Website: www.memorycarehs.org
Industry: health care, nonprofit
Education: University of Michigan, B.A.; Washington University, J.D.
Family: husband, Dugie; four daughters, Shira, Alana, Danielle and Ariel
What is your mission?
Our mission is to provide free services aimed at extending and improving quality time at home for as many families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or memory loss. In Missouri alone, over a half-million people are experiencing this challenge in some way. In 2002, at our humble beginning, we conducted a pilot program with just 10 families. Last year we served more than 12,000 people. We’ve made tremendous progress, but we have a long way to go to accomplish our vision to serve all those who could benefit from this service.
What was your first job?
I tracked, plotted and charted pork belly futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange at an early age. The floor was a crazy and exciting place to be; picture Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in “Trading Places.”
What was your worst job?
I’d have to say being a waitress in a small restaurant wasn’t for me. I have a ton of respect for waitresses, but it was very hard. I was grateful to have a summer job and am (now) a huge advocate of teens cutting their teeth in the work world with difficult jobs like this.
What led you to your industry?
I was part of a caregiving team for my mother-in-law, so my family was directly impacted by the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. The need we soon identified as caregiver education and training wasn’t available anywhere. Our firsthand experience helped us build the roadmap for Memory Care Home Solutions. At the same time our family was addressing the challenges of Alzheimer’s, I was also involved with the legal work in the creation of a first-class Alzheimer’s care community in St. Louis.
What was the smartest thing your organization did in the past year?
Grant dollars and vital donor support have allowed us to expand our offerings and introduce another free service called Memory Care Plus. This service allows occupational therapists to go into homes over multiple visits and show people what to do rather than just tell them about it. We recently taught a caregiver how to safely bathe her mom, allowing for more dignity in a family that had foregone bathing because it was so problematic.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
“If we had only known …” is a phrase that breaks my heart when I hear it. It is very difficult hearing about a family member’s loved one who has passed away when we know that we could have helped them during their most challenging times.
What best advice would you share with social entrepreneurs?
It’s a powerful tool to visualize your goals. Define your picture of success and communicate that vision clearly to those that will help you make things happen.
What’s your favorite place in St. Louis?
There’s a wooded tract of land with some great trails behind Ruth Park in University City that I absolutely cherish.
What book is on your nightstand?
“Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” by Atul Gawande. He offers such a beautiful way to emphasize that seniors deserve to make their own choices about how they wish to live in their golden years.
Submitted 9 years 273 days ago