Norwell, MA Chapter-June 2009

Between school work, practices, club meetings and everything else in their lives, it's often impossible to get the entire family together in the same place and at the same time. This makes the Hynes family's story that much more amazing.

The five siblings, who range in age from 7 to 17, started an AFA Teens chapter in Norwell, MA last year, and each week, they gather as part of their traveling string quintet to both practice and perform at local long-term care facilities, where many of the residents have Alzheimer's disease. 

The oldest performer, Maggie, who plays the cello, said, “It's really cool to be able to see a transformation when we play. It makes it a very rewarding experience.”

Her grandfather’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease inspired her to begin playing at senior care facilities.

In conjunction with the quintet’s performances, Maggie has completed a series of studies evaluating the possible connection between live music and cognition in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. She observed that residents’ cognitive responses gradually improved in correlation with the amount of performance time. While the results varied slightly with time of day and environment, the majority of the residents’ responses progressed from distracted to fully engaged after the siblings played for 20 minutes.

During Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month last November, the siblings performed for residents at the Norwell Knoll Nursing Home as part of the facility’s participation in AFA’s National Commemorative Candle Lighting event.

Maggie, who was recently named to the AFA Teens Advisory Board for 2009, said the quintet is becoming well known in her area, and she continues to believe that their live string music is improving the quality of life of the elderly and individuals with dementia in the community.

The quintet performs during a candle lighting ceremony at the nursing home.

 

La Canada, CA –February 2009

Watching her grandmother bravely face Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years, Natalie Innocenzi, 16, asked herself how many other teens— just like her— were being impacted by this devastating illness. Realizing she was not alone, Natalie formed an AFA Teens chapter last fall and set out to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease among her classmates at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Canada, CA. and, along the way, raise funds for AFA.

Seeking daily inspiration from her grandmother’s illness, Natalie relentlessly asked school administrators to allow her to hold an Alzheimer’s Awareness Week for students and teachers. Her persistence paid off, and last February she held the first Alzheimer’s Awareness Week in the school’s history.

As a chapter president, she was able to draw upon the resources of two of AFA’s member organizations based in Los Angeles: the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center and OPICA Adult Day Care & Caregiver Support Center.

Among the highlights of Alzheimer’s Awareness Week was a school assembly at which a staff member of the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center spoke about the importance of diagnosis and meaningful interactions with individuals facing dementia.

In addition, OPICA donated forget-me-knot seeds, which Natalie and her classmates planted in the school garden.

“My plan for the garden is to keep it going for many years to come, so that there will always be a symbol of Alzheimer's at my school,” Natalie said.

Natalie also distributed Alzheimer’s awareness pins to her 400 classmates, and she designed, produced and sold T-shirts, inscribed with the saying, “Remember Those Who Can’t.” Her efforts resulted in raising more than $1,300 to benefit AFA.

According to Natalie, so many parents came up to her days later to tell her that their children spoke to them about caring for loved ones with the illness. From these interactions she knew that the chapter’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Week was ultimately a success.

Natalie Innocenzi addresses students at the school assembly.