Waltonwood Cary Parkway, a premier senior living community, is inviting the public to participate in its Longest Day fundraiser on Friday, June 21to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. The event encourages thousands of people worldwide to host an activity they are passionate about or the favorite activity of a loved one, and the senior living community picked walking. From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., the senior living community will host a walkathon for people of all ages and abilities. Waltonwood Cary Parkway Executive Director Matthew VanAuker and other associates at the community will participate the entire time. The community will have food, games and giveaways for all who attend. While the walkathon at Waltonwood Cary Parkway (750 SE Cary Parkway) is free and open to the public, any donations are highly appreciated and go directly to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“We are excited to host this public event to support those affected by Alzheimer’s disease, whether they are living with it or care for someone who does,” said VanAuker. “I want to walk all day to show that together, the strength of our light will outshine the darkness of Alzheimer’s. Many of the residents and associates have a loved one or friend affected by this disease, and we want them to know we stand with them in this fight. We are participating in The Longest Day as a team to recognize the dedication, compassion and, most importantly, the love that caregivers share with those who suffer from dementia. We hope everyone will bring their walking shoes and help us take the right step in finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.”

The fundraiser is held annually on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) because the duration of this sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease is a global epidemic. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than five million people living with the disease and 47 million people worldwide suffering from dementia. Waltonwood Cary Parkway has a memory care neighborhood and understands firsthand the importance of providing specialized care and recognizing the hard work and dedication of their caregivers.

“We have an amazing group of people who give 110 percent each day as they engage our memory care residents” said Allison Whitaker, memory care life enrichment manager. “We want them to know how much we appreciate their commitment and that it doesn’t go unnoticed. This will be a meaningful event for so many at the community. Raising money and awareness will not only help fund research, it also encourages others to keep their bodies and minds healthy. We hope the public stops by, enjoys the food and games and learns more ways they can support the Alzheimer’s Association. Together, we can show those fighting this disease that they are not alone.”

If you are interested in donating or attending, please call 919-460-7330.

Every Friday, you’ll find a 25-pound labradoodle named Ellie making her way through assisted living and memory care at Waltonwood Cary Parkway (a premier senior living community). She doesn’t belong to any residents, but rather a local woman who wants to brighten the days of seniors through pet therapy. Michele Hardy raised Ellie since she was a puppy and is training her to be a therapy dog. Pet therapy has numerous mental and emotional benefits for seniors, including socialization, mental stimulation, higher comfort levels and a boost in self-esteem. The residents love having Ellie visit, that’s why Hardy says it’s important to bring her each week.

“We plan our visits around an activity so we can interact with as many residents as possible. In memory care that is in the common area where residents gather after lunch and in assisted living, it is usually around bingo,” said Hardy. “We even make house calls to the residents who weren’t able to attend the activities. Ellie is particularly fond of one resident we visit who lost her beloved cat shortly before we started our visits. Team members at Waltonwood thought Ellie might help fill the void. Even though Ellie isn’t a cat, she and the resident have formed a special bond, and they both enjoy their weekly visit.”

The journey to become a therapy dog started before Hardy got Ellie. She always liked helping others, and knew pet therapy would benefit seniors. Hardy also wanted to have a closer bond with Ellie. She worked with her alone for quite a while, but then started taking Ellie to classes with a local pet business to polish some of the required skills Ellie needed. Now, she’s been making an impact on seniors at Waltonwood Cary Parkway for just over a year.

“Saturday visits to Waltonwood were part of the training,” said Hardy. “Ellie was initially shy during her visits, but over time she has become very comfortable and much more interactive with the residents. I’ve witnessed the benefits of pet therapy both for Ellie and the residents firsthand, and it is truly something special.”

“Residents of Waltonwood Cary Parkway enjoy the benefits of having Ellie come to the community for pet therapy,” said Richard Mabe, executive director. “They are happier and socialize more when Ellie is around, and spirits remain high long after Ellie leaves. She is the sweetest dog and has really made an impact on residents in memory care and assisted living. We appreciate Michele bringing Ellie to the community each week.”  

