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Sandra
Thiesen, Board President
Lynda Crandall, RN, GNP
I am currently in the middle of my
31st year as a nurse and
have spent every one of those years
working with elders, their families
and others who also work in various
capacities with this population.
Many of the persons whom I’ve taken
care of have had dementias of all
types. From the very start I
realized a joy in this work, both in
the giving and in the ways I
received back from it. My heart is
full of memories that reinforce this
has been my calling. I’ve also
experienced Alzheimer’s disease
first hand in my own family.
Seven years ago I was invited to
attend a Board meeting for the local
Mid-Willamette Valley Alzheimer’s
Association’s chapter. I was
immediately taken with and impressed
by the dedication of the volunteer
Board members and the work they were
doing and knew I wanted to be a part
of it in whatever way I could
contribute. I strongly believe
that we all have an obligation to
give to the communities in which we
live, and that our hearts along with
the unique gifts we each possess
will guide where and how we direct
our energies and time. This is
unquestionably one of mine. In
November 2003 when the Alzheimer’s
Association closed the local office
I collaborated with a strong group
of volunteers to help form the
Alzheimer’s Network in order to
continue our work here. I’ve
enjoyed participation as a Board
officer as well as working on lots
of committees including the
Education Committee, the Early Stage
Program, Walk committee,
Communications Committee, Fund
Development and other projects.
I’ve met other volunteers whom I
value as friends and who are truly
citizens of the highest caliber.
I’ve met people living with
Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias (persons with the disease
and their families) whom I value as
friends and from whom I’ve learned
many lessons. I count my work with
the Alzheimer’s Network to be one of
the most precious gifts life has
offered me.
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Kathy Belcher, JD,
Treasurer
My career choice as
an Elder Law attorney first brought
me into contact with individuals,
families and caregivers affected by
Alzheimer’s
disease. In my practice, I help
those affected by the disease with
their legal and financial needs,
focusing on estate planning and long
term care and Medicaid planning.
Although this is certainly
important, it is not enough. It is
heart-wrenching to watch the
suffering that people with
Alzheimer‘s disease, their families
and caregivers can go through. The
fears they experience, the physical
and emotional exhaustion of daily
caregiving, the isolation and the
feeling of being alone.
People with Alzheimer’s
disease, their families and
caregivers need ongoing support to
meet their needs. They need to know
they are not alone. They need
education and access to resources to
help them cope with this devastating
disease. The Alzheimer‘s Network is
the only organization working on a
local level in Benton, Linn, Marion
and Polk counties to meet those
needs. The Network is staffed by
dedicated and knowledgeable
volunteers who
willingly share their time and
expertise. The Alzheimer’s
Network is a vital resource to the
community and that’s
why I am proud to be involved with
the Alzheimer‘s Network and why I
volunteer my time.
I have been involved
with the Network since its
formation. I am a Board member,
Treasurer, member of the fund
development and public policy
committees and speak at education
conferences. I wanted to reach out
beyond the areas of my practice. I
wanted to be involved in developing
education, support programs and
other resources that would help
people come to terms or deal
successfully with Alzheimer‘s
disease. As a member of AlzNet, I
have had the opportunity to work
alongside some incredibly talented
and hardworking individuals. It has
been really rewarding and
encouraging to watch the
organization grow as together we
strive toward achieving our mission,
which is to
support the educational, social,
emotional, and spiritual needs of
individuals with Alzheimer‘s
disease, their
families and
caregivers, as well as raising
public awareness of the disease. It
can be difficult for any one of us
at times to find the time to
volunteer. Working and taking care
of family may leave a person feeling
like there is little or no time for
anything else. But, there is
nothing like the feeling of
volunteering for an organization
like the Alzheimer’s
Network and seeing the difference
you can make in the lives of
others. I would strongly encourage
any one thinking of volunteering to
jump right in. Get to know us and
see what a difference you can make.
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Shari Ridings,
Vice-President
I am currently working for NW Senior
and Disability Services as an
Assistant Unit Supervisor at the
South Salem Disability Service
office. I have specialized in
volunteer management through my work
at Dallas Retirement Village and
Marian Estates. This is where
I first met people with Alzheimer’s
and their families, friends, and the
staff caring for them.
In March 1996, I accepted the role
of Executive Director of The
Alzheimer’s Association Chapter in
Salem. I find it very compelling to
see the drastic changes in people’s
live, both for the person with
dementia and their loved ones, as
this relentless disease progresses.
It continues to drive my passion to
make a difference in the lives of
all those affected. During the
seven years I worked for the
Alzheimer’s Association, one of my
closest uncles was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease. This brought
the personal experience with the
journey of Alzheimer’s closer to
home. Many of my friends and church
members also have loved ones coping
with a family member who has
Alzheimer’s.
In November 2003, I joined the
volunteers who founded the
grassroots organization,
“Alzheimer’s Network,” to continue
my work with people with dementia,
their families, and caregivers.
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Jeanne
Dalton
I
became involved with this organization as
the Education Committee Chairperson in
January 2004. I believe that caregiver
education is very important.
There is a need to reach as many
caregivers as possible.
The more caregivers understand the
Alzheimer’s disease process, the easier time
they will have caring for their loved ones.
Also, education of direct care staff in
nursing and other residential facilities
will also help them take better care of the
person with Alzheimer’s disease.
We have such a wonderful
and dedicated group of volunteers in this
area, it is difficult not to catch their
enthusiasm. I wanted to join a group that
worked for a good cause and help in other
ways to provide support to those people
struggling to care for others with
Alzheimer’s disease.
In my professional career,
I have always enjoyed working with the
elderly and with people with Alzheimer’s
disease. The elder population is such a
diverse and gracious group! I believe that
people with Alzheimer’s disease never lose
their true spirit and it is wonderful to tap
into it. That’s one of the reasons that I
teach others so they can see and believe
this, too.
Now, as Alzheimer’s
disease has occurred in our family as an
early onset disorder, I will learn more than
ever the importance of caregiving from a
personal perspective.
But I know I will have the help &
support of the volunteers of the Alzheimer’s
Network.
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Robert King
I am new to the Alzheimer’s Network
of Oregon Board, but not new to the
world of Alzheimer’s Disease. I have
spent many years in the retirement
community more recently as a Skilled
Nursing Home Director working with
Alzheimer’s victims ranging from the
first hint of the disease to the
very advanced conditions. My Mother
was one of those individuals that
reached the advanced stages and the
frustrations we felt every day while
caring for her were the same
frustrations that thousands of
families feel each day while taking
care of their loved ones or their
good friend.
Currently, I am
working as a Family Services
Director with Howell-Edwards-Doerksen
Funeral Home, helping families plan
their final arrangements. Many of
the families that I work with are
taking care of a family member with
Alzheimer’s disease. Sharing their
stories and hearing their
frustrations reiterates our need to
find a cure for this debilitating
disease. It is those stories that
encouraged me to become a part of
the Alzheimer’s Network of Oregon
Association. It is those stories
that we need to keep us focused on
the possibility of a cure, knowing
that this disease will not cure
itself.
I look forward to
sharing stories with you and hearing
your stories. This is how we get
through each difficult day knowing
that we are not alone in this
journey.
May Dasch
David
Rheinholdt
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