Alzheimer's organization reinvents itself, starting with a new name

Alzheimer's Respite & Resource was going through some major changes, including a new facility, longer hours and more participants. And to top things off, a new name -- one that sounded less scary.

To kick off this new chapter, the freshly dubbed Memory Matters will have a grand opening celebration and dedication for its new facility from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 at Northside Park, 117 William Hilton Parkway, near the Squire Pope intersection of U.S. 278.

The new name also helps better explain the nonprofit group's focus, which is helping those who are affected by Alzheimer's disease as well as dementia, strokes, Parkinson's disease and brain injuries.

Edwina Hoyle, executive director of Memory Matters, said the group's mission is two-fold: offering socialization for its participants, and providing a break for their caregivers.

"Can you imagine being in your home with just a television?" Hoyle asked. "This can create some serious memory issues, and it can cause depression."

Since the program began 12 years ago, it has been held at six different churches. When the group had a chance to expand, it did some research and found some people described the group's name as "scary."

"We thought as we reinvent ourselves, as well as our operation and programs we offer, we would take a look at the whole organization," Hoyle said. "We went out into the community with a clipboard and asked

people in the streets 'Have you heard of us? Do you know who we are? and What do you think of our organization?'"

Hoyle wasn't surprised that people found the group's name a little scary and intimidating. But the trouble with name went beyond that.

"Some people confused us with the Alzheimer's Association," Hoyle said. "While we are local and community-based, we grew as a grass-roots group and we are not affiliated with the Alzheimer's Association and receive no funding from them." Memory Matters does collaborate with the national association, but does not receive money from it.

Hoyle said the new name didn't seem so clinical, plus it just sounded good.

"It has a nice ring to it," Hoyle said. "We are very happy with it, and we want people to know we are the same great organization doing the same work."

Memory Matters' activity and day care program gets participants engaged in activities, offers camaraderie, stimulating games, art and even a coffee hour where they discuss the news of the day -- though sometimes it is from "1940 or 1950," Hoyle said.

"Participants can come to our 'failure free' zone where everybody is successful, where they can excel, and get a lot of individualized attention," Hoyle said.

Caregivers who often have no breaks 24 hours a day, seven days a week can find respite to take care of themselves and rejuvenate, as well as learn coping techniques and receive counseling at Memory Matters, Hoyle said.

Prior to moving into the new facility, the former Alzheimer's Respite &

Resource could only operate the day care program 3.7 hours a day. A Department of Health and Environmental Control license was required to operate longer hours. The group was unable to obtain a license without its own facility where it had control over the design.

Hoyle said the application now has been made, and Memory Matters will be able to offer a full day program with longer hours and serve at least twice as many people as they are serving now. The group now serves about 70 families a year, and will be licensed for 53 people a day. Hoyle said people come to Memory Matters who are overwhelmed and in crisis mode, and the group's programs are one way caregivers can keep their loved ones at home.

"People continue to come here. We are an aging retirement community. We felt we needed to be proactive to be able to meet growing demand for these services."