help Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

Extraordinary Ventures Doing Extraordinary Work

April 21, 2018 by Lindsay Hand

How one local organization provides employment opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum

EVNY employee earning laundry service skills and bracelets made by EVNY employees (Above)

For parents of children on the autism spectrum, figuring out what comes next after their children age out of school is difficult and stressful. Enter Extraordinary Ventures, a nonprofit organization that provides jobs and a comfortable working environment to adults on the autism spectrum. After visiting Extraordinary Ventures in North Carolina, Chappaqua resident Elise Orlando, whose son is on the autism spectrum, saw an incredible opportunity to bring a similar setting to Westchester as many students at Devereux, a school for children with autism in Millwood, were on the verge of graduating. Extraordinary Ventures offered to open a New York establishment, and now two years later Extraordinary Ventures New York (EVNY) has approximately thirty employees, a number of different businesses and a space in Mount Kisco.

The four board members along with the rest of the staff work tirelessly to support the employees, and have built this organization into something truly amazing. The employees work two to four hours a week, get paid, and even pay taxes, just as they would in any other job. Orlando, a board member, said, “We have worked hard over the years to ensure our children get cutting edge education to meet their needs. They are ready to contribute to society, but in their own way.”

Working Hard & Gaining Confidence

EVNY began with making, packaging and selling candles and bracelets, all of which are broken down into steps to follow. “We look at our population and figure out what skills they have and develop businesses around it,” explained Orlando. The candles and bracelets are often themed seasonally or around holidays, and they can also be customized for gifts or favors for showers, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and more. The employees are very proud of the merchandise they make, and some of them additionally work as salesmen at the various places the products are showcased, including farmer’s markets, craft fairs, and holiday boutiques. According to EVNY Director Liz Oliveto, “our guys feel much more confident…seeing that they can do things.” This confidence leads to saying yes to trying new things and even volunteering to do tasks, in addition to extending to home life. Both Oliveto and Orlando described how thrilled parents are to hear their children talk so excitedly about work and even change their behavior at home by doing things like baking brownies.

EVNY is also about to launch a commercial laundry service, with an additional specialty service for items like sleeping bags and pet beds. “You can bring your laundry anywhere, but by allowing EVNY to handle it you provide employment for adults with autism and support a mission,” said Orlando. With businesses like this and the candles and bracelets, EVNY is providing these individuals with a variety of opportunities and an environment in which they can interact and learn new skills. “Far too often they are told ‘you can’t do that,’” explained Oliveto, who worked with many of the employees at Devereux. “And that’s the great thing about Extraordinary Ventures…here, they have choices.”

Looking Toward the Future

Moving forward, EVNY is also launching a Vocational Training Program. This 12-session course will teach students the skills necessary to prepare for a job, perform job tasks, and interact properly while at work. Students will learn things like writing a resume, dressing for and participating in an interview, and completing forms. A regular volunteer cohort is also in the cards as the organization continues to grow. Oliveto is hoping to get volunteers of all ages, from 13-year-olds and high schoolers to retirees and senior citizens, to come to EVNY and spend time with the employees. With new partnerships with local groups like the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Mount Kisco, many people will have the opportunity to work closely with EVNY and help them in their mission.

Orlando discussed how the incidence of autism spectrum disorder has increased since her son was diagnosed in 1994, and how education and employment opportunities need to keep up with that. There is no doubt that EVNY is starting to bridge that gap by providing this wonderful opportunity for these employees. In her words, “There’s nothing better than seeing the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment among our employees when they complete a job. And they always seem surprised when they get paid for it!”

The love and passion of Oliveto and her staff is incredible and will only help the organization continue to grow and be more successful in the years to come. With the amazing community interest and support, EVNY will no doubt keep growing its businesses and helping more adults on the autism spectrum. As Oliveto explains, “I genuinely like my employees…they’re fun to work with and fun to be around. I’m glad we made a place where they are happy, productive and comfortable.”

To learn more about Extraordinary Ventures New York, visit www.EVNY.org.

My Sisters’ Place: A Haven for Hope and Help

April 21, 2018 by Stacey Pfeffer

(L-R): Danielle DiNapoli, Karen Cheeks-Lomax and Gabriella Ibacache

A Not for Profit Providing Local Support to Victims of Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking

It’s a non-descript building in downtown White Plains steps from the Metro-North station but for people served by the non-profit My Sisters’ Place (MSP), it is a beacon of hope. It is a safe haven where victims of domestic violence (DV) and human trafficking can finally begin to change their lives.

