Friends Life Care has a mission to serve older adults.  And Alzheimer’s disease is something that tends to affect more people as they get older.   According to the National Institute on Aging, there may be more than 6 million Americans, most of them age 65 or older, who have Alzheimer’s. So Friends Life Care stepped up to join the Alzheimer’s Association Walk fundraiser. 

Fundraising Goal Exceeded

We are thrilled to share some incredible news with you all – Friends Life Care‘s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team has not only met but exceeded our fundraising goal for this year!

Thanks to the outstanding generosity of our local sponsors, and your unwavering support, we’ve managed to raise over $2,100 for the Alzheimer’s Association. This accomplishment beats our goal of $1,500 and brings us all one step closer to a world without Alzheimer’s disease. 

Incredible Sponsors Make It Possible

We’d like to take a moment highlight the incredible sponsors who made this achievement possible: 

1. McCaffrey’s Food Market in Blue Bell –  Located a few miles from our office, McCaffrey’s food market is a favorite stop for employees.  While the store is filled with quality and high-end products, some of our favorites have to be their sweets! McCaffrey’s joined our cause by donating a delightful “Chocaholic” basket. This delectable basket was filled to the brim with a mouthwatering assortment of chocolate treats, which undoubtedly sweetened our fundraising efforts. Care coordinator, Linda Hnatow, was thrilled to win this basket!   
2. Home Helpers of Montgomery County – One of our home care providers and a compassionate organization that provides care and companionship to seniors, Home Helpers came through with an amazing Whole Foods raffle basket. This thoughtful donation included a Whole Foods gift card, tumblers, and skin care products, demonstrating their commitment to supporting our mission. Congratulations to care coordinator, Meagan Chicano for scoring the win on this raffle!  
3. BlankSlateCrafts – A local Etsy shop specializing in crafting beautiful home decor from slate, BlankSlateCrafts contributed a heartwarming “Tis the Season” slate sign and a delightful hot chocolate bomb making kit. Additionally, they included two hot cocoa mugs, a winter-scented candle, and winter greeting cards, creating a cozy and festive package. Director of Member Accounts, Cathy Larkin, snagged this basket.  

It’s heartwarming to see local businesses and organizations come together to support our cause and to witness the dedication of our members in this endeavor. Alzheimer’s is a challenging and devastating disease that affects countless families, and our collective efforts are making a real difference in the fight against it. 

Sharing Our Gratitude

We are immensely grateful to McCaffrey’s Food Market in Blue Bell, Home Helpers of Montgomery County, and BlankSlateCrafts for their exceptional contributions, and we are equally appreciative of all of you who participated in our fundraising efforts. Your commitment to our mission and to helping seniors is inspiring. 

Walking the Walk

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a vital event in our yearly calendar, and thanks to the remarkable support of our sponsors and our dedicated members, we’ve achieved another milestone this year.  Our team gathered together at Stanbridge Street Park to walk in honor of those impacted by Alzheimer’s.   

Contributed by: 

Katie Starrantino, LCSW, M.Ed, CDP — Director of Wellness Initiatives
(she/her) 

Katie has been working in the medical field for over 10 years.  During this time she has assisted in meeting the psychosocial needs of individuals living with cancer, rehabilitation patients, nursing home residents, primary care patients and individuals with a dementia diagnosis. 

Katie is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a masters degree in social work from West Chester University.  In addition, she has a masters degree in human sexuality from Widener University.  She is a certified dementia practitioner. And she is also trained to teach the Alzheimer’s Association’s Person Centered Habilitation Training curriculum. 

Katie developed and carried out various wellness programs for non-profit organizations, aimed at keeping patients feeling their best. Katie enjoys forming relationships with her members and assisting to keep them to be happy and healthy. 

 Friends Life Care is happy to share this post about Alzheimer’s disease, written for the eMeetinghouse blog. Friends Life Care is a mission-driven nonprofit. And it has been helping older adults to thrive at home as they age. So connect with us if you have questions for one of Friends Life Care’s Plan Counselors on joining.  Or, if you are a member, for your Wellness or Care Coordinator. We’d love to hear your comments.