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NEWS MAGAZINESUMMER ISSUE 2017INSIDEMeet the Class of 2017 Women’s ChampionsFUNdraisersAction in AdvocacyEventsYouth Alliancealz.org/ct
Dear Friends and Community Partners,Reflecting on the past six months we have had so many successesand surpassed many milestones thanks to your continued support.As the leader of dementia education in the state, we celebrated our20th Dementia Education Conference this past April. The event wasattended by professionals and caregivers, uniting experts worldwideto present the latest information on dementia care practices.Celebrating Hope, our premier event in Greenwich celebrated amilestone year with the fifth annual event, which took place in Mayat L’escale at the Delamar Hotel in Greenwich. On June 10th as weobserved Alzheimer’s Brain Awareness Month with the Brain Ball atthe CT Science Center in Hartford. We wrapped up the month withthe Longest Day activities on June 21st.ELEONORA TORNATORE-MIKESHIn March, we had the largest group ever join the ConnecticutChapter at the Alzheimer’s Advocacy Forum in Washington DC. Thisgroup turned Capitol Hill purple, along with 1300 other advocatesfrom across the country as they advocated for more funding forAlzheimer’s research and co-sponsorship of the Palliative Care andHospice Education Training Act (PCHETA).As our organization continues to grow, we look for newopportunities to enhance our care and support and increase ourfundraising efforts. This year we will increase from six to sevenwalks throughout the state. Our New Milford Walk will be moved toDanbury and Litchfield to accommodate the growing need to reachdiverse populations and geographic areas of the state.Our progress and ability to advance our mission are made possiblewith your support and we extend our heartfelt appreciation for yourcommitment to our vision of a World Without Alzheimer’s.ELEONORA TORNATORE-MIKESHPresident and CEOBETTY BRENNANBETTY BRENNANChair, Board of DirectorsOUR TEAM2016-2017BOARD OF DIRECTORSDIRECTORSBetty BrennanChairMolly Rees Gavin, CCCIVice ChairDr. Daniel WollmanTreasurer, Center forComprehensive Care, LLCAl GattiImmediate Past Chair,Czepiga Daly Pope, RetiredKathy ButlerRetired, IBMMarissa CreanThe HartfordRobert DinersteinBarbara I. EllisLisa FeketeModern WoodcraftsRichard Fisher, Esq.Nemchek and PoeschlRoy FriedmanStandard OilEd MercadanteMed OptionsAlan PapernyTarget LogisticsJeffrey RudenBankwellMaisie RussellTravelersGregory SmithMaplewood Senior LivingMEDICAL & SCIENTIFICADVISORY COUNCIL(MSAC)Christopher van Dyck, ChairProfessor of Psychiatry, Neurology,and NeurobiologyDirector, Alzheimer’s Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineBlanche AgostinelliChristine AndrewKaren BlankMedical Director, Memory Disorders CenterInstitute of Living, Hartford HospitalRichard H. FortinskyProfessor of Medicine Health Net, Inc.Chair in Geriatrics and GerontologyCenter on AgingUniversity of Connecticut Health CenterPam HoffmanJewish HomeErin JacobsteinClinical Psychologist,Associated Neurologists, P.C.Stephen JonesDirector, Outpatient Center for Healthy AgingGreenwich HospitalGayle KatajaDirector, Community Integration & PartnershipsConnecticut Community Care, Inc.Gerard J.KerinsAssociate Chief of Geriatrics for EducationGeriatric Medicine Fellowship DirectorYale University School of MedicineYale-New Haven HospitalNancy LeonardNew England HomecareRose M. LevineEldercare Consultant,Geriatric Care Manager, Eldercare MediatorSamuel MarkindNeurologist, Associated Neurologists, P.C.Richard MarottoliMedical Director, Adler GeriatricAssessment CenterYale-New Haven HospitalHarry MorganCenter for Geriatric and Family PsychiatryMuhammed QureshiUnited Community Family ServicesArash SalardiniAssistant Professor of NeurologyYale School of MedicineDelia J. González SandersAssociate Professor and Chair Departmentof Social WorkCentral Connecticut State UniversityRonald Schwartz, MD, FACPMedical Director, Masonicare Health Centerand Hospice ServicesLavern WrightAssistant Professor, Geriatrics Center on AgingUniversity of Connecticut Health CenterKristina ZdanysAssistant Professor, PsychiatryUniversity of Connecticut Health CenterMSAC RESOURCE BOARDJoseph BottaGeriatricianCenter for Healthy AgingBarney SpivackMedical Director, LifeCare, Inc.Stephen StrittmatterVincent Coates Professor of NeurologyYale University