Founded more than 40 years ago, MSP offers residential, support and legal services for victims of abuse and trafficking. The non-profit also offers educational and preventative programs for students in middle school and high school. In addition, MSP advocates for legislation protecting victims and provides training for healthcare professionals and law enforcement personnel. In short, MSP is a comprehensive agency that provides direct services, legislative advocacy, and prevention education to 15,000 people a year in Westchester County.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the US and up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually.¹ Although 84% of the victims of abuse and human trafficking that MSP helped last year were female, they also provide services to a small percentage of men or transgender individuals. Last year MSP provided counseling to 130 children and emergency housing for more than 175 adults and children at two confidential full-service shelters located in Westchester.

Battling Misconceptions

There is a misconception that both domestic violence and human trafficking don’t happen in affluent communities but these problems cut across socioeconomic levels, notes Karen Cheeks-Lomax, the CEO of MSP. When they do happen in affluent communities, they are widely sensationalized in the media such as the brutal stabbing of Scarsdale pediatrician, Dr. Robin Goldman, by her husband Jules Reich, a well-respected tax attorney, and a human trafficking and sex slave ring discovered in Pound Ridge-based author Joseph Yannai’s basement.

Judy Dobles, a Chappaqua-based volunteer for the past six years with MSP, knows all too well that domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. As a volunteer in the ‘Sisters in Law’ program, she has accompanied MSP clients to court, solely for the purpose of supporting the victim as much as possible.

“Whether that’s talking or just sitting quietly by their side, if they don’t want to talk, shielding them from having to see their abuser before going in to the courtroom, and basically just trying to keep them as calm as possible before they have to go in before the judge,” explains Dobles. She recalls one of her first “accompaniments” with a very educated, successful client who had had a lucrative career and came from an affluent background. “It was difficult to connect that information with the broken person I saw before me.”

Still Dobles finds this type of volunteerism rewarding. “It’s rewarding when a client walks into a courtroom or magistrate’s room and can answer questions calmly and succinctly. It’s really rewarding when they exit the room with a smile because they feel like they are being heard and they’re not alone. Also, as a huggy/feely person myself, I would say that 99% of the time, my clients and I hug goodbye–and I feel truly honored to get those hugs.”

Expanding the Definition of Domestic Violence

“Domestic violence doesn’t fit in a box,” notes Cheeks-Lomax. Danielle DiNapoli, a community educator in MSP’s Domestic Violence Education and Prevention (DVEP) program which educates more than 5,000 middle and high school students a year. She explains that it is “not just physical abuse. It is an intentional pattern of behaviors where one person is gaining and maintaining control over another. It can be financial, mental, cyber or spiritual/cultural abuse.”

DiNapoli also teaches the students about warning signs in a relationship that may lead to abuse further down the road. Extreme possessiveness, jealousy, isolating the victim from family/friends or checking in at the person’s place of work or showing up at social outings to which they are not invited are all potential warning signs. It can also be verbal abuse such as putting a partner down or controlling what they eat or wear.

For high school students, DiNapoli states that 1 in 3 have been involved in an abusive relationship.² They may feel particularly afraid to discuss it with an adult because their parents, she points out, might not even know about the relationship or forbid dating. Gabriella Ibacache, a children’s counselor at MVP points out that the abuse may start off as very small or subtle and the abuser may manipulate their partner by apologizing or buying them gifts.

DiNapoli wants students to understand that the power and control that we see in society can trickle down into our relationships. “By the time I’m seeing them [the kids may be 11 or 12 years old], and this is the first time that they are talking about these issues, and that’s a real problem. We need to be teaching kids how they should be treated and treat one another at a much earlier age,” explained DiNapoli.

Safety Planning

When DiNapoli talks to high school students, MSP provides survivor stories and they discuss warning signs, what type of abuse the survivor endured and reasons why the survivor did not leave. “A lot of the kids ask, ‘why didn’t the victim just leave?’ People tend to shame and blame the victim for not leaving,” said DiNapoli. But on average, DiNapoli says it takes the victim seven attempts before she leaves permanently. And when the victim does decide to leave for good, it is the most dangerous time for that person. They could be seriously harmed or killed. “So much of what we do at MSP is “safety plan” –figuring out the safest way to leave, and that’s not the same for every person, and can change daily due to new salient factors,” explains Cheeks-Lomax.

