Country Club Living - Palm Beach North - February 2026

12 C O U N T R Y C L U B L I V I N G - PA L M B E A C H N O R T H | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6 community Finding Dignity, Connection, and Care: INSIDE ALZHEIMER’S COMMUNITY CARE - By Dan Hauser - Photos by Tyler Benson - F or the staff at Alzheimer’s Community Care, every day is a chance to make life a little brighter — and a little more dignified — for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. “Everyone knows what Alzheimer’s is,” said David Franklin, President and CEO of Alzheimer’s Community Care. “But there’s still a stigma. People don’t want to talk about it — they don’t want to get the diagnosis or do the things they can do early to slow its progression. We want to change that.” Founded nearly three decades ago, the nonprofit provides specialized day programs and services throughout South Florida. “When we started this 29 years ago, people from the Alzheimer’s Association told us they needed boots-on-the- ground care here in South Florida. This problem isn’t going away, but we can do something about it.” At Alzheimer’s Community Care’s day centers, participants arrive each morning to familiar faces, music, and routines carefully designed to engage both body and mind. Jenny Dorival, a program manager at the Stuart location, begins each day by preparing the center, checking for safety hazards, and organizing medications. Once participants arrive, the day unfolds with breakfast, sing-alongs, trivia, yoga, bingo, and sometimes even live music from volunteers. “The key is to keep their minds and bodies moving,” Jenny explained. “We plan activities ahead of time so we can make them fun but also safe.” She describes her work as “humbling.” Many of her participants were once teachers, nurses, or community leaders. “It could be anyone,” she said. “Alzheimer’s doesn’t pick and choose. You realize how much life can change — and how important compassion becomes.” That compassion extends to families, too. “We remind caregivers that it’s okay to have your own life,” Dorival added. “We’re here so you can prioritize yourself for a few hours — even if it’s just to sit and have ice cream alone. You can’t pour from an empty cup.” That philosophy carries throughout the organization, including at the leadership level. Chris Pallas, Director of Program Development, has been with Alzheimer’s Community Care for 14 years. Her own grandmother had Alzheimer’s, and that experience shaped her life’s work.