2nd ANNUAL MAUDE’S AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

2nd ANNUAL MAUDE’S AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

MAUDE’S AWARDS: Recognizing Innovation in Alzheimer's & Dementia Care

The 2nd Annual Maude’s Award Recipients were just announced. Three organizations will each receive $25,000 and five individuals will receive $5,000 each.

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 found here: The Awards – Maude's Awards (maudesawards.org)

Those Categories in which winners will be awarded are:

Making Connections - Connecting people with dementia to the world and people around them

Supporting Care Partners - Providing education, training or support for care partners of persons living with dementia. 

Here is the list of recipients, the monetary reward, followed by descriptions of each winning submission:

Organizations ($25,000)

            Opening Minds Through Art (Oxford, OH) – Making Connections Category

            Giving Voice Initiative (Bloomington, MN) - Making Connections Category

            Duet: Partners In Health & Aging (Phoenix, AZ) – Supporting Care Partners Category

Individuals ($5,000)

Fayron Epps (Atlanta, GA) – Making Connections Category

            Diana Blackwelder (Washington DC) – Making Connections Category

            Laurette Klier (Lyme, CT) – Making Connections Category

            Mary Beth Riedner (Elgin, IL) – Making Connections Category

            Carol B. Amos (Hockessin, DE) – Supporting Care Partners

ORGANIZATIONS

Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an evidence-based, intergenerational art program for people living with dementia that has been replicated in more than 200 communities in North America. OMA provides those living with dementia opportunities to connect with students and to experience joy through creative explorations.

Giving Voice Initiative (GVI) is a nonprofit that inspires and equips organizations to bring together people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias (AD) and their care partners, to sing in choruses that foster joy, well-being, purpose and community understanding. GVI empowers chorus members to develop their musical capabilities while fostering a community of people on their journey with AD.

Finding Meaning and Hope is Duet’s free video discussion program for family members caring for someone with Alzheimer’s/related dementia. The program gathers care partners in person or online for 10 weekly sessions to teach care partners effective strategies for managing their ongoing stress and grief, while building resiliency and restoring meaning and hope in their lives.

     INDIVIDUALS

Alter is the only nurse-led dementia-friendly initiative to support African American congregations. The free, two-year Alter program builds resources and awareness around dementia in African American faith communities by developing a supportive environment that enhances the well-being of affected families. A goal is to reduce dementia stigma, enhance empathy, create resource centers, increase awareness, and maintain social and spiritual connectedness.

  • Diana Blackwelder – Advocating for policy changes and other means for those living with dementia to live better

“I live alone with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s and continue to learn and develop ways to thrive as my brain and abilities change (diagnosed in 2017 at age 57). I collaborate, teach, and advocate globally, nationally and locally to empower others to maintain their autonomy, dignity, connectivity and self-worth. I have developed materials that help others gain insights into their own or their loved one’s experience with the disease. I have impacted the passage of significant legislation, include securing a permanent Dementia Services Coordinator in the DC Government.”

  • Laurette Klier – For “Nana’s Books” - To Engage Lonely and Isolated Seniors During Covid -  www.nanasbookseries.com

Laurette Klier was frustrated by the lack of quality materials to engage her mother-in-law who was living in memory care with Lewy Body Dementia. Klier created sixteen large print books of nostalgic classics (poetry, praise, proverbs, patriotism and prose) to fill the gap for her mother-in-law, and now, the wider dementia community. Nana’s Books are the only inclusive books available for people living with dementia and their care partners. There are titles for veterans, BIPOC Communities and non-denominational communities of faith.

Tales & Travel Memories (T&TM) is a program taking residents of memory care facilities and Memory Café participants on imaginary trips to another country or part of the US using library materials. With the pandemic, the program adapted into an online series called Tales & Travel Adventures (T&TA) simulating real time trips to various locations and includes participants reading simple narrative from each destination.

The Caregiving Principle® states: Needs of the Loved One minus Needs Filled by the Loved One equals Needs to Be Filled by the Caregiver(s). As the disease progresses the loved one will be unable to fulfill as many needs therefore increasing the role of the caregivers. The needs are defined using Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs: physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization.

Maude’s Awards was created in 2019 by Richard Ferry in honor of his beloved wife of 65 years.  In 2013, Maude was diagnosed with dementia. Now as a loving care partner and tireless advocate, Richard continues their journey together by discovering and sharing innovations that speak to the challenges and needs of persons living with dementia and their care partners.

Maude’s Awards are for achievement, as opposed to grants for future programs.  The intent of Maude’s Awards is to reward programs that have demonstrated success.  The nominated program must have been active in 2020 or the year prior. If the program is currently active or recurring, it must have completed 1 year of operation, or enough time to demonstrate success.

For more information, visit:  https://maudesawards.org/2021-awardees/