Ibacache notes that the barriers to leaving can still be just as hard even when the victim is affluent. When children are in the mix, the danger increases significantly warns Ibacache.

Human Trafficking: It Does Happen Here

For more than a decade, MSP has been helping victims of human trafficking and last year helped 85 survivors of human trafficking. In New York State, there were 942 victims identified by social service providers and law enforcement in 2016. Of the victims, 82% were for sex trafficking purposes and 18% were for labor trafficking with 27% of the victims being minors. 43% are citizens from other countries and 57% are residents of New York from outside the five boroughs.³

Housing, Public Transportation & Immigration Status: A Trifecta of Issues for Many MSP Clients

Although MSP has 60 employees and is a $6 million agency (with $1.6 million from private donors), Cheeks-Lomax notes that they are working in a sector that is very challenging. There are challenges that are unique to Westchester County such as a lack of affordable or low-income housing and public transportation for clients.

Imagine if you need to push a baby carriage to get here, notes Cheeks-Lomax. “If you don’t have safe housing, you can’t do much,” laments Cheeks-Lomax. MSP recently won a conditional award to work with Westhab, the largest developer of affordable and low-income housing in the county, and hopes to partner with them to create 17 two-bedroom apartments for MSP clients in the near future.

“Immigration status is also a huge issue. In 2009, Westchester County was not reimbursing immigrant populations at MSP. We briefed the issue as to who should be served by these federal dollars. We took it all the way up to the governor. If people couldn’t come to us, we argued that they would end up at a hospital or a drug rehab. Every single county now in New York State provides services to immigrant victims of DV and human trafficking,” Cheeks-Lomax explains triumphantly.

Looking Ahead

Cheeks-Lomax is hopeful that the #metoo movement will highlight the power dynamic that is present in domestic violence cases and raise awareness about it. “There are the same fundamentals of fear and intimidation intersecting. For us, it proves a point. It is always about power and control and the abuser does it because he/she can.” She is also looking forward to working with County Executive George Latimer, and believes MSP will make some good headway with his administration.

1. Source: dvrc-or.org
2. Source: loverespect.org
3. Source: NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Refugee Services

6 Critical Life Messages to Help a Friend

If you believe a friend is in an abusive situation, these are the ‘messages’ that the staff at My Sisters’ Place say she or he needs to hear. “It is important not to “revictimize” the person who has been abused,” notes Cheeks-Lomax. All of these messages validate the person’s experience instead of shaming or blaming the victim.

I believe in you.
I trust you.
I know you can handle it.
You are listened to.
You are cared for.
You are very important to me.

Source: My Sisters’ Place Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program

How Organ Donations Save Lives: Local Transplant Survivors & Advocates Educate the Community

March 8, 2018 by Deborah Raider Notis

Amy Silverstein
COURTESY OF UJA WESTCHESTER

When Pleasantville resident Daniel Flood was 68 years old, he went into renal failure. He was sick, depressed, and looked jaundiced. Doctors told Daniel that he had six months to find a donor or he would have to go on dialysis for the rest of his life. At that moment, his three daughters, Jennifer, Cynthia and Heather, and their mother, Roseann made it their mission to do whatever they could to find a kidney donor for Daniel.

Amy Silverstein’s first heart gave out in 1988. She received her first transplant, the heart of a 13-year-old child, after spending two lonely months in the hospital. This heart, which was expected to last 10 years, gave her 25 more years of life.

When her second heart failed, she realistically did not expect to receive a second donor heart.

(L-R) Cynthia, Heather and Jennifer
COURTESY OF FLOOD SISTERS FOUNDATION

A Dire Need for Organ Donations

The American Transplant Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping people to find organ donors and providing emotional and financial support to transplant patients and donors, estimates that over 100,000 people in this country are on a waiting list for an organ transplant. Every 10 minutes another name is added to a transplant list. Both Daniel Flood and Amy Silverstein beat the odds.

When Flood was in his 60’s, he found out that he was born with one kidney. He developed hypertension, which eventually destroyed his one kidney. Neither his three daughters nor his wife were donor matches for him. His daughters decided to take an unorthodox route and posted for a kidney donor on Craigslist. “The Craigslist ad was a shot in the dark!” states his daughter, Jennifer Flood. “We used Craigslist for selling items, finding jobs, for childcare. It was a success for all these things, and we said why not post for a kidney donor in the volunteer section for dad?” The ad sparked the interest of an acquaintance who worked for the tri-state news radio station WCBS 880AM. She interviewed the Flood sisters, enabling a wider audience to hear their story.