School of MedicineDaniel E. WollmanCenter for Comprehensive Care, LLCSTAFFLEADERSHIPEleonora Tornatore-MikeshPresident and ChiefExecutive OfficerJim VumbacoChief Financial andChief Operating OfficerCarolyn AlessiVice President of Developmentand Corporate InitiativesDeborah DeKoffStatewide Walk Directorand Vice President of EventsCarolyn DeRoccoVice President of Programsand EducationJennifer WalkerVice President of Communicationsand AdvocacySTAFFNicole BeaucarEvents AssociateStacy ChavisSpecialist, Strategyand Program AnalyticsDanielle ChylinskiCommunications andPublic Policy CoordinatorSue ClementsAdministrative AssistantAlecia CoffinWalk ManagerEsther CorcoranNorth Central Regional DirectorAdrianna ForemanCare Consultant/Social WorkerTina HoganNorthwestern Regional Directorand Walk ManagerKristine JohnsonEastern Regional DirectorShanon JordanSouthwestern Regional DirectorSeana Kenefick DyerWalk Manager, Eastern RegionHilary KizilskiData Entry SpecialistJoAnn KupiecHelpline SpecialistJennifer LabrieHelpline DirectorMia LogicStrategic Operations ManagerBob MayerWalk ManagerStu MillerDonor Relations AdministratorSue SchwentkeExecutive Assistant to CEOMaria TomasettiSouth Central Regional DirectorTori VigoritoEvent Director/Walk Manager
20TH ANNUAL DEMENTIAEDUCATION CONFERENCE21ST DEMENTIAEDUCATIONCONFERENCEMOVES TO ANEW LOCATIONThe Alzheimer’s AssociationConnecticut Chapter is excitedto announce the new locationfor our 21st Annual DementiaEducation Conference.Roy Friedman, Board Member, Dr. Zaven KhachaturianHarry Johns, President of the national Alzheimer’s Association,Dr. Stephen Post, Eleonora Tornatore-MikeshThe conference will take placeTHURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018at the Mohegan Sun Convention Centerin Uncasville, CTIn April we celebrated an excitingmilestone 20th Annual DementiaEducation Conference. Throughoutthe years, the Alzheimer’s Associationhas united experts worldwide topresent the latest informationin dementia care practices toprofessionals, family members andpersons living with the disease inConnecticut. On this special occasion,President of the national Alzheimer’sAssociation, Harry Johns, welcomedover 650 attendees to this milestoneevent. He was followed by openingremarks by special appearance viavideo by Actress, Kimberly WilliamsPaisley, the author of the best-sellingWhere the Light Gets In: Losing MyMother Only to Find Her Again andGurney Williams III, writer, editorand advocate for caregivers strugglingwith the legion demands of dementia.We were honored to have thepresenters from the first DementiaEducation Conference, Dr. StephenG. Post and Dr. Zavan Khachaturianjoin us to participate in this milestone.Dr. Stephen Post, Director, Center forMedical Humanities, CompassionateCare and Bioethics Professor ofFamily, Population and PreventativeMedicine at Stony Brook Universitypresented the Morning Keynote“Hope in Caring for Deeply ForgetfulPeople: Enduring Selfhood and BeingOpen to Surprises.”Dr. Zavan Khachaturian, President,Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’sdisease by 2020 (PAS2020) Inc.Senior Science Advisor to theAlzheimer’s Association; Editor-inChief of Alzheimer’s & Dementia:Journal of Alzheimer’s Associationparticipated as a presenter in themorning breakout session with reviewof the history of Alzheimer’s diseaseresearch, current research findingsand futures potential in finding asuccessful treatment and cure with hispresentation “Perspectives on Past,Present and Future of Alzheimer’sResearch and Care. “During the lunchtime break the Boardof Directors recognized the dedicationand loyalty to the Alzheimer’sAssociation Connecticut Chapter.The 2017 Leader in Enhancing Careand Support award was presented toBlanche Agostinelli, MSN andNancy V. Leonard, MSW,LCSW, MBA. The 2017 Leaderin Advancing Research award waspresented to Dr. Chris VanDyke,Yale University in recognition foroutstanding leadership and tirelessefforts in addressing and raisingawareness of the care and supportinitiative of the Alzheimer’s Association.National Early Stage Advisory Groupmember Geri Taylor, RN MPH andher husband and care partner, JimTaylor discussed strategies to live by,eliminating stigma and participatingin clinical trials during the lunchtimeremarks. Geri and Jim were featuredin the New York Times in May2016 with a feature story “Frayingat the