History

Nurse (Mona Romaine) and local neurologist (Dr. Steve Cavalier) formed an informal support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Became an affiliate of the National Alzheimer’s Association.

Formed The Greater Baton Rouge Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Served nine parishes and provided three support groups, answered 160 HelpLine calls, and distributed a newsletter to 300 individuals.

Held first Annual Education Conference.

Held the first Memory Walk, with 75 walkers raising $14,067.

Obtained first official office location at 2142 Quail Run Drive. Hired first executive director.

Held first annual fund campaign and first volunteer appreciation reception.

The Greater Baton Rouge Chapter merged with the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center in Lafayette, changed its name to the South/West Louisiana Chapter, and opened a branch office in Lafayette, serving 22 parishes. Increased staff to add a Program Coordinator, an Office Manager and a Branch Office Manager.

Held first “Meet the Experts” panel discussion program with an audience of 185. Held first Memory Ride & Poker Run for Alzheimer’s with 185 bikers raising $17,000.

Answered over 2,500 HelpLine calls. Trained 85 law enforcement officers on how to recognize and respond to Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Increased staff to add an Outreach Coordinator. Added a timed run to “A Walk to Remember”, changing the name to “A Walk/Run To Remember.” Held first annual Memories in the Making Luncheon; multi-year giving society launched with 29 founding Rosemary Society members.

Moved to new location on North Boulevard. Launched Caregiver Respite Program with grant from Woman’s Hospital. A Walk/Run To Remember attracted 5,000 participants.

Increased staff to add a Development Director and Assistant to Executive Director. Offered Lunch-N-Learn sessions on site in new meeting room, furnished by the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation.Received three-year grant from Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs for the Caregiver Respite Program. Held first annual Open House in November featuring new office space.

Increased staff to add a part-time Resource Coordinator and Event Coordinator.Offered Sharing the Journey classes. Expanded Resource Library to contain over 1,000 holdings. Increased Lunch-N-Learn seminars to three per month.

Staff consisted of 4 full-time and 4 part-time employees. Lunch-N-Learn seminars increase to four times per month. Distributed a quarterly newsletter to over 6,500 individuals. Formed a partnership with the Junior League of Baton Rouge, creating “TLC for Caregivers” socials, offering families an opportunity to relax and have fun. Adopted the slogan “Helping you cope. Providing you hope.” Reached out to over 7,000 at community health fairs and presentations. Received grants to initiate funding of the Alzheimer’s Services Respite Center “Charlie’s Place.”

Distributed a quarterly newsletter to over 8,500 individuals. Completed building renovation; included an expanded conference room with seating for 75. Approximately 200 medical professionals and caregivers attended the 14th Annual Education Conference on Memory & Communication Strategies for Persons with Dementia. Hosted the first Maximize Your Memory workshop on promoting healthy memory and aging. Opened Charlie’s Place Respite Center, operated two days a week. Staff consisted of 5 full-time and 5 part-time employees. Published Family Resource Guide and distributed 1,000 copies to area physicians offices for families with an Alzheimer’s diagnoses.

Charlie’s Place named National Adult Day Center of the Year by National Adult Day Services Association. Walk/Run to Remember attracted over 8,000. Barbara Auten replaced Beth Veazey as Executive Director. Charlie’s Place awarded the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Excellence in Care Dementia Program of Distinction, first awarded in Louisiana.

Charlie’s Place expanded from 3 days to 5 days per week and increased staff and volunteers. Entire staff certified as Qualified Dementia Care Providers. Lunch-N-Learn program received the Family Road of Baton Rouge Solaris Award for an Outstanding Outreach Program. Received the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Standards for Excellence Seal for the second time. Formed an alliance with the LSU Life Course on Aging faculty to develop a currriculum for the state-required Dementia Care Training.

Opened a satellite office in Ascension Parish. Sharing the Journey: Resources 101 class offered in Ascension Parish saw its largest registration to date. Became the first organization in Louisiana to certify a Dementia Care Training curriculum. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act is passed to create a national plan to overcome the Alzheimer’s crisis. Director of Services, Dana Territo, named to the National Adult Day Services Association board of directors. Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention began enrollment for a new study for Mild-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease. Developed the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Manual for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care. Volunteer Anne Maddox received the WAFB “Hand it On” Award. Volunteer Lucinda Warren received the WAFB “Power of 9” Award. Social Security Administration ruled that individuals with Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease may qualify for Social Security benefits.

Launched Memory Café, a program for socialization, education and fellowship among individuals with early/younger onset Alzheimer’s. Longtime volunteer, former Board Member, and ambassador, Damian Calato, received Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s National Community Service Award. The Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation funded the player piano for Charlie’s Place. “The Faces of Alzheimer’s” photo exhibit debuted at the Shaw Center for the Arts. Pennington Foundation funded a Best Practice Respite Center Model. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Brodsky Grant funded the Recollection Collection. Charlie’s Place received the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Excellence in Care Dementia Care Program of Distinction for a second time.

