ABODE Academy 7 is all about dementia – where we are in prevention and treatment, where we’re going and everything in between. Join us as we discuss how we can plan and prepare for dementia and move through it – whether it be with our loved ones or ourselves.

Join us for five complimentary sessions (via Zoom) as we explore this challenging subject.

Please RSVP for any or all of these programs. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible gift to ABODE, please use our DONATE button.

What are the types of dementia, its history, is it increasing, who is it affecting, who is it disproportionately affecting – and do we know why?

Join us as Ginny Funk, Director of Programs for the San Antonio and South Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, shares her expertise – and her personal experience. Ginny lost her mother to dementia and is now on this journey again with her father.

Ginny graduated from Trinity University with a degree in Psychology and from Our Lady of the Lake University with dual master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy.

Popular ABODE Academy speaker Dr. Jeffery M. Benzick is back with a look at how dementia affects our brain. Jeffrey will explain the biological mechanisms of dementia and what happens as dementia takes hold. Jeffrey advocates for an integrative approach, suggesting alternative ways to stave off this disease without depending on medication.

Jeffrey has been a psychiatrist in private practice since 2004 and is currently a consultant psychiatrist to the San Antonio Spurs. He is a former United States Air Force Flight Surgeon/Psychiatrist, and a graduate of the Baylor College of Medicine and of Texas A&M University, 1992, summa cum laude.

Jeff is also a regular ABODE volunteer, inspired by the loss of his dear friend Tom, whom we were honored to care for in 2022.

What does dementia look like as it unfolds in our loved ones – and ourselves? Trinity Hospice RN and ABODE Board President Beverly Tuomala steps us through the stages of this disease – what to look for, what to report to our doctor and at what point to consider hospice. She’ll also describe how a dementia death differs from a usual death.

Beverly comes to us with 30+ years of nursing experience. She joined Trinity Hospice as an RN Case Manager after working many years in ICU/Cardiac nursing. She knew from an early age that she wanted to grow up and be a hospice nurse. Beverly ensures that her patients receive compassionate, loving care at the end of life. She believes in the team approach – everyone brings something to the table. She loves teaching and sharing her knowledge – the more we know, the better we’ll all be.

Beverly has brought many Guests to ABODE and has experienced firsthand what we do. Beverly chairs the Education Committee.

 

 

To watch a loved one slowly become overtaken with dementia is heart breaking – and extremely challenging. In this panel, several members of our ABODE Community will share their stories – their ups, their downs, what worked and what didn’t – and we want to hear your stories, too.

Our panelists include Sandy Ragan – she cared for her dear friend Coleen Grissom; Aspen Aman – she’s currently caring for her mother; and Ed Alderette – he cared for his lovely wife Carolyn. Carolyn was our third Guest at ABODE.

What can we do to reduce our risk for dementia? Can we prevent it? What is the science telling us? What clinical trials are available – and who should participate?

Join us for a very special evening as Alicia S. Parker MD, Assistant Professor, Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, UT Health San Antonio, shares her expertise and advice.

As the first Cognitive and Behavioral Neurologist to practice in Bexar County, Dr. Parker established the Memory Disorders Clinic for the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Parker serves as the Clinic Director for the Biggs Institute, which aims to provide comprehensive care to patients and support for their caregivers. 

Join us for Yoga Therapy for Brain Longevity, led by Natalie Buster, our Resident Yoga Therapist. We’ll explore ways to increase our memory, cranial blood flow and mood with some simple and accessible tools from the world of Yoga Therapy.

This experiential workshop also features gentle movement, chanting and visualization to create healthy brains.

Among her many talents and certifications, Natalie is certified as a Brain Longevity Specialist from the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.