Edges” by N.R. Kleinfield inMay 2016 and have been activeadvocates for the Alzheimer’sAssociation to raise awareness.Throughout the day attendees wereable to visit vendor booths andlearn more about the Alzheimer’sAssociations’ programs.I LEARNED A LOT AND WILL CARRY THE KNOWLEDGE WITH ME TO MY RESIDENTS.2018 KEYNOTE SPEAKERKenneth J. Doka, Ph.D.Dr. Kenneth J. Doka is a Professor of Gerontology atthe Graduate School of The College of New Rochelleand Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundationof America. A prolific author, Dr. Doka has authoredor edited over 30 books and over 100 articles andbook chapters. Dr. Doka is editor of both Omega:The Journal of Death and Dying and Journeys: ANewsletter to Help in Bereavement.Gurney Williams III, writer, editor, and advocate for caregiversThis new venue will enhance theconference experience for our guests,sponsors and exhibitors and allowfor future growth!A sincere THANK YOU to our 2018supporters Mohegan Tribe and KÔTAa Mohegan LDI Enterprise fortheir continued partnership.Visit alz.org/ct to submit aRequest for Proposal or forsponsorship information.Dr. Chris van Dyck, Carolyn DeRocco, Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh,Betty Brennan“IT GETS BET TEREVERY YEAR.GREAT TO HEARTHE VOICES OFTHE EARLY STAGEINDIVIDUALSWITH DEMENTIA.
FUNdraisingThe Alzheimer’s Association is gearing up for our sevenWalks to End Alzheimer’s taking place this September andOctober throughout Connecticut. While Walk Season isa busy time at our chapter, it also brings with it so muchexcitement as our teams and individuals start hosting alltheir creative and fun, FUNdraising events to supportthe walk. These supporter events are the main driverraising funds for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s which fundsresearch, care and support, education and advocacy sowe can fulfill our vision of A World Without Alzheimer’s.alz.org/walk#ENDALZThe Quirky Bunch, did just that when they hostedanother spectacular event at the Bull & Barrel Brewery/Restaurant. From bull riding, raffles, tarot card reading,face painting and design your own glassware, to deliciousfood provided by the Bull & Barrel team, everyone hada great time at this wonderful FUNdraiser to benefitthe Alzheimer’s Association. Women’s Champion AngelaKelly turned up the sweet factor and hosted a familyfriendly FUNdraising event at Sweet Frog’s in Guilford.Sweet Frogs donated 25% of all sales to the Alzheimer’sAssociation. In addition to delicious treats, Mr. Sweet Froghimself made an appearance. Olivia held a lemonadestand and served up delicious lemonade to raise funds andawareness for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of hergreat Aunt Kathleen.THIS YEAR OUR WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS HAVEBEEN BUSY CHALLENGING EACH OTHER TOFUNDRAISING COMPETITIONS AND HOSTINGSUPPORTER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.ALZHikeforHope is holding their Fourth Annual Hikethis upcoming September 9th. The AlzHike4Hope wasa collaborative vision to bring more awareness to theMiddletown/East Hampton area. Women’s ChampionsLaura Wirtz and Peggy Poresky started the Hike whichhas been well received by the local community and eachyear the participation and monies raised, seemsto grow! Their total fundraising efforts over the pastthree years has grown to 44,000 and 125 attendees.“The easiest way to do a FUNdraiser, is find an ideathat you and a couple of your friends agree on and getthem to commit to the date and let it grow from there!Maybe a favorite restaurant, ask the owner to donate10% of the evening’s sales” says Laura Wirtz.If creativity is your specialty, you can host a paint nightfundraiser like Women’s Champions Mary Underwood andHeather Hitchcock recently held. Mary and her team atArtis Senior Living helped create beautiful memories withtheir Angel painting fundraiser. Heather held a Paint andSip night at Raymour and Flannigan, her biggest fundraiserto date where attendees painted beautiful peacockportraits. The Masonicare team lead by organizers, AudreyGrove and Amy Foreman created individual masterpiecesat Board and Brush for their fundraiser.Getting active is another way to feel great andFUNdraise. It was a beautiful morning in Walnut HillPark in New Britain for Skate for the Cure, an inlineskating race fundraiser for Marvin Bowe’s mom,Pat