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What's New at the MBWC?
September/October 2025
| | Our team will be at the Seattle Alzheimer’s Association's Walk to End Alzheimer’s this Saturday! Look for the UW Alzheimer's Disease Research Center table. Come say Hi and grab some swag and resources! It takes place on Saturday, October 4 at the International Fountain, Mercer Street. Learn more. | |
"That Extra Layer of Care"
What it means to volunteer at Harborview Medical Center
| | | | Tonya Clegg is the Volunteer Services Manager at Harborview Medical Center. She oversees a small department with a big job: coordinating all volunteer opportunities at the hospital, a comprehensive medical care and surgical facility. Volunteers support Harborview in various ways, including visiting and assisting patients, staffing the information desks, and caring for the hospital’s public art collection. | | |
"Volunteers elevate the patient experience and care," says Tonya, who has worked to revitalize the department's operations over the last year. "They make it that much better. That's invaluable to us, and it's invaluable to our community.”
Beyond the busy clinical space, Tonya helps secure volunteers to assist at the Memory Hub, a dementia-friendly community center operated by the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center.
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Memory Navigator Consultation Services
Looking for information or support for the memory loss journey? At the Memory Hub, a care consultant from Kin On Health Care Center acts as “Memory Navigator." They provide free 30-minute appointments in Chinese or English on Monday afternoons. Get support with memory loss or caregiving topics, including information and referrals to community resources. Discuss what you're looking for, and discover what may be available in your area to help you thrive.
| | Katherine Prater, PhD, Assistant Professor, UW Department of Neurology | | Swati Mishra, PhD, Acting Instructor, UW Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology | | |
Congratulations to the UW Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's Katherine Prater, PhD and Swati Mishra, PhD for receiving NACC New Investigator Awards! These awards will support Dr. Mishra's work on the role of SORL1 genetic variants in Alzheimer's disease and Dr. Prater's project on the role of microglia (brain immune cells) in resilience to Alzheimer's disease. Both Dr. Prater and Mishra have received support from the UW ADRC, through the UW ADRC Development projects.
The NACC New Investigator Award Program (NIAP), in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association, aims to encourage new and early career investigators to develop innovative research projects, foster collaborations within their Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC).
| | This research study looks at the effect of neurostimulation on memory decline in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and dementia to help us better understand memory deterioration and how to potentially reduce it. The study will use a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation that uses magnetic fields to stimulate targeted parts of the brain from the outside. Throughout the study, we will track changes with memory and mood assessments, MRI scans, and memory tests (which you can take from home). Learn more | Flyer | |
Herbal Tea Workshop
Fri. Oct. 24, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Spend a relaxing afternoon with others living with memory loss and family and friends. Prepare, brew, and enjoy a warm cup of garden herb tea. This program will be held indoors, with a view of Maude’s Garden. A free event offered by the MBWC and the Seattle Public Library. Space is limited to 12 participants; please sign up by Wed. Oct. 22.
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Dementia-Friendly Communities Conference 2025: Collaborating for a Dementia-Friendly Washington
Are you interested in making your community more dementia-friendly? Join us 10 am - 4:30 pm on Monday October 27 at Tukwila Community Center. Learn from local and national speakers and discover strategies and models you can bring to your own community.
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Between the Notes: Meet the Musicians and Open Dress Rehearsal
Oct. 13, 10:30 - 12pm
Meet the musicians, watch an open dress rehearsal, and ask your questions during a Q&A session!
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Advanced Legal Planning
Mon. Nov 3, 10:30 - 11:30 am
Unsure about navigating advanced legal planning? Join us for a free presentation covering the next steps!
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Memory Loss: A Guide to Next Steps
Have you recently been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia? Join us for this introductory class. Get your questions answered by an expert panel including peer mentors who share strategies for living well with memory loss, and a medical provider from the UW Memory & Brain Wellness Center. Flyer
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Partners in Dementia Northwest
Orientation takes place in early October.
Do you live with early-stage memory loss? Want to help mentor the next generation of health care providers?
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Books & Beats
2:30- 4pm every 3rd Wednesday of the month. Each book is discussed for two months.
Caregivers will have a book discussion group led by Seattle Public Library. People with memory loss will have a music engagement program led by a certified music therapist. The last half hour we'll come together for social time and snacks!
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'Dancing Together' Seated Movement Class
Wednesdays, 1 - 2pm
Come together to move to music, exploring various dance styles and having fun with familiar songs! It is also appropriate for people with limited mobility. No dance experience necessary
Schedule: Fall 2025
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The Alzheimer's Cafe
Every 2nd Tuesday at the Memory Hub!
Join the Frye Art Museum and the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center for an uplifting time of social connection! A unique opportunity for people living with dementia, their care partners, family, and friends to enjoy companionship, artwork discussions, live music, snacks, and fun in a relaxed environment.
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Garden Care Work Parties - Oct. 13!
2nd Mondays of the Month at 1:30 - 3 pm.
Join us to volunteer in Maude's garden care. All are welcome, with a special invitation to persons with memory loss and their families. If you need physical or cognitive support in order to participate, please bring a care partner with you. Flyer
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Garden Discovery Program - Fall 2025 (Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5)
Connect with nature and engage in nature-based projects at Maude's Garden with others living with memory loss and friends and family. Flyer
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Shared Outdoor Adventures for Resilience Program (S.O.A.R) 2025-2026
With the S.O.A.R. (Shared Outdoor Adventures for Resilience) Program, reinforce your strengths and connect with others through monthly small group hikes and other outdoor adventures in the Seattle area. S.O.A.R is for people diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another dementia before age 65, with a family member or friend.
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Chinese Healthy Aging
The summer series of the Chinese Healthy Aging programs, featuring tai chi, karaoke and mahjong, will run 1