As we welcome a new year, let’s take a moment to reflect on 2024 and the many memories and accomplishments at The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center.
Our monthly First Wednesday Workshop series for caregivers began with an insightful session on Dementia Prevention by Dr. Mandy Crow. If you missed any of these presentations, you can find them on our YouTube channel, website, and social media platforms.
Our Wednesday with Friends program provided uplifting and therapeutic joint activities for caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia. From potting spring flowers to playing BINGO, participants enjoyed meaningful moments of connection and socialization.
We continued our monthly collaboration with the Noel Arts Community Program volunteers, who provided creative and engaging activities such as painting classes and drumming & percussion lessons for caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia.
In 2024, we expanded caregiver support by hosting 15 support groups throughout the Shreveport/Bossier area. New groups were launched at First Methodist Church and The Oaks at Willis-Knighton. Additionally, we introduced a grief support group for those who have lost a family member to Alzheimer’s or dementia, led by Anthony Williams, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Member.
Our community outreach and awareness efforts continued to grow through presentations to civic groups, church organizations, and rural and underserved communities. We also started a series of community forums where participants were designated as members of our “Dementia Friendly Community.” Participation in KSLA’s Senior Focus series further enhanced community awareness.
We ventured into physician outreach by collaborating with Internal Medicine residents at LSU Health Shreveport. These residents spent valuable time engaging with The Bridge and caregivers as part of their geriatric rotation.
The year’s most exciting announcement came with a $130,800 award from the Center for Dementia & Respite Innovation and the Alzheimer’s Association. This grant will allow us to establish a dementia-specific respite service, set to launch in 2025.
In a touching moment, we held our first Service of Remembrance, honoring those who passed away after their journeys with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The ceremony included a reading of names and the chiming of a bell, offering a special and meaningful tribute. This event will now become an annual tradition.
We concluded the year with our 4th Annual Education Conference on Alzheimer’s & Dementia, which saw record-breaking attendance from healthcare professionals and caregivers. Attendees participated in valuable breakout sessions, including strategies for interacting with individuals with dementia.
In community service, our Executive Director, Paulette Freeman, served as a mentor in the nonprofit capacity building cohort by LSUS’s Institute for Nonprofit Administration and sponsored by Community Foundation of North Louisiana. She and Laura Gauthier, Program & Education Director, served on the Northwest Louisiana Crisis Response Coalition. Gauthier provided bi-monthly dementia training to first responders and law enforcement in collaboration with the Shreveport Police Department. In statewide community service, Freeman is also a member of the Louisiana Alzheimer’s Coalition. Their work on these service committees will continue in 2025.
Overall, our work in expanding our education, resources, and support services to those impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia continues to grow with the help of many donors, including the following: Community Foundation of North Louisiana, First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Noel Foundation, The Alta and John Franks Foundation, Powers Foundation, and The Thomas H. and Mayme P. Scott Foundation. Together we are “Creating a community where no one affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia makes the journey alone.”
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