The Church of Saint Mary is pleased to announce an upcoming Educational Series for the fall season as part of the parish outreach efforts through our newly renovated Good Samaritan House – serving those in need. The series will be hosted at St. Mary’s in collaboration with the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. The Chapter has generously offered to conduct two types of seminars this fall. The first seminar aims to provide information to those at risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The second seminar will focus on providing information and support to caregivers of individuals with the disease.

According to Eileen Symmons, director of communications for the Church and Schools of St. Mary, “Our initiative to present educational opportunities on various topics is just one of the many ways we look to serve the community through our Office of Parish Social Ministry known as the Good Samaritan House. By working with organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, we can provide access to resources and facilitate programming for our parishioners, school community, and residents of the greater Manhasset area right here on our campus as part of our Catholic faith to carry out corporal works of mercy to help the sick and those in need. With the upcoming two-part series on Alzheimer’s, St. Mary’s will bring people together on the patient side and those with a common goal to compassionately care for a loved one while navigating the difficult journey as a caregiver.”

The Long Island Chapter’s Executive Director, Douglas Davidson, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration. “The Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is committed to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. We look forward to partnering with St. Mary’s to bring important resources to their parishioners.” 

Five one-hour sessions will be offered in the Parish Ministry Center beginning on Monday, October 16. Advance registration is requested. For more information, please contact the Director of Parish Social Ministry, Kathleen Kosciusko, at 516-365-2705 or kkosciusko@stmary.ws.

Seminar Schedule

For the Patient Audience
Seminar 1: Monday, October 16
1:45-2:45 PM
Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia 
Learn about detection, causes, risk factors, stages and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Seminar 2: Monday, October 23
1:45-2:45 PM
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
Learn the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's disease, hear from people who have the disease, and find out how to recognize the signs in yourself and others.

For the Caregiver Audience
Seminar 3: Monday, October 30
6:30-7:30 PM
Dementia Conversations 
When someone is showing signs of dementia, it’s time to talk. The Alzheimer’s Association Conversations about Dementia program is designed to help you talk with your family about some challenging and often uncomfortable topics around Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Seminar 4: Monday, November 6
6:30-7:30 PM
Effective Communication Strategies 
This program provides practical information and resources to help dementia care partners learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages from people living with dementia.

Seminar 5: Monday, November 13
6:30-7:30 PM
Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances
This interactive program offers information about how caregiving impacts finances, preparing for discussions about finances, and steps to lower chances of financial abuse. You will also learn about legal and financial documents that should be put in place.

Register Here