farragutpress

Alzheimer’s Tennessee recognizes Caring Hearts

June 3, 2026 by Tammy Cheek

Alzheimer’s Tennessee celebrated the commitment of “unsung heroes,” those who go above and beyond in caring for those facing dementia, with a Caring Hearts recognition ceremony in Rothschild Catering and Convention Center in Knoxville Thursday, May 21.

Of the 100 “caring hearts,” seven are from Farragut and West Knoxville home health or senior care centers.

“One of the most rewarding programs that we do is our Caring Hearts luncheon,” Alzheimer’s Tennessee CEO/president Janice Wade-Whitehead said. “It’s an annual event. Today, we will recognize 100 direct-care workers, our CNAs, our personal care assistants who may work in home health care, assisted living, nursing homes.

“They really are professionals who, a lot of times they’re not well-compensated, do not get a lot of thank-yous for the work they do,” she said. “However, they’re critical in providing day-to-day care and defining quality of life for that individual with Alzheimer’s.”

As part of the awards presentation, members of the Nursing Honor Guard presented roses to each recipient.

One of the coveted awards of the luncheon, the Stan Boling Community Caring Hearts Award, went to Claudia Jewel, the “friendly nurse” at the O’Connor Senior Center for almost 22 years.

“I’m excited,” she said about receiving the honor. “I was surprised when I was told I was receiving it … I love all the participants, the people.

“Alzheimer’s [Tennessee] and we work together,” Jewel said.

Local recipients included: Heidi Attaway, Knoxville Morning Pointe Assisted Living; Ashley Cox, Arbor Terrace in West Knoxville; Caraline Helton, NHC Cavette Hill Assisted Living & Memory Care; Angel Maples, NHC Place Farragut Assisted Living in Farragut; Alyson Monger, also with NHC Place in Farragut; Jeanne Parish, CADES Adult Day Service; and Zeynep Sherman, Morning Pointe Hardin Valley Assisted Living.

“Working through the night requires a special kind of commitment,” Margaret Meshberger NHC director of nursing, said about Maples. “Angel has been with us for more than seven years, providing exceptional care to ensure resident safety.”

“Alyson is an outstanding nurse aid,” Meshberger said of Monger. “Her dedication, compassion and professionalism consistently go above and beyond expectations.”

“Jeanne is a faithful, steadfast and key staff member who has served on the CADES team for the past 10 years,” CADES executive director Deena Greer said of Parish. “She embodies compassion, kindness and unwavering dedication in everything she does.”

“Madison always has a smile on her face and brightens everyone’s day,” Concord Place community relations director Lisa Markin said of Sawyers. “She is a team player and is flexible with schedule changes.”

Alzheimer’s Tennessee has been operating in Knox County since 1983, according to Wade-Whitehead.

“We are perhaps the oldest of the Alzheimer’s organizations,” she added. “We’ve been serving families for over 40 years.

“In 1983, Alzheimer’s disease was not a new disease but it was not widely recognized,” Wade-Whitehead said. “It was started with just a very small group of passionate families meeting at a church to share information and help each other strategize.”

Now, the organization is statewide, providing boots-on-the ground services.

“If you are living with either a diagnosis yourself or a family member with a diagnosis, we provide such an array of services for support,” she said. “The person with diagnosis can engage in a support group … we have a lot of caregiver support groups.

“We operate an adult daycare center in Knoxville that operates Monday through Friday,” Wade-Whitehead said.

Also, it provides therapeutic exercises and activities for the individuals with a diagnosis.

And, “we go out into the homes and do needs and safety assessments,” she said. “We helped to pass the ’20-’21 Silver Alert Bill, which we just found out 525 Tennesseans have been returned safely back to their loved ones.

“With that, we provide a silver alert kit for families so they are ready should their loved one go missing, which is pretty common,” Wade-Whitehead said. “About 60 percent of people with diagnosis will wander at some point during the course of their disease.”

“We also do caregiver training, and our next one is in Roane County and Blount County in June,” she said. “We have a 24/7 helpline for people to call.

“A lot of times, we’re the first call after the diagnosis by a physician, and sometimes we are upstream from that,” Wade-Whitehead said. “Someone may say, ‘I think my loved one has a problem, but I’m not sure. Where do I go?’

“Then, a lot of times we’ll be with that family for seven, eight years, during the entire journey of their Alzheimer’s journey,” she said.