Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Readers,

I send this latest Care Partner Connection newsletter from a space of deep gratitude and reverence. These bulletins serve as checkpoints to consider where we’ve been, where we’re going, and though the year is still young, I am so appreciative of the meaningful moments this community has already created.

Our March Gala was an incredible success, and I want to thank Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell for hosting, plus our incredible board members and everyone who attended, for making the evening an unforgettable one. We are already planning our Nashville night, and I can’t wait to release more details soon. 

Earlier this year, I shared that we have been working alongside University of Central Florida’s Dr. Daniel Paulsen and Nicole McClure to compile the most current, science-based information for a brand-new, six-week Care Partner information series. 

That series, which we’ve titled Dignified Dementia Care: A Partnership, launches May 7. I will hold weekly classes at the ClinCloud Clinical Trials Maitland office, and Care Partners who attend can expect increased knowledge, confidence, and overall well-being. Attendees will leave understanding various forms of dementia, and they will have tangible tools that will improve their lives. Registration is required!

We will also be hosting a May 2 Coping Strategies for Caregiver Stress and Burnout workshop in Winter Park’s Center for Health and Wellbeing, 2 pm.

And our four-hour ADRC to the Rescue pop-up happens May 9 at the Lake Mary Community Center. You’ll hear from both myself and Program Specialist Ashley Gravatte, who will discuss music’s impact on dementia. 

Speaking of music and dementia, our Music Box program was approved for another grant by the Pabst-Steinmetz Foundation. This means that memory care, day care, and other healthcare facilities can also apply and receive these incredible engagement opportunities.

Also this quarter, Gravatte will introduce the Positive Approach to Care, during a May 10 workshop. This model was developed by Dementia Care Specialist Teepa Snow, whom we had the pleasure of interviewing this month. 

Snow spoke to Care Partner Connection about how we can apply Spring’s language to the dementia voyage and the activities we plan this season. 

This issue explores language at length. We examine how our vocabulary can empower our Care Partnership and the people we are supporting. You’ll find my thoughts in the “Language Matters” article, and we hear from linguistic postdoctoral researcher Carolin Schneider about how dementia has informed her work. 

You’ll also find a profile about our incredible Board President, Rob Herzog, who is also AdventHealth’s Vice President of Research Operations and the Nicholson Center. 

And as always, we’ve gathered breaking news stories related to Alzheimer’s and dementia research. 

I hope these articles ground and anchor you on your Care Partnership journey. I am so glad you’re here.

Until next time, take care,