EP 120 :: Dementia Advocacy and the Stole Ministry :: Lynda Everman
Tune in as Bobbi & Mike sit at the feet of Lynda Everman, author, caregiver and fiber artist, to explore how her faith informs her advocacy for those living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Lynda teaches us that fabric holds memories, is symbolic and can communicate love and affection when words may no longer be accessible.
Lynda Everman has spent most of her adult life as a caregiver: for her mom who was paralyzed by a stroke, her dad with vascular dementia, and her late husband with Alzheimer’s Disease. These experiences inspired her advocacy for increased Alzheimer's funding for care and a cure.
She and fellow advocate Kathy Siggins conducted a multi-year national campaign for a semipostal (awareness and fundraising) stamp for Alzheimer's research. As a result of their efforts, the first ever Alzheimer’s Disease Research Semipostal Stamp was released by the US Postal Service in November 2017 and may be purchased online. As of the end of November 2021, it has raised over $1.2 million for NIH funded research.
Lynda is a founding member of three national networks under the umbrella of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and served as founder and convener of ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s. She is an editor and contributor to Seasons of Caring: Meditations for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers. She was also a Senior Editor for Dementia-friendly Worship: A Multi-faith Handbook for Chaplains, Clergy and Faith Communities and co-authored Stolen Memories: An Alzheimer’s Stole Ministry and Tallit Initiative with her husband Don Wendorf.
Lynda has been recognized by Maria Shriver as a Woman of Influence in the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) and included on her “Big Wall of Empowerment.”
Lynda is a dedicated and outspoken advocate for those living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners and, in September 2018, was honored with the inaugural UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Advocate of the Year Award.
Follow Lynda on Facebook and Twitter.
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Thank you to Artis Senior Living for sponsoring this episode.
