Volunteer spotlight: Kay Haubenreiser
http://www.alzheimers-illinois.org/enewsletter/april2013/volunteer.asp
In the four years since Kay Haubenreiser began volunteering, she has logged a staggering 663 hours to further the aim and reach of the Alzheimer’s Association® Greater Illinois Chapter. Her tireless commitment was borne of personal experience.
“My mother (Nancy Mangelsdorf) had vascular dementia for 14 years and we were thrown into a world we didn’t understand,” Haubenreiser said. “All the support the Alzheimer’s Association offered was tremendous.”
In the four years since Kay Haubenreiser began volunteering, she has logged a staggering 663 hours to further the aim and reach of the Alzheimer’s Association® Greater Illinois Chapter. Her tireless commitment was borne of personal experience.
“My mother (Nancy Mangelsdorf) had vascular dementia for 14 years and we were thrown into a world we didn’t understand,” Haubenreiser said. “All the support the Alzheimer’s Association offered was tremendous.”
In her role as a volunteer, Haubenreiser has made countless phone calls to nursing home facilitators and directors of nursing to inform them of professional development offerings in the area of dementia. She has spoken with those in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease to let them know about education programs and performed outreach to faith communities so that clergy can learn more about the Association’s resources for the benefit of their congregations.
More recently, Haubenreiser has written pieces on driving and dementia and how to enjoy the holidays when someone is cognitively impaired, among others, for Connections, a newsletter for those with early-stage memory loss. She also underwent training to become an Alzheimer’s Association Community Representative (AACR). AACRs assist the Alzheimer’s Association education team by presenting brief programs and representing the Association at health fairs and other events. Those in the role also speak to organizations, schools and clubs about the mission, programs and services of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Being an AACR means you are tapping into a lot of opportunity in the community,” Haubenreiser said. “People are really looking to connect on this issue.”
In recognition of National Volunteer Week, April 21 to 27, the Greater Illinois Chapter would like to thank Haubenreiser as well as all our volunteers for their years of truly wonderful service.
Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php