Maude’s Awards Recognizes Innovation in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

Recipients of the first annual Maude’s Awards were announced in October. Maude’s Awards was created to enrich the quality of life for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners. It provides monetary awards to organizations and individuals for innovations excelling in one of the categories of care. See Introducing Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Dementia Care, an article that introduced the program to AgeWise readers in March 2020.

Last month, three local organizations each received $25,000 and five individuals each received $5,000 in recognition of their innovations. Following are the 2020 award recipients. They are also highlighted in the Maude’s Awards 2020 Virtual Awards Announcement video on YouTube.

Connecting people with dementia to the world and people around them

• Momentia is a movement that empowers people with dementia to remain active and connected in the community. Momentia is a one-stop source for people living with memory loss and families to access engaging, inclusive, no- or low-cost community activities provided by a variety of organizations. The organization received a $25,000 award.
• Dementia-Friendly Recreation, a free program hosted by Seattle Parks and Recreation, provides recreation opportunities to people living with memory loss and their care partners. Seattle Parks was the first parks department in the nation to offer dementia-friendly recreation. Activities include walking groups, fitness classes, intergenerational theater and dance, horticultural therapy, and “arts in the park” watercolor, ceramics, print making, and poetry. Annual special events include a talent show, summer camp, and happy hour celebrations. The program received a $25,000 award.
• The Dementia-Inclusive Series at Edmonds Center for the Arts is a leading-edge performing arts program that creates opportunities for individuals with memory loss and their care partners to connect and experience joy through music, theatre, dance and film. The program offers arts engagement workshops, special events, and community partnerships serving 500 participants annually and is regularly at capacity. In 2019, to remove financial barriers to access, Edmonds Center for the Arts made all onsite Dementia-Inclusive Series programs free of charge. The organization received a $25,000 award.
• Nicole Chilivis is a spiritual care provider. She conducted a research study using virtual reality to bring compelling worlds to participants with indications of early stage dementia. Participants used virtual reality headsets to view a captivating, deeply immersive underwater coral reef habitat. Afterwards, they provided descriptions of the experience that elicited profound feelings of love and happiness. Ms. Chilivis received a $5,000 award.

Cultivating long-term physical health of persons living with dementia

• Trang Tu created a culturally based care approach for her mother, blending Western dementia care practices with Vietnamese culture. This included direct care for herself, support from Vietnamese family and friends, and healthcare from Western providers. Ms. Tu received a $5,000 award.

Supporting care partners through education, training, and support services

• Allyson Schrier developed Thriving with Dementia—“because there is life to be lived and loved with or without a diagnosis.” The program teaches family, friends, and professional care partners how to create a safe and welcoming world for people living with dementia. It provides resources, events, book lists, and online discussions to keep people busy and socially connected, especially during COVID-19. Schrier received a $5,000 award.
• Judith Levy, an Occupational Therapist, wrote Activities to Do with Your Parent Who Has Alzheimer’s Dementia in response to her mother’s illness. The book provides care partners and family members more than 50 activities, with suggested ways to individualize and adapt them. Each activity includes an assessment form on which the care partner can write about what happened or didn’t happen. The form helps ensure continuity that benefits individuals and care partners. Ms. Levy received a $5,000 award.
• Lama Sibai, a clinical neuropsychologist, founded the Cognitive Health and Memory Patient (CHAMP) clinic at UW/Valley Medical Center using her vision of treating illnesses using a holistic and tailored approach, with a group of specialized minds to pay attention to psychosocial needs not usually considered in traditional appointments. Dr. Sibai received a $5,000 award.

Maude’s Awards are not granted for future programs—they recognize achievement and reward demonstrated success. AgeWise King County and the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services applauds each of the award recipients as well as Maude’s Awards program founder Richard Ferry and director Marilyn Raichle. Kudos to all!

For more information, visit www.maudesawards.org.

Photo at top shows four Camp Momentia participants at Camp Long in Seattle, courtesy of Momentia and Maude’s Awards.