosting Understanding Brain Changes (Dec. 3), Difficult Choices (Dec. 6), and Hope for the Future, The Florida Brain Bank (Dec. 10). Each session starts at 10:00 a.m. and takes place at Charter Research.

As always, reach out to us 407.436.7750 with any questions or to register. 

This issue covers breaking news stories like AI potentially mitigating loneliness among Care Partners, and a new study that shows smell exams could determine dementia risk. We’ve also got another update from linguist Carolin Schneider, who provides an update about her incredible Dinner Time project study (and you can contribute to her research, too).

We also had the pleasure of speaking with Spencer Cline, the 26-year-old who recently completed a cross-country bike ride to raise nearly $58,000 for Frontotemporal Degeneration. His story inspired us deeply, and we imagine it might move you, too. 

This newsletter also examines what wellbeing means this holiday season. We discuss adapting holiday cooking and making financial choices that afford us more good, quality time with our people. We interviewed University of Central Florida's Dr. Daniel Paulson about how to bolster our mental health. The holidays often present us with the challenge of holding complicated, even contradictory emotions, all at once. 

This newsletter aims to ameliorate the challenges the winter months often present, and we hope you find the information useful.

Now, I would like to share with you a decision I have made. I will retire at the end of 2024. It has been my honor and privilege to serve those living with any form of dementia, and the persons who care for them, for many years. I have met so many courageous people. Too many, if truth be told. Each caregiver and person living with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia taught me so very much with their grace, devotion, and love. I take those lessons with me as I move into the next phase of my life. Although I am looking forward with curiosity toward what retirement holds, there is sorrow in stepping away from the dedication of the ADRC team and the Board of Directors. I can only say thank you. From my heart to you, thank you to each and every one who allowed me to serve you and serve with you. I will never forget you, your courage, your grace, your dedication.

Take care and be well.