The country recently honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and residents of Waltonwood Cary Parkway, a premier senior living community, are reflecting on how he influenced their lives. Gayle Fleming, a memory care resident at the community, was the first African-American woman to serve as the chief of outpatient pharmacy at Duke Outpatient Hospital. Fleming, 74, grew up in the Triangle area and left to attend college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. where she earned her pharmacy degree. She lived for several years in Washington D.C. where she met and wed her husband, Dr. Stanley Fleming, before moving back to North Carolina. While at Duke, she returned to night school to earn MBA and MHA degrees. She always tried to increase her knowledge to better serve people. When she faced challenges throughout her 32-year career at Duke, she would always ask herself what King would do in a similar situation. She retired about eight years ago and moved into Waltonwood Cary Parkway four years ago.

“Gayle had a wonderful career, but it came with many challenges,” said her husband Dr. Stanley Fleming. “After high school she applied to a local college for her undergraduate degree, but she was told they didn’t allow people like her to attend their school. A politician wrote a letter to Gayle telling her to apply to a different institution like Howard University, so she did, and the state paid for it. Several years later when I was offered a job in North Carolina, she was reluctant to come back, but she did it for me. Being an African-American woman in power at Duke Hospital was difficult for her at times, but she really held fast to Dr. King’s approach of loving your enemy. His legacy influenced her career and will continue to influence others for many generations.”

Gayle was an advocate herself for many years. She was involved with The Links, Incorporated, a not-for-profit organization that consists of thousands of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African-Americans. During her time with the organization, she helped the underprivileged. It was her mission to promote equality and be a voice for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. Gayle involved herself in organizations that King believed in. She passed on her work ethic and dedication to her two children who have succeeded in their own fields as a lawyer and surgeon.

“I was there for Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in Washington, D.C.,” said Fleming. “Gayle wasn’t able to attend, but the message resonated with her. She had her own dream to be a successful African-American woman in the pharmacy field, and she did that. She really followed his approach and passed it down to our own children. Through her work with different nonprofits and in the pharmacy field, she accomplished her dream. Celebrating Dr. King is an honor to us, and we look forward to it each year.”

“Gayle is a fantastic woman who accomplished many things during her career,” said Richard Mabe, executive director at Waltonwood Cary Parkway. “Whatever she put her mind to she could achieve, and that is evident with her successful pharmacy career and her involvement with many organizations. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. influenced many of our residents and associates, and we are honored to recognize that each year. We enjoy hearing the different personal stories from each of the residents who call Waltonwood Cary Parkway home.”

Waltonwood Cary Parkway, a premier senior living community, is inviting the public to try its hand at blackjack, Texas hold’em, roulette and more as they host a casino night fundraiser on Friday, October 26 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The free event is open to public at the senior living community (located at 750 SE Cary Parkway) and will feature casino games, light appetizers and refreshments. Guests will have the chance to bid on raffle baskets as well as make donations. The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association and Dementia Alliance.

“This disease affects a significant number of families, and we want to support the research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Richard Mabe, executive director at Waltonwood Cary Parkway. “The casino night fundraiser is a fun way to bring dozens of people together to raise money and awareness for an important cause. This is the first time we’ve hosted a casino night fundraiser, but it won’t be our last. We are dedicated to giving back to organizations that fight for a cure. This disease touches so many lives, including residents who call Waltonwood Cary Parkway home. We hope the public will join our community and its residents for an exciting night of entertainment. We anticipate a successful event for both organizations.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than five million people living with the disease and 47 million people worldwide suffering from dementia. Waltonwood Cary Parkway understands the importance of raising money and awareness for the disease and wants those affected to know they are not alone in this fight. Residents and sponsors are excited for the fundraiser, including Irene Garver, 98. She enjoys gambling and knows this is the perfect event to get people together and raise money.

