Staff Reports | Community Updates
Two individuals affiliated with Duet: Partners in Health & Aging were honored with awards from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute for their dedication and service to the community.
Deanne Poulos, a support group leader and webinar host for Duet, received the Trailblazer Award, which recognized her innovative approach to creating programs that nurture and empower family caregivers. Drawing on her background as a professional writer and her English degree from Occidental College,
Ms. Poulos established Duet’s writing workshops for caregivers, providing a therapeutic outlet that allowed participants to process emotions. She also led a book discussion group where caregivers connected for meaningful discussion.
“Deanne Poulos transformed her own profound caregiving experiences into innovative programming that revolutionized how family caregivers are supported at Duet,” said Heather Mulder, associate director of outreach research at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. “From creating a robust webinar series to launching caregiver book clubs and writing workshops, Deanne built new pathways for healing, education and connection that didn’t exist before. Her ability to bring light and joy to every interaction, combined with her gift for knowing exactly the right thing to say, created hope and community for countless caregivers who once felt isolated in their journey.”
Linda Rode, a Duet volunteer, received the Ambassador Advocate Award in recognition of her commitment to caregiver education and community support.
She helped family caregivers relieve stress and build resilience as a certified group lead for Duet’s 10-week video discussion series, “Finding Meaning and Hope,” based on Dr. Pauline Boss’s book Loving Someone Who Has Dementia. Ms. Rode also played a key role in spearheading the Dementia Friends initiative in Fountain Hills.
“Linda Rode exemplifies the transformative power of turning personal adversity into community advocacy,” Ms. Mulder said.
“When her husband Paul was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease, Linda chose to become a beacon of hope for countless other families navigating similar challenges. Through her leadership of dementia care programs and her pioneering work in making Fountain Hills a dementia-friendly community, Linda created lasting change that extends far beyond individual lives. Her philosophy of meeting loved ones ‘where they are’ while practicing self-compassion has become a guiding light for caregivers, proving that one person’s dedication to service can illuminate the path forward for so many others.”
Both honorees had first-hand experience on the caregiving journey, helping them connect with other family caregivers in need of support. Ms. Poulos cared for her late parents, and Ms. Rode cared for her husband, who died just days before she learned she had been selected for the Ambassador Advocate Award.
Ms. Poulos and Ms. Rode were honored at the seventh annual Shine a Light on All Dementias community event, hosted by Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.
