I recently sat down to lunch with a lady who is making a difference in our dementia community.  She arrived in town 8 years ago with the determination to provide a service agency for the elderly.  She has done that and so much more. To try to understand it all, I had her draw a schematic outline of all the things she has created and directs. All tolled, 380 jobs have been created, providing services in Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Washington, and Monroeville counties.

You may be familiar with her Touching Hearts Senior Care, which encompasses in-home assistance, a safe discharge program, case management, and a pop-in service. She also helps veterans acquire assistance from the VA’s Aid and Attendance Benefits and offers a monthly support group.

Ms. Germany is the president of the Gulf Coast Senior Alliance, whose members provide quality and trustworthy care to the senior population on the Gulf Coast.

If that’s not enough, she has developed the non-profit Gulf Coast Dementia Services, Inc.  whose mission is to target the many needs of our dementia community, respite services being high on the list. Since dementia is our country’s fastest growing health concern with no cure in sight, I personally want to commend Ms. Germany on her foresight and determination to enable the many families living with dementia.  This group was responsible for the successful dementia conference featuring Teepa Snow held just this month.

You get a purple angel*, Gina Germany, for all you’re doing for dementia care.

*This Purple Angel symbol can be used by anyone raising awareness regarding dementia. It symbolizes a guardian over those living with dementia, their families and friends, as well as all those working to raise awareness about dementia world wide.