“The casino night fundraiser is for a purpose, not just for fun,” said Garver. “I am very fortunate because Alzheimer’s and dementia hasn’t affected my family, but I understand so many others are in a different situation. This is a wonderful event that Waltonwood is putting on, and I hope it brings out many people. The casino theme is touching to me because my mother was fond of gambling. She lived to age 105 and would frequent the casinos in Lake Tahoe and Reno. This will be a special event, and I am thrilled to participate in it.”

“I am honored to sponsor an event for such an important cause,” said Chris Edwards with RE/MAX United in Cary. “So many people are impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, including myself. After my mother-in-law was diagnosed with dementia, I created Rotarians Against Alzheimer’s and Dementia (RADA). Our group uses music to help renew lives lost to Alzheimer’s and dementia. We give iPods to seniors who live in communities and let them listen to the music of their choice. I noticed there was a void when it came to music therapy, and I decided to fill it.  It’s been a powerful tool to help bring back lost memories. I work closely with Waltonwood Cary Parkway, and I’m grateful to support its fundraising event.”

To educate the next generation of senior living leaders, Waltonwood Cary Parkway (a premier senior living community in Cary) has implemented an internship program. As more baby boomers retire each day, it is important to identify and educate students to ensure enough younger people go into the field. This summer, two students are learning about community operations and the ins and outs of the senior living industry. Theresa Boozer-Turner, 38, a student studying health management at the University of Mount Olive, is passionate about working with seniors living with dementia. Eduardo Correa, 20, is studying psychology at Western Carolina University and works closely with the life enrichment department at Waltonwood Cary Parkway.

Boozer-Turner spends about three days at the community per week. Her grandmother’s dementia diagnosis inspired her to work in senior living. Boozer-Turner began taking night classes in order to learn more about the disease and its various stages. Her grandmother’s diagnosis had a huge impact on her family, and it encouraged Boozer-Turner to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She worked at a senior living community where she gained experience in the field, but she wanted to do more to make a difference. As a result, she decided to go back to school to learn about senior living community operations. Her goal is to become the executive director of an assisted living and memory care community. During her internship, she works closely with Executive Director Richard Mabe attending staff meetings, helping with activities and interacting with residents on a daily basis.

“When I help those living with dementia, it warms my heart,” said Boozer-Turner. “Seeing a strong, independent woman going through those changes was hard, so I want to support other families facing this transition by enlightening them and showing them that there is still so much love to give. I want to help people understand the disease and give them the resources to assist their loved one in living the best life possible after a diagnosis. There are so many people affected by this disease, and I hope with better education more people can understand it. The hands-on experience I receive at Waltonwood Cary Parkway is life changing. I hope to one day lead a community similar to this one and make an impact on the lives of seniors.”

Fellow intern Correa spends five days a week at the community in the life enrichment department. The psychology major looked for a volunteer project when he returned home for the summer and decided to work with seniors. Correa enjoys making a difference in the world around him, and he spends time with adults who have disabilities at school. Working with the life enrichment department, he interacts daily with the residents by passing out flyers and calendars and volunteers during activities such as painting or baking.

“This internship has given me a new perspective on senior living,” said Correa. “There are so many inaccurate stereotypes of senior living, but I understand it better now. The residents are independent, enjoy daily activities, have outings and freely do what they want. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, and I am thrilled to spend my summer at the community. The residents are supportive and appreciate me. The internship made me more responsible and gives me a glimpse of what my future could look like. I’m thankful for this opportunity and look forward to spending the rest of my summer helping seniors here.”

“Theresa and Eduardo are wonderful, eager-to-learn interns who have bright futures ahead of them,” said Richard Mabe, executive director. “We want them to learn as much as they can about community operations and the industry overall. We are dedicated to educating the next generation because a lot of them don’t understand what senior living entails, and our industry already has a shortage of qualified team members. We are excited to have two interns this summer and can’t wait to grow our program and give other students the opportunity to learn about this field.”