Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Did you know one in nine Americans, age 65 and older, suffers from Alzheimer’s?
It can be very challenging for their caregivers.
Duet: Partners In Health & Aging hosted its annual fundraiser last month in conjunction with National Family Caregiver Month. The event took place at Mountain Shadows Resort in the Town of Paradise Valley.
The nonprofit honored Dr. Boss, an accomplished professor and author, with an award. An emeritus professor at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Boss is renowned for her pioneering research on stress reduction for those experiencing the ambiguous loss of a loved one.
“Dr. Boss is known worldwide for her work understanding caregiving and navigating the complexities of caring for someone with dementia,” said Ann Wheat, executive director of Duet: Partners In Health & Aging.
“We’ve had the privilege of partnering with her on our Finding Meaning and Hope discussion series and she named Duet as the Western United States Center of Ambiguous Loss Knowledge and Application. We are one of only three entities in the nation selected by Dr. Boss to carry on her work!”
Dr. Boss coined the term “ambiguous loss” to describe the loss without resolution, and for more than 50 years, her work in this area has provided a compassionate framework for those experiencing the unresolved physical or psychological loss of a loved one.
Her impact is further validated by her election to esteemed professional bodies including the American Psychological Association, The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the National Council on Family Relations.
Seven years ago, Duet partnered with Dr. Boss to create Finding Meaning and Hope, Duet’s signature discussion series for family caregivers, based on her book “Loving Someone Who Has Dementia.”
Her support was also crucial in launching Duet’s Meaning & Hope Institute, a virtual community offering essential help and hope to isolated family caregivers nationwide.