Silverstein already outlived doctors’ expectations. After her first transplant, she was able to finish her third year of law school, marry her husband, Scott, raise her son, and live an active, fulfilling life. Yet, life with her donor heart was not carefree. She was often nauseous, had around 15 infections every year, underwent over 70 painful heart biopsies, took thousands of doses of medicines, and suffered from breast cancer caused by the anti-rejection drugs. “I didn’t stop,” says Silverstein. “I went to the gym and stood online at the grocery store, no matter how nauseous I felt that day. I kept going. I always tried to put on a good face.” In 2014, 26 years after she received that first donor heart, her heart failed. Encouraged by her family and friends, she travelled across the country to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in California and put herself back on the donor list.

The American Transplant Foundation estimates that liver and kidney disease kill more than 120,000 people every year. Twenty-six million Americans have kidney disease, and many do not even know it. Every year, there are approximately 6,000 living donations. Living donors can donate kidneys, while hearts are donated by someone who is brain dead but still on life support. A heart donor must be under 65 years old and cannot have a history of heart disease or trauma to the chest. As difficult as it is to receive a kidney, it is significantly harder to find a matching donor heart. To get on the donor list for a heart, candidates must adhere to a strict set of health-related rules.

After the Flood family’s radio interview, thousands of strangers, reached out to them. They were able to start a widespread campaign to find a matching donor for Daniel. They tracked potential donors via an Excel spreadsheet, personally speaking to every potential donor. Jennifer Flood, a nurse, knew that Daniel’s options were limited as he could only receive a kidney from a donor with an O blood type. After their review, the list dwindled down to six potential donors, three of whom were disqualified as a result of other medical issues. According to Jennifer, “The campaign was an emotional rollercoaster.”

Everything was different for Silverstein the second time her heart failed. In a hospital bed across the country, she had little hope that she would survive. Yet she was surrounded by much love and support, which helped her to persevere. Nine of Silverstein’s friends put together a schedule, and they took turns flying from New York to California to stay with Silverstein in her hospital room. Visitors were few and far between when she was 25. At 50, after her second heart failed, her friends did not leave her side. These friendships were “life-saving and illuminating,” according to Silverstein, who said that she realized the value and magnificence of her female friendships and spoke about them at a recent UJA event at Chappaqua’s Temple Beth El.

How the Organ Waitlist Works

According to the American Transplant Foundation, the waitlist for an organ transplant is not simply a numerical line. The waitlist encompasses a gigantic pool of patients, all of whom are characterized by their blood types, health needs, severity of the illness of the candidate, geographic location of the candidate and specific genetic characteristics. If a donor becomes available, matching features are entered into the system and a list of potential candidates, starting locally and possibly spreading nationally is developed.

Daniel Flood was extremely fortunate. An unknown woman from Monterey, California saw his daughters’ Craigslist ad in 2008 and offered to donate a kidney to Daniel. The donor empathized with the family’s situation, as she lost a close mother figure and was particularly close to her father.

In December 2009, Daniel received a new kidney. His family’s unconventional campaign to find a matching kidney donor was a success.

Two months into her stay at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Silverstein was offered another heart. Once again, she matched with a 13-year-old girl, and this child would give Silverstein the invaluable gift of a longer life. “With this second transplant, I don’t know how long I have,” noted Silverstein, who travels back to California every six months to see her doctors. “But I know that whenever I need to talk to someone, I have nine friends I can call, and I will have an honest, free-flowing conversation. I have an incredible support system.”

Silverstein is particularly lucky. Many people in her situation do not have people on whom they can rely. Autumn Porter, a Senior Program Coordinator at The American Transplant Foundation, believes it is vital to create a network of support for transplant patients. The Foundation has a mentorship program to help both transplant candidates and donors. This program also gives people a platform through which transplant candidates can help find living donors and to get their stories out to a wider audience. These resources are designed to alleviate some of the stress of this process for transplant patients.

