WESTFIELD, MA – Beth Cardillo, Executive Director of Armbrook Village Senior Living in Westfield, was recently recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association’s as a 2015 Alzheimer’s Champion.
At their Golf Outing for The Longest Day on Sunday June 21, 2015 at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield,The Diversity Advisory Council (Western Region) Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, selected Beth Cardillo as their Alzheimer’s Champion, someone who advocates for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. The Longest Day is a team event to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association®.
“Beth has always been a strong advocate for Alzheimer’s caregivers. She does not hesitate in lending her talent and resources to any efforts that will benefit Alzheimer’s caregivers and also move us closer to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Alzheimer’s Association’s Marcia McKenzie, M. Ed., Director, Diversity Initiatives & Western MA.
Cardillo, a licensed social worker, has dedicated her career to helping seniors and their families. She has been involved with the local Alzheimer’s Association for many years as co-Chairperson for the ‘Memories in the Making Art Auction’ and helping with their ‘Walk to End Alzheimer’s’.
Cardillo has also recently led a partnership between Armbrook Village and the City of Westfield to make Westfield the first Dementia Friendly City on the east coast of the United States. The idea behind making a community ‘dementia friendly’ is to help reduce the stigma of Alzheimer’s and educate the general public on how to interact with neighbors, friends, and customers who are living with dementia, therefore increasing quality of life for many. Carrillo and her team at Armbrook Village have been working tirelessly to bring this training program to thousands throughout the Greater Westfield area including firefighters, hospital workers, nurses, and city hall employees, including Westfield’s Mayor Daniel Knapik.
“It takes only one spark to ignite a flame that can truly make an impact in the community at large, and for Westfield’s Dementia Friendly Movement, Beth Cardillo was that spark” says Tadd Clelland, partner at Senior Living Residences, the management company at Armbrook Village. “And it is because of that spark that our Dementia Friendly initiative is now spreading to more communities across Massachusetts. For Beth, we couldn’t be more proud of this honor.”