Women honored for work with Alzheimer’s patients

The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation (LIAF) honored 50 individuals and three Therapy Dogs at its 14th Annual Outstanding Service Awards Luncheon, at the Garden City Hotel on April 10 for their dedication and compassionate service to those stricken with Alzheimer’s disease.
Keynote speaker for the luncheon was the President of the New York State Bar Association, Kathryn Grant Madigan, Esq. Madigan gave a riveting talk on: “Aging in America, Challenges that Alzheimer’s Disease Presents, and Potential Solutions.”
Among the honorees was Barbara Chetram of Queens Village for her commitment as a Lead Care Manager at Sunrise Senior Living of Plainview.
Chetram has been a Care Manager with Sunrise of Plainview the past six years. Residents and staff appreciate how she always goes the extra mile to help the residents and make them feel good about themselves. She quite often volunteers to accompany residents when they have bus trips away from the facility and also enjoys baking with them. Chetram is originally from Guyana and is the mother of four children and eight grandchildren.
Rose Beazer of Jamaica was also honored for her commitment as a Resident Companion at The Bristal Assisted Living at East Meadow, NY.
Beazer has been lovingly caring for a resident at the Bristal in East Meadow for eight years. She went to nursing school in St. Johns, Antigua, West Indies. She studied general nursing, and upon graduating as a practical nurse, worked in a hospital in Antigua for 10 years. She came to the U.S. with her three children in the 1980s and began to focus her nursing career on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Beazer is appreciated by residents and staff for always having a caring heart towards everyone.
“We were so pleased to have had such a wonderful group of honorees this year,” said Patricia Gallatin, LIAF’s Executive Director. “They are all superb models of dedication and commitment serving our Alzheimer’s community, whether family or professional caregivers, volunteers, or pet therapy dogs.” “We were also so privileged to have Kathryn Madigan, Esq., as our keynote speaker and special advocacy honoree for her efforts in forwarding The Compact for Long-Term Care in New York State. Ms. Madigan’s talk was exceptional; she has a vast knowledge and great insight to eldercare in New York State and the country.”
Now celebrating 20 years of service, LIAF has been there helping to “light the way and lighten the burden” for families struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. LIAF hosts the area’s largest resource and referral center and offers a wide range of cutting-edge educational and social services, including in-home respite care, “Coping and Caring” conferences, and comprehensive Centers for Memory Disorders at area medical facilities, serving Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn and Queens.