Complications from Immunosuppresive Drugs

Since his transplant, Daniel Flood feels significantly better and appreciates that he can enjoy his life and his family. Silverstein has been re-energized by her third heart, running three times a week. However, she knows that with a heart transplant “you are trading one disease for another.” She is grateful for the medical advances over the past 25 years. All transplant patients must take anti-rejection, or immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs block the immune system, helping to protect the new organ and help maximize its functionality. Long-term use of these drugs can lead to complications, including diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers.

These vital anti-rejection drugs are often unbelievably expensive. Porter notes, “Many people cannot afford these protocols.” The American Transplant Foundation helps transplant patients to access these medicines. The Foundation’s “Patient Assistance Program” also offers financial help for donors, helping them to pay for their expenses.

Educating Others About Organ Donations

After helping their father, the Flood sisters wanted to use their newfound knowledge to help other people find living kidney donors. They started Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation and, thus far, have helped to match 11 other people with living donors. Leveraging social media and various media outlets, they share patients’ stories. “Every story is unique. I believe people are driven to help someone in need because they have seen someone close to them receive a transplant or go through setbacks in their lives, and they want to make a difference,” states Jennifer. The Flood sisters hope to enhance and expand their Foundation, incorporating an educational component and nutritional program. They also recently held a Bon Jovi acoustic concert at Tarrytown Music Hall earlier this month with part of the proceeds benefitting the Foundation.

Silverstein inspired millions with her story. In 2008, Silverstein wrote about her first heart transplant in Sick Girl. In 2017, she authored My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, the story of how the support of her friends was life-changing for her when her second heart failed. JJ Abrams plans to bring her latest story to television. “Appreciate when you feel well,” Silverstein says.

“And remember, even in my position, all good things are possible. Try not to be defined by it. It is very easy to get swallowed up by the illness that you have. I’ve been lucky not to become my illness and that is my hope for others.”

Furry Friends and SPCA Supporters Step Out in Style for Top Hat & Cocktails Annual Gala

December 1, 2017 by Stacey Pfeffer

Kim Charlton (left) and Stephen Meringoff (right) the event honorees
PHOTO BY GEOFF TISCHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Canine companions and pet owners were out in full force last month at the 15th annual Top Hat & Cocktails annual gala for the SPCA of Westchester. More than 300 guests and 50 furry friends were in attendance with several dogs up for adoption onsite at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in White Plains. The event honorees Kim Charlton formerly of Bedford and Stephen Meringoff of New York City underwrote the entire event, helping all proceeds from the event directly benefit the SPCA.

The annual gala was conceptualized by John W. Beach, a former Mount Kisco and Bedford Hills resident and was originally called Top Hat and Tails. Each year the gala’s honorees receive the John W. Beach Memorial Award to outstanding individual (s) for their humanitarian work. Charlton and Meringoff , who recently married and own two dogs, developed a successful SPCA program called “Critter Credit”. The program identifies shelter animals who may have difficulty getting adopted such as animals with medical conditions, are excessively shy or require more training. Through the program, individuals or families who adopt these pets receive a $250 credit, which can be applied to a trainer or to supplies at Petco or Petsmart. The program has successfully helped 190 dogs and cats find their “forever homes” since its inception.

Conar, a 2-year-old Irish terrier in attendance from Chappaqua
PHOTO BY LARRY PFEFFER

This year the shelter has also taken in 23 cats and kittens from storm-ravaged places such as Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. The shelter is a no-kill, not-for-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving homeless, abused and abandoned animals. They also protect animals from cruelty and neglect through education and enforcement of humane laws.

After the awards ceremony, a lively and entertaining auction took place with auctioneer Joe Di Mauro, the owner and operator of Mount Kisco Seafood. The auction at times was punctuated by laughs and “woofs” and took in $70,000 for the SPCA. Several of the dogs in attendance were decked out in costumes in honor of Halloween and many dined on canine ice cream courtesy of Briarcliff Manor-based Pets a Go Go.

Armonk resident Irma Jansen and her dog Trooper
PHOTO BY LARRY PFEFFER

Irma Jansen, an Armonk resident in attendance with her beagle Trooper has been involved with the organization since 2013. She spends many weekends driving dogs to help them get successfully transported to the shelter. Some dogs may have three legs of a trip and these transports are vital so that the dogs can take a break in between a long ride. She finds the work “rewarding” and thoroughly enjoys it.

Ossining resident Mary Dusenberry founded the SPCA in 1883 after she observed horses being whipped and beaten as they trudged up nearby hills to deliver heavy loads of coal. Together with her friends, she obtained land on which to build the Society’s first home and established a fund to be used to prevent cruelty to animals. The SPCA is still located on the same spot, making it one of the oldest landholders in Briarcliff Manor.

