DONATE | OUR SERVICES | AUGUST 2024

The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center Receives a $75,000 Grant through the Rubye Moss Ratcliff Fund

Rubye Moss Ratcliff grew up at 3000 Fairfield, on the corner of Fairfield and Kings Highway, now known as the Community Bank of Louisiana. Rubye's father was a Mississippi native who left his family's farm at age 15 to work as a railroad telegraph operator in Texas. The Texas and Pacific Railroad assigned him to duty in Shreveport in 1896. He left the railroad in 1898, to start his own grocery business. In 1905, Ratcliff's modest investment in the oil business grew into one of Shreveport's early petroleum fortunes. After Rubye’s passing in 1983, she left a generous bequest of $2.3 million in unrestricted funds to the Community Foundation. Her bequest nearly doubled the assets of the Foundation at the time it was received. Since 1984, the Rubye Moss Ratcliff fund has awarded 386 grants for over $5.7 million!

At CFNLA, our mission is to strengthen community through philanthropy. Funds donated to the Foundation are invested for the community’s benefit and then returned to the community through grants. Thanks to the generosity of Rubye Moss Ratcliff and many other donors, we can continue to strengthen our community for good.

The Bridge Plans Service of Remembrance

Upcoming Events

August 3, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Grandchildren's Workshop

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

August 6, 2024

6:00 p.m. – Dementia Family Support Group

• Location: The Blake of Bossier City, 200 The Blake Blvd., Bossier City, LA 71111

August 7, 2024

11:00 a.m. – First Wednesday Workshop: Elder Financial Abuse – Argent Trust

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

August 8, 2024

Noon – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: First Methodist - Shreveport, 500 Common St., Shreveport, LA 71101

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

August 13, 2024

Noon – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Sabine Council on Aging, 200 Legacy Dr., Many, LA 71449

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Trinity Heights Baptist Church, 3820 Old Mooringsport Rd., Shreveport, LA 71107

4:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Benton Council Aging, 202 Sibley St. Benton, LA 71006

August 14, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Wednesday with Friends: Dance and Movement with Mali

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

1:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: First Presbyterian Church - Shreveport, 900 Jordan St., Shreveport, LA 71101

5:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110 Youree Dr., Shreveport, LA 71105

August 15, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Art Connection

• Location: Noel Memorial UMC, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport, LA 71101

August 16, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Alzheimer's/Dementia Caregiver Grief Support Group

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

August 17, 2024

9:30 a.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Fitness Lady, 1700 Old Minden Rd. #180, Bossier City, LA 71111

August 20, 2024

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Natchitoches Council on Aging, 1016 Keyser Ave, Natchitoches, LA 71457

August 21, 2024

1:00 p.m. – Zoom Online Support Group

• Call The Bridge at 318-656-4800 for login information

August 22, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Dementia Family Support Group

• Location: The Oaks of Louisiana, 600 E Flournoy Lucas Rd., Shreveport, LA 71115

2:00 p.m. – Drum and Hand Percussion Group

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

5:30 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Broadmoor Presbyterian Church - Adult Building, 1915 Grover Place, Shreveport, LA 71105

August 23, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Memory Screenings – Call to schedule an appointment

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

August 27, 2024

1:30 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Ellerbe Road Methodist Church, 10130 Ellerbe Rd., Shreveport, LA 71106

August 28, 2024

1:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: First Presbyterian Church - Shreveport, 900 Jordan St., Shreveport, LA 71101

4th Annual Education Conference on Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Conference Goals

The goal of the conference is to provide engagement and empowerment tools for family members, caregivers, and professionals caring for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias by using a hands-on approach so that persons with all levels of cognitive impairment can engage, interact, and communicate with another, thus mitigating the negative effects of social isolation for themselves and their families.

“Engage, Empower, Educate” Objectives

• Learn to practice validation techniques with individuals living with cognitive change to help restore their dignity
• Help families, staff, and all participants achieve empathy with aging
• Develop empathetic listening skills and responses
• Recognize the importance of quality of life in a nursing home
• Discover digital technology and how it can enhance the wellbeing of dementia individuals
• Understand the importance of independence and when to intervene
• Recognize and address delirium, depression, and dementia in elder care
• Learn how to reduce risks in a home setting
• How to better cope with death, dying, and grief
• Understand the day-to-day challenges of caring for a dementia individual

The Bridge 4th Annual Education Conference on Alzheimer’s & Dementia Keynote Speaker Eric Portnoff

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center is offering a Grandchildren’s Workshop for children, for ages 6-12, who have a grandparent or other family member living with a form of dementia. The workshop will be held on Saturday, August 3, from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm at The Bridge office, located at 851 Olive Street in Shreveport.

The workshop is free of charge and parents are invited to sit in during the event.

“Our goal, by offering this first of its kind workshop in Northwest Louisiana, is to help grandchildren understand a grandparent’s dementia,” stated Paulette Freeman, executive director of The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center. “We saw this as an opportunity for us to help the children understand the disease in a fun and creative way with other children who are facing the same issues with their grandparent or other family member.”

