When my wife, Trude, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1993 even in my worst nightmare I could not have envisioned the awful journey on which we had unwillingly embarked. In the face of this unrelenting disease I wanted to find a way for her to maintain her dignity and, as much as possible, to continue in her role as my wife, the loving mother of our two children Rick and Barbara Judy, and the smiling grandmother of Dave and Diana Wesoloski.
Sadly, I discovered that continuing competent care was hard to find, and I was amazed that the medical community, including myself, knew so little about diagnosing and treating a disease as prevalent as this one. Although it’s now too late to help Trude, who sadly died in December 2000, the Foundation which I
formed in her name in 1999 will carry on its work of fighting the disease on three fronts: Educational, Charitable and Scientific.
--Richard
W. Zalar, M.D
A person afflicted with Alzheimer’s
Disease must be treated with a special kind of professionalism, sensitivity, gentleness, and patience. To promote these qualities in caregivers, the Foundation
established the annual "Gentle Touch Awards." Recognition and cash prizes are given to
outstanding caregivers each year.
We have
recently established a relationship with The Stratford at West Clay, and
have funded "Trude's House" there. Click
here for further details of this joint venture.
Another facet of the work of the Gertrude P. Zalar Alzheimer Care Foundation is to support the establishment of a facility, designed for people with Alzheimer’s
Disease or Dementia. The Foundation has been granted a "Certificate of Need" by the Governor of the State of Illinois for a 99-bed facility. The facility is to be built in Illinois and if successful, additional facilities will be built on this model in other parts of the State of Illinois.
Clearly there is much work to be done in providing new research and new ideas to
care for persons who have lost so much to this disease; they should not also be subjected to losing their dignity. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Tax-deductible donations* to the Gertrude P. Zalar
Alzheimer Care Foundation may also be made by
sending a check to:
Gertrude P. Zalar Alzheimer
Care Foundation 1081 Chovan Drive Joliet, IL 60435