Recognizing Dementia: When it’s Time to Seek Care

December 1, 2017 by Janie Rosman

Executive Director Maria Scaros (right) with resident, Virginia, during a Drama Arts Therapy session at The Greens in Greenwich, CT.

Personality changes, difficulty coordinating personal activities and juggling multiple tasks at the same time, getting lost in familiar places–the changes may be gradual when a person develops dementia. As medical professionals learn more about how dementia travels in the brain, they are better able to ascertain how that path affects someone with the disease.

Dr. James Noble
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Dr. James Noble, a neurologist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center’s Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, said that dementia “is an acquired neurological problem that causes interference with how people live their day-to-day lives.”

Within the umbrella term of dementia, he explained, “Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia (other forms are Lewy Body and frontotemporal dementia). In most cases of Alzheimer’s disease, people present with primarily memory loss that may be alongside other cognitive problems.”

Maria Mursch, LMSW, a Care Consultant and Director of Family Education for the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Chapter, clarified, “When we talk about the disease, we’re talking about memory loss and about regions of the brain that control functions, judgment, personality/behavior and insight. That’s why we see a multitude of symptoms.”

Noble cited a middle ground called mild cognitive impairment that doesn’t interfere with day-to-day life. “About 50 percent of those with Alzheimer’s are unaware they have a problem, which poses a challenge for diagnoses and delays someone going to the doctor,” he said, unless a caregiver accompanies a patient during a doctor visit.

Often families face a choice between placing their loved one(s) into a home and keeping them in their own home(s) with an aide or additional caregivers. One facility that focuses solely on caring for those with dementia is The Greens At Greenwich, the first assisted living facility in Connecticut designed for people diagnosed with dementia or memory, according to The Greens Executive Director Maria Scaros.

“All our staff is trained in dementia care and engages with residents daily,” said Scaros. Each of its 31 apartments is decorated with residents’ own furniture to give a semblance of familiarity. Outside each door is a glass-enclosed box filled with pictures, tokens and other objects that can spur recognition. “Although age is the biggest single risk factor for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,” Noble explained, “dementia is not part of the normal aging process.” Genetic dementia, while uncommon, presents “in families that have onset under the age of 60, affecting half the family within a generation.”

While families may have expectations and fantasies about the loved one returning to his or her former self, “they are not expected to deal with dementia alone,” Scaros maintained. The facility embraces the entire family, removing the burden of care so they can maintain their roles as spouse, daughter, son and grandchild. “We get to know their family member in the here and now and relate to them as they are in the moment.”

Mursch agreed it’s important to meet the person where he or she is mentally and emotionally. Many patients with Alzheimer’s are first misdiagnosed with depression (the blues), Noble said. “Instead, typical mood changes in Alzheimer’s can be described as ‘get up and go got up and went.’ Addressing this loss of interest in activities can be very challenging. Families may not realize that to engage a loved one in an activity, they need to be proactive.”

A familiar setting will become unfamiliar at some point, Mursch said. “When that starts to happen, we’re looking at someone who progressed in the disease,” she said. “It is important to keep the person comfortable and socializing and active, and there are ways to accommodate the person at home.”

Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) offers support programs and activities and a 24-hour number (1-800-272-3900) that’s answered by the local chapter during work hours and by its national headquarters after hours. Mursch added, “There may be a point when it becomes unsafe to live at home because of the physical environment (i.e. a staircase) or when the caregiver can no longer take care of the person or the situation cannot be resolved by increasing home care.”

Scaros noted The Greens’ biggest competition is home care, which may be the best solution for some. “We need to recognize, however, that when someone says, ‘I want to go home,’ it means, ‘I want to feel safe, secure, loved and engaged.’” Home becomes a feeling rather than a place.

Social activities and cognitive stimulation like hobbies can keep the brain alert. Scaros was trained as a drama therapist and ensures that creative arts therapies are an integral part of The Green’s programs. Lynn Hagerbrant feels the facility goes well beyond the standard of care in sharing, caring and loving for her own parent living there. “They have heart and soul, a caring heartbeat that starts with Maria and flows through all her staff.”

Science continues to research cures for dementia. “New treatments may not be not that far away, and trials to date have helped foresee what next steps to take,” Noble said. For information, visit www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/taub.