Listed are some reasons why a workshop like this is beneficial for a child whose grandparent has some form of dementia. From a child’s standpoint, they may remember grandma or grandpa as the ones who watched them while mom and dad were away, who spoiled them with food and snacks, who played fun games with them, or had a sleepover at their home. Unfortunately, dementia can take these memories away from a grandparent and it can be upsetting for a young child. Explaining what Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia can be challenging. Explaining the grandparent’s change in behavior can be challenging as well. It is important for the child to know that they are not the ones causing these changes.

The workshop will be facilitated by the licensed professional counselors who are on staff at The Bridge. Lunch is provided and registration is required for planning purposes. To register, call The Bridge office at 318-656-4800.

Gary Moore and Tim Quinn, CTFA, from Argent Trust will be the featured speakers at the First Wednesday Workshop on August 7th at 11:00 a.m. The topic for this month is "Elder Financial Abuse." This workshop is free to attend and no reservations are required. It will be held at The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, located at 851 Olive Street, Shreveport, LA.

Join us on August 14 at 11:00 a.m. at The Bridge for dance and movement with Mali! This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

ART can connect us socially, boost cognitive function, stimulate language, reawaken memories, & provide a sense of accomplishment. Join us every third Thursday at 10:00 am at Noel United Methodist Church. Thank you to the Noel Community Arts Program for sponsoring this activity!

This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center (The Bridge) is providing a Caregiver Grief Support Group for those who have lost a family member to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The group will be led by Anthony Williams, Licensed Professional Counselor and Bridge Board of Directors member. The Bridge realized the importance of this grief support group from talking to caregivers who have lost their loved one. People grieving family members who have died after a long-term decline, due to Alzheimer’s and dementia have different needs.

If you have lost a recent family member to Alzheimer’s or dementia or know of someone who has, you can call The Bridge at 318-656-4800 for more information.

Join us for an informative and exciting session where we will explore various drums, hand percussion instruments, and participate in a drum circle. This event is open to caregivers and their family members or friends with dementia. Drum and Hand Percussion is every fourth Thursday at 2:00 pm at The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, located at 851 Olive St, Shreveport. Thank you to the Noel Community Arts Program for sponsoring this activity!

This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

July Overview

June 27 – Wine and Wisdom at Evans Financial Group

Thank you to Evans Financial Group for having our program director, Laura Gauthier, as your guest speaker!

June 28 – Commission for Women of Bossier City

We received a big surprise from the Commission for Women of Bossier City this week! A check in the amount of $6,000 to support our mission at The Bridge. These funds were raised from their Annual Inspiring Women's Week luncheon held earlier in the year in which our executive director, Paulette Freeman, was one of four panelists who discussed the topic of "Aging in the Ark-La-Tex."

Joining The Bridge Board of Directors and staff members for the check presentation were Commissioners Patty Rogers, Connie Seets-Reynolds, Sonja Bailes, Sheryl Gladney, Alex Person, Vivi McCranie, and Commission President Rae Powell. Thank you to the huge turnout by the commissioners and thank you for this generous donation!

July 12 – Stacey Hand Speaks at Holy Angels Event

Thank You to Holy Angels for having Stacey Hand, Certified Validation Teacher, be a part of your Homecoming event. Stacey was a breakout speaker and her topic was "Understanding Aging and Dementia."

July 19 – Alecia Henderson Speaks at Fitness Lady

The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center Program Coordinator, Alecia Henderson, PLPC, presented an informative seminar titled "Forgetfulness due to aging, or is it something else?" and provided information about the important resources offered by The Bridge.

First Wednesday Workshop

Featuring Michelle Johnson

"What You Need to Know About Hospice”

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center is pleased to provide the organization’s 2023 Annual Report. Inside you will find a message from our executive director, a message from our outgoing Board president, highlights of our program, and our Donor Honor Roll. We’re calling it our Donor Honor Roll because we are honored that you chose The Bridge as an organization to donate to and become a part of by your gift.

*Please call to confirm the date and time of group meetings before attending for the first time. Facilitators vary.

To be able to say how you feel and have others understand.

To be angry and others will not say you should not feel like that.

To find help on how to handle difficult behavior problems.

To learn that you cannot and should not be the only one responsible for caring for a loved one who has the disease.

To learn where to go for help in caring for a loved one.

To realize it is possible to laugh at some of the impossible, crazy things that happen during a day with a person living with dementia.

To learn to stop trying to teach, or reason, with your loved one and instead accept that the way she/he sees things is very real for her/him.

To discover that it is important to have some time for yourself and not feel guilty about it.

To become aware of how much it helps to know you are not making this dementia journey alone.

To discover that coping is easier with the support and caring understanding of the others present.

Programs of The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center are supported by

Community Foundation of North Louisiana ~ First Presbyterian Church Shreveport

The Alta and John Franks Foundation ~ Powers Foundation

The Thomas H. and Mayme P. Scott Foundation

The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center

851 Olive Street

Shreveport, LA 71104

(318) 656-4800

www.alzbridge.org