is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Thank you toMayor Erin Stewart for kicking off the race withover 50 skaters who came out to honor Marvin’smom. Mike Myszkowski, Golf Pro at the StoningtonCountry Club and Jason Monk raised 6,000 for theNew London Walk to End Alzheimer’s by playing golffrom 8 am until dusk on June 12th. Their goal wasover 100 holes of golf and they surpassed that whenthey played 144. They accepted donations all dayand members of the club purchased Forget Me NotFlowers and sponsored Mike and Jason. Women’sChampion Patty O’Brian turned up the heat andsweat it out to raise funds at an event held a fitnessevent at Anytime Fitness in Cromwell. MichaelDobson and Dawson Muller held their 3rd annual“Let’s Stick it to Alzheimer’s” Mini-Lax tournamentand raised over 1,300 for their walk team.Lastly we can’t forget our furry friends Women’s Champion Bobbi Tar has been selling“Bark to End Alzheimer’s” bandanas and treats asone of her FUNdraisers.THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT WAYS TOHAVE FUN AND RAISE MONEY TO HELPEND ALZHEIMER’S.If you are interested in holding an event but don’tknow where to get started, email us for moreinformation at ctwalkhelp@alz.org. If you are hostingan event, don’t forget to email us the information sowe can add it to our event calendar.If you haven’t already join or start a walk teamat alz.org/walk.
ALZHEIMER’Sand BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH and THE LONGEST DAYJune is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Monthand throughout the month the community showedtheir support and raised awareness about Alzheimer’sdisease by “going purple.” Each year, Alzheimer’s andBrain Awareness Month provides the opportunity forcommunities and businesses to share their commitmentto bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease throughoutthe month and on The Longest Day, held in on theSummer Solstice on June 21st.PURPLE LOOKS GOOD ON YOUOur media partners, WFSB Channel 3 and WTNHChannel 8 got into the spirit of the Longest Day bywearing purple on air all day to raise awareness. NationalHealth Care Associates supported the Longest Day byturning their buildings purple and hosting fundraisers.Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation andRiverside Health & Rehab Center both look beautiful asthey are lit up purple. Community Partner, Morneault’sStackpole Moore Tryon collaborated with businesses onPratt Street in Hartford to turn their shops purple the firstweek of June and held a special event on June 8th duringlunch time to support the Brain Ball and awareness month.Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), a long-time and valuedsupporter of the Alzheimer’s Association celebratedthe Longest Day with their fun bowling event thatraised over 800. It was out on the clear waters ofLake McDonough in Barkhamsted for “Kayaking fora Cause” and at the Wilton Farmer’s Market whereRobin Roscillo, Women’s Champion raised awareness ather information table. Sisters and Women’s ChampionsEileen Cleary and Janet Discepolo were joined byfriends to create purple origami flowers on The LongestDay in honor of their mother. Sweet Cupcasions inMilford raised funds and awareness by offering thelimited edition, “Isn’t She Lovely” cupcake. Trainersand members of Sculpt Fitness in Farmington weredecked out in their purple on The Longest Day. All weeklong they held a check in event and donated a dollar forevery check in, and doubled that for anyone wearingpurple. Darrell’s Dugout held another successful familyday of softball games this year.Employees at Masonicare decked themselvesout in purple to raise awareness and support thecause. Rometta Pinckney, a member of the HebrewHealthCare, Inc. Senior Day Center dressed up forThe Longest Day and spent all her waken momentsdoing word searches as her Longest Day event.Brandywine Living at Litchfield did a coin drop tofundraise for the cause. The Hearth had a fun dayparticipating in The Longest Day activities as staff andresidents sold baked goods, purple bracelets and flowersand adorned themselves in the latest in purple fashion,all to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.The HearthMasonicare employeesA SPECIAL THANK YOU to all thosewho participated in Longest Day events andraising awareness for Alzheimer’s diseasethroughout the month of June.