Launched the Recollection Collection and the Recollection Collection At Home kits to aid in the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s. Launched “LGBT Liaisons” program to support special needs community. “The Faces of Alzheimer’s” photo exhibit traveled throughout the 10-parish area, viewed by more than 100,000 people. Expanded Sharing the Journey: Resources 101 class to Livingston Parish. Incorporated the curriculum for a Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Disease class in LSU’s OLLI Lagniappe program.

Certified as a Safe Space for LGBT population. Expanding Lunch-N-Learn program to each of the 10 parishes served. Implementing “It’s Never 2 Late” (IN2L) program in Charlie’s Place. Expanding the curriculum for a Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Disease class in LSU’s OLLI Lagniappe program to Ascension Parish. Increased impactful touches by 64%.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY!

Recertified as a Standards of Excellence nonprofit, one of only 14 in Louisiana. Launched Arts in Alzheimer’s program modeled after NY’s Museum of Modern Art program. Education Conference featured Teepa Snow, renowned expert on Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Celebrated Alzheimer’s Awareness month with a quilt depicting the history of Charlie’s Place on display at the Louisiana State Archive building. The quilt is now in the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s traveling quilt collection. Increased impactful touches by 23%

Introduced Tuesday’s at Charlie’s Place program for both those affected and the caregivers. Program staff presented at the Pioneer Conference delivering My Story, a person-centered approach to caregiving. Development Director Debbie Little was named AFP’s Professional Fundraiser of the Year and Damian Calato, former Board President, was named Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year. Held the first Day of Memories in recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness month. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals contracted for 25 nursing homes to receive our Recollection Collection and dementia care training. Increased impactful touches by 25%.

Charlie’s Place in Gonzales was opened in April 2017 and Alzheimer’s Services joined the Ascension Chamber of Commerce. Alzheimer’s Services held the third annual Day of Memories in recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness month. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals contracted for 50 nursing homes to receive our Recollection Collection and dementia care training. A new support group titled “In The Beginning” was started for caregivers of loved ones with younger onset (65 years old and younger) Alzheimer’s disease. Charlie’s Place Activity & Respite Center in Baton Rouge celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Alzheimer’s Services joined the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. The organization topped 200 Rosemary Society donors. Teepa Snow presented at the 24th annual education conference. LSU’s Department of Social Work completed its Music and Memory study at Charlie’s Place in Baton Rouge.

Education Conference saw record numbers with keynote Joyce Simard, MSW. Received $100,000 Challenge Grant from the Lamar & Dixon Foundations to raise funds for a second Charlie’s Place location in Gonzales. Implemented emergency relief and respite care for affected individuals and caregivers affected by the Great Flood of 2016. Services Director, Dana Territo, received the NADSA Director of the year Award. Executive Director, Barbara Auten, received the LANO Force for Good Award. Participated in the first #GiveBR online donation campaign.

Increased impactful touches by 25.3% surpassing the Strategic Plan Goal of a 20% increase annually. Our Lady of the Lake and the Franciscan Missionaries donated our building and property at 3772 North Boulevard to the organization. Received the McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Award in the Senior Track for our use of the “It’s Never Too Late” (IN2L) interactive technology system at Charlie’s Place. Introduced drumming therapy at Charlie’s Place, which accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system, and produces feelings of well-being. Saw record attendance at the 2018 Education Conference with keynote speaker Cameron Camp, PhD., who worked with staff to introduce Memory Boot Camp, a program for caregiver/care-recipient pairs that promotes independence and self-esteem in the affected individual and strategies to reduce stress in the caregiver. Trained 393 employees in 40 nursing homes in our Dementia Care curriculum as part of the Louisiana Health Department’s effort to reduce the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes. Provided 244 Service Learning students with training or observation hours at Charlie’s Place. Held the Creative Aging in the Arts Symposium in collaboration with the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge with keynote speaker Beth Bienvenue from the National Endowment of the Arts. Raised a record amount of pledges and donations exceeding $600,000 at the Annual Memories in the Making Luncheon. Joined the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce.

Received $20,000 in scholarship funds for Charlie’s Place from The Rotary Club of East Ascension. Established the Dudley W. Coates Spirit of Philanthropy Award. Awarded the Excellence in Dementia Care Program of Distinction from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of
America for the 5th time. Hosted AFA’s ABC’s of Alzheimer’s in April. Provided dementia specific training to healthcare professionals in partnership with LSU School of Social Work and Ochsner Health System in the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. 536 employees from 45 nursing homes attended Dementia Care curriculum training as part of the Louisiana Department of Health’s effort to reduce the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes. Received a record number of new Rosemary Society Members and raised over $500,000 at the
annual Memories in the Making Luncheon. Held the 26th Annual Education Conference with keynote speaker Richard S. Isaacson, MD addressing brain health. Other speakers included Matt Estrade, Matthew Calamia, PhD, and Jean Gatz. Monthly Lunch-N-Learn education series returned to the Alzheimer’s Services office. Held the 25th Annual Walk/Run to Remember on October 19. A luncheon was held to recognize past Honorary Walk Chairs, and runners received a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Medal. Celebrated Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in November by training 60 nursing students to administer memory screenings, providing 141 free Memory Screenings, hosting an Open House at the Alzheimer’s Services office, providing a special Lunch-N-Learn, and holding a workshop for activity professionals. Barbara Auten, Executive Director of Alzheimer’s Services, was recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Professional Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Baton Rouge Chapter at their National Philanthropy Day Luncheon. Started three new caregiver support groups in New Roads, Port Allen, and Walker.

