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When Barbara Auten moved to Baton Rouge from New Orleans and joined Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area (Alzheimer’s Services) part-time after Katrina, she had no idea that one day she would become the unique organization’s Executive Director. Although her grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s when she was a teenager, she had no idea that during her now 19-year tenure with Alzheimer’s Services, she would lose eight aunts, two uncles and her mother to the brutal disease.
AT A GLANCE
Top executives: Frank D. McArthur, II, Board President; Pam Mascari, Board Vice President; Barbara W. Auten, CFRE, CAP, Executive Director; Debbie Kidder Little, Development Director; Ellen Dunn. LMSW, Program Director; Treasure White, MA, PLPC, Respite Director
Phone: 225.334.7494
Address: 3772 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Website: alzbr.org
Alzheimer’s disease or dementia affects a staggering 10 to 11 percent of the senior population over age 65, positioning Alzheimer’s Services to serve approximately 16,800 patients and their families in its 10-parish service area—a number that diminished by more than 3,000 due to senior losses during the pandemic.
“Dementia-related diseases really are the cancer of this century,” says Auten. “In East Baton Rouge Parish alone, around 4,000 people are living with it.”
Because the disease affects far more people than patients themselves, Alzheimer’s Services supports professional and family caregivers through what is typically an eight- to 10-year journey. Families’ relationships with what Auten calls a one-stop shop typically begin with answering a helpline call or a website inquiry.
“Ideally, a caregiver will call when their family member is initially diagnosed and ask for assistance. Anyone with this disease will ultimately need 24/7 supervision if not 24/7 care,” says Auten. “When we are able to connect at the onset, we can be there to hold their hands, provide information, and offer support through various programs. This is the best-case scenario, because we can be there to help when—not if—an inevitable crisis hits.”
Alzheimer’s Services also sparks relationships with caregivers during those crises through educational and support programs including virtual Lunch-N-Learns, where caregivers and healthcare professionals receive education about a variety of dementia related topics and caregiver support groups, and non-judgmental meetings where families and friends share their experiences and learn essential information for coping with the disease. In addition, the organization offers Making Sense of Cents, a free three-part financial literacy workshop where caregivers learn about the organization, financial resources, healthcare insurance, estate planning, financial abuse, and fraud.
Other available services and programs include a HelpLine answered by trained staff members who can answer questions about Alzheimer’s disease, community services and resources; and an enrollment-required respite reimbursement program that helps offset costs that caregivers incur to employ sitters to get a few hours of rest.
One of Alzheimer’s Services’ most unique offerings are the soon to be three Charlie’s Place Activity and Respite Centers (Charlie’s Place) available to patients and caregivers. Currently in Baton Rouge and Gonzales with a third Baker location opening this spring, Charlie’s Place’s programs for individuals with early to mild stage Alzheimer’s and memory-related dementia disorders are designed to provide cognitive stimulation and social interaction while giving caregivers a much-needed break. The program offers a home-like experience, where participants can enjoy a purposeful, six-hour day with a host of cognition-stimulation and socialization through music and pet therapy, gardening, arts and crafts, spiritual activities, live entertainment, intergenerational activities, physical activities and exercise, technology integration, games requiring mental participation and concentration, cooking with the Charlie’s Place Culinary School, and periods of rest and relaxation.
“Charlie’s Place is such a joy,” says Auten. “I tell my staff every day, ‘If you feel overwhelmed, go over to Charlie’s Place for 20 minutes.’ Clients may not know what they did that day, but they leave knowing they had a good time. It truly gives caregivers a break while providing the person with Alzheimer’s a purposeful day.”
As a local non-profit not affiliated with any other national organization, the team at Alzheimer’s Services recognizes the unique nature of what they do—not just in Baton Rouge or Louisiana, but nationwide.
“We have worked hard to earn our great reputation of being consistent and sustainable,” says Auten. “One of our strategic goals has been to increase the number of impactful touches by 20 percent annually. Not only have we exceeded that goal every year outside of the pandemic, but this year we have actually seen a 51 percent increase in impactful touches— a measurement that means not only a lot to our clients and caregivers, but also to our staff, donors, and volunteers.”
As one of the few organizations in the state certified by the Standards of Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, Alzheimer’s Services offers peace of mind to and earns respect from corporate partners, donors and constituents.
“Person-centered care is as important to us in our relationships with our donors as it is with our clients,” says Auten. “One of the best parts of what we do is getting to know donors and learning why they are interested in investing with us.”
