Roadmap to Caregiving
For years, Ken Barberi and Mary Lou Pelletier have been friends. When Mary Lou was diagnosed with dementia, Ken became her full-time caregiver. But he hasn’t been alone. Sun Health’s Memory Care Navigator (MCN) program is by his side. Navigator Marty Finely provided information about community resources and helped Ken develop an action plan. It has given Ken peace of mind.
“It’s an enormous help. I don’t know how you would approach this without having an organization like Sun Health,” Ken says. “You know what to expect, you know what resources you can access. It’s not a big unknown anymore.”
The Memory Care Navigator program, offered at no charge, helps clients, family members and caregivers navigate the emotional, psychological and physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The program is fully funded through donations to Sun Health Foundation.
Ken, a retired Foreign Service officer, and Mary Lou live in the same house and are navigating the dementia journey together. After Mary Lou received a diagnosis in 2014, Ken reached out to the Memory Care Navigator program for help.
Marty visited the couple at home, working with Ken to create emergency care and transition plans and directing him to helpful resources. She also gave him a better understanding of what the next few years might look like as Mary Lou’s condition changes. Since the diagnosis, Marty has offered plenty of practical advice too—everything from eliminating trip hazards like rugs to taking a “sweet and soft” approach to caregiving with chocolate treats.
Ken doesn’t know exactly what the future holds for Mary Lou, but he knows he can turn to Sun Health’s Memory Care Navigator Program as needed.
“I find it extremely useful and I think anybody going through this would need an organization like this,” Ken says. “Marty gave me a road map.”
About Memory Care Navigator
Sun Health’s Memory Care Navigator program can help those with memory loss and their family members and friends to identify support, services and resources that may be helpful in navigating the dementia journey. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call (623) 471-9300, or visit SunHealth.org/memorycare.
