Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts and Roger Bock

Ecumen Trustee Olivia Mastry Presenting on Act on Alzheimer's at Alzheimer Europe

L to R: Act on Alzheimer's Olivia Mastry, Executive Lead; Emily Farah-Miller, Project Director; Mary Ek, Project Manager

An Ecumen Awakenings colleague often uses this quotefrom  Maya Angelou, relating it to Alzheimer's care:  “When We Know Better, We Do Better.”

Learning and collaboration are essential to innovation in Alzheimer’s care.  On that front, Ecumen Trustee Olivia Mastry is in Malta presenting at a Alzheimer Europe conference.  Alzheimer Europe  is striving to become the coordination and information center for all organizations working in this specific field, such as day care centers, sitting services, training centers for professionals and related organizations.  They have some fantastic information, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with our European colleagues who share a passion for improving Alzheimer's care and making lives betetter.

Olivia is presenting in Malta on Act on Alzheimer’s, which is a very cool Minnesota effort that fosters collective ownership and accountability in preparing Minnesota for the personal, social and budgetary impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Olivia is the Executive Lead of Act on Alzheimer's.  No single organization owns, finances or controls the initiative.  The collaboration has more than 250 participants, including 60+ nonprofit (including Ecumen), governmental and private organizations, and works toward five goals:  

  • Identify and invest in promising approaches that reduce costs and improve care.
  • Increase detection of Alzheimer’s disease and improve ongoing care and support.
  • Sustain caregivers by offering them information, resources and in-person support.
  • Equip communities to be “dementia capable” to support residents who are touched by Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Raise awareness and reduce stigma by engaging communities.

“When We Know Better, We Do Better.”