This past May, the Class of 2017 Women’s Championsjoined together with members from the Class of 2015and Class of 2016 Women’s Champions for abreakfast at the Pond House in West Hartford to learnabout their new role. The new class joins a group ofinspirational women who have made a commitmentto make Alzheimer’s a priority in their lives, work andphilanthropy moving us closer to a world withoutAlzheimer’s. The Women’s Champions Initiative growseach year as new champions are nominated and jointhat year’s respective class.The Women’s Champions are nominated by theirpeers each year and the mission is that the Women’sChampions are empowered to use their uniqueexperience, passion and influence to advance themission of the Alzheimer’s Association throughadvocacy, education, outreach and philanthropy.The morning of the breakfast over 100 women learnedabout the pillars of the Alzheimer’s Association and howthey can participate in activities within each role. Theyheard from other Women’s Champions on the way theyfulfill their mission and were challenged to fundraisingactivities for the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s.“We are so proud of this group of women who havebecome an extension of our organization and are alwayswilling to go above and beyond, exceeding our expectationsof their roles”, says Jennifer Walker, VP of Communicationsand Advocacy for the Alzheimer’s Association.Visit our website at alz.org/ct and learn more about each of ourWomen’s Champions. Watch for our Walk to End Alzheimer’sbillboards on the highway, our ads and our social mediaplatforms and see if you recognize our Women’s Champions.Nominations for the Class of 2018 will begin in February.Amanda Gordon SchreiberAmber Nicole PriceAmber OrvisAngela KellyArianna Paone MullinBobbi TarCarol BurnsCarolina MendezCarrieann I. KumorCary CarpinoCharmaine EmondDanielle Ancona RamosDenise LebrocquyErin MahoneyErin MahoneyGina SaundersHeather CappabiancaHeather HitchcockIrene BassockJeanne DiMuzioJennifer RosenbergJoan WeismanJoyce WoodwardKaren CornellKate BartelmoKelly Smith PapaKimberly MeucciLee MorganMarcie GiulianoMary Carroll RootNancy ChaputNancy OzizmirNichole SylvesterNisha HonnayaPatty O’BrianSally KirtleySara LinskeyStephanie Evans-ArikerSusan ShultzToni Dileone O’ConnellVicki BourqueWOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
YOUTH OUTREACHOur youth are at the forefront of change and innovation.The Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter isworking to engage youth throughout the state as part ofour Youth Services Outreach empowering our youth tovolunteer, fundraise and advocate.Youth Alliance Members with Actor and Philanthropist,Hill Harper at Celebrating Hope.ALZHEIMER’S YOUTH ALLIANCEIt was another fun night at the CT ScienceCenter for the third annual Brain Ball. Theevent took place on June 10th in recognition ofAlzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. Theevenings’ program, with
University of Connecticut Health Center MSAC RESOURCE BOARD Joseph Botta Geriatrician Center for Healthy Aging Barney Spivack Medical Director, LifeCare, Inc. Stephen Strittmatter Vincent Coates Professor of Neurology Yale University School of Medicine Daniel E. Wollman Center for Com
