Alzheimer’s Community Care was formally recognized with a 2015 Mutual of America Foundation National Community Partnership Award during a luncheon recently at the West Palm Beach Marriott.
The nonprofit organization was honored as a Merit Finalist Award Recipient for its Dementia-Specific Practicum for Nursing Student Program, a landmark collaboration that provides training for community-based, dementia-specific care.
To date, nearly 200 undergraduate nursing students have participated in this program, which has now expanded to include graduate nurses pursuing advanced degrees. The practicum pairs classroom training with practical experience, delivering hands-on patient care within Alzheimer’s Community Care’s 10 specialized Alzheimer’s daycare centers.
Hundreds of applicants throughout the United States apply for this award each year. Alzheimer’s Community Care was one of only 10 ultimate recipients.
During the luncheon, the following academic institutions were recognized for their role in this partnership: Florida Atlantic University, Indian River State College, Keiser University, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College.
“This is one of those special moments for our organization,” said Mary M. Barnes, president and CEO of Alzheimer’s Community Care. “To have the Mutual of America Foundation value the work that we do in the community, in partnership with five university nursing programs in Florida, is extremely meaningful.”
ABOVE: (L-R) Ivan Gregory, vice president of Mutual of America West Palm Beach; Dr. Raywattie Sooklall, assistant nursing director at Palm Beach State College; Usar Suragarn, clinical administrator of graduate practice programs for the Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University; Kathleen Herd, vice president of grants and fund development for Alzheimer’s Community Care; Karen Gilbert, vice president of education and quality assurance for Alzheimer’s Community Care; Judith Rappaport, board chair for Alzheimer’s Community Care; Mary M. Barnes, Alzheimer’s Community Care president and CEO; Phyllis King, professor of nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University; Ted Herman, vice chairman of the Mutual of America Foundation; and Thomas Gilliam, CEO of the Mutual of America Foundation.
