The Impact of Memory Loss on all of Us -- October 14, 2019

The topic of memory loss is something we are all becoming more familiar with as we see friends and relatives who are dealing with this issue.  Rotarian Stacy Kelly will be our guest speaker in her professional role with the Alzheimer’s Association.  Stacy will provide us with background about the Alzheimer's Association, the differences between memory loss and Alzheimer's disease, and the impact they have on our state and local communities.  She will then introduce two guests.  Tom Hillertz, will talk about his experiences living with early onset Alzheimer's disease and Mel Kuntemeier, will talk about his experiences as a caregiver for his wife.

Stacy is Manager of Education and Community Volunteers for the Alzheimer's Association.  Prior to joining the Alzheimer’s Association, she worked as a store manager for Walgreens for almost 14 years.  Stacy has a Master’s of Business Administration Degree from Robert Morris University - Springfield and holds national certifications as a Pharmacy Technician and Mental Health First Aid Responder. Stacy’s own experiences as caregiver for her parents during their respective dementia journeys, combined with her love of working within the Senior Care Community, made it impossible to turn down the opportunity to work for the Alzheimer's Association. 

After 13 years as a logistics manager in the plastics industries, Tom received his Masters of Divinity Degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.  Tom has served congregations in La Crosse Wisconsin, Bourbonnais, and Champaign. Tom and his wife Wendy are the parents of Andrew and Ashley and live in Chatham.

After having worked for 38 years as an auditor/accountant in the Springfield area, Mel retired to become a full time caregiver for his wife of 32 years.  As the Alzheimer's disease progressed, it forced a move into a memory care facility for safety and medical care.  He is now a volunteer with the Alzheimer's Association, serving in the roles of Community Representative and Educator.