To begin 2021, Alzheimer’s Services & Charlie’s Place onsite services remained closed due to the pandemic, and staff continued to provide adapted programs and services. Both Charlie’s Place locations reopened onsite programs in July with limited schedules and were closed in August due to rising COVID cases. Respite staff returned to protocols developed in response to the pandemic to provide person-centered care. Both locations reopened again in December 2021. Continued dementia specific training for healthcare professionals in partnership with LSU School of Social Work and Ochsner Health System in the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). Held the second annual week-long celebration of The Longest Day, June 21. Received $20,850 from The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge annual fundraiser.
The Memories in the Making Luncheon was not held in 2021 due to COVID. Generous donors contributed just under $300,000. Held The 27th Annual Walk to Remember in person in November and raised $207,000. Recognized November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with activities throughout the month. The Fall Festival was the first in person activity since the pandemic began. Marketing and Training Coordinator Ann Roeling re-certified as a Trainer with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care program. Raised $62,536. in the 2nd annual 225Gives, the coordinated Giving Tuesday effort in Baton Rouge. Charlie’s Place received the “It’s Never Too Late” (IN2L) Communities That Shine Award. Held the annual Education Conference virtually with low attendance, Decided to suspend the conference until it could be held in person again. Held Drive-thru TLC events in outlying parishes to provide education and activity in a socially distanced, safe manner. Renamed the Resource Library in memory of former Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana executive, PJ Mills, with a significant gift from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. Several support groups began meeting in person again. Received $1805 from Magnolia Brook Assisted Living’s Alzheimer’s Art Auction with art created by Magnolia Brook residents. The Alzheimer’s Book Club returned to the Alzheimer’s Service’s office with a hybrid format. Staff returned to the office full time in April.

In March 2020, Alzheimer’s Services & Charlie’s Place adapted programs and services due to the pandemic restrictions. Staff managed to seamlessly continue providing services. Charlie’s Place Respite Centers also closed. New ways were devised to continue providing person-centered care through safe, socially-distanced home visits, weekly activity packets for pick up, drive-through activity events, weekly calls to caregivers & volunteers, and a weekly virtual activity program. Many programs previously provided in-person transitioned online, such as educational programs and support groups, with significantly increased participation. Continued dementia specific training for healthcare professionals in partnership with LSU School of Social Work and Ochsner Health System in the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). Partnered with LSU School of Social Work & Ochsner Health System in the GWEP Telehealth Research project to determine the effect of telehealth access on caregiver health during the pandemic. The first week-long celebration of The Longest Day, June 20, was held virtually. Alzheimer’s Services was the recipient of $12,500 from The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge virtual fundraiser. The Memories in the Making Luncheon was held virtually in September, raising $257,392. The 26th Annual Walk to Remember went virtual in October, raising $126,269. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month activities in November included virtual Memory Screenings and educational programs. Alzheimer’s Services was the beneficiary of The Perkin’s Rowe Drive-In Concert Series fundraiser. Even with the challenges brought by the pandemic, Alzheimer’s Services was fortunate to keep all 12 staff members employed the entire year. Director of Respite & Training Julie Knight certified as an Advance Consultant with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care program. Marketing & Training Coordinator Ann Roeling certified as a Trainer with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care program. Executive Director Barbara Auten certified as a Nonprofit Standards for Excellence Consultant. Julie Knight (Director of Respite & Training) participated in Leadership Ascension 2020. Participated in 225Gives, the first coordinated Giving Tuesday effort in Baton Rouge, raising $48,963.

Charlie’s Place reopened in December. Programs and events returned in person. An online option was still available for most educational programs. Recordings were made available on our YouTube channel. The Alzheimer’s Book Club returned to the office with increased participation. The Adapt Series launched. The ADAPT Series is a multi-part education series focused on adaptive approaches to caregiving for those with dementia. These presentations will support and educate on relatable and practical modifications to every day care. Staff participated in two staff development workshops provided by Emergent Method. Received funds from several successful third-party events: Gulf Coast Office Products Pelican Basketball Game Raffle, Swamp Pop Jambalaya Fest, and The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge annual
fundraiser. Alzheimer’s Services building dedicated as the The Valluzzo Center in recognition of Charles L. Valluzzo for his unselfish and tireless commitment to the organization. Barbara Auten, Executive Director, was recognized as a Girl Scouts Louisiana East Woman of Distinction. The Memories in the Making Luncheon brought 23 new Rosemary Society members and raised $677,120. The 28th Annual Walk to Remember tripled attendance from the previous year with 1300 participants, 95 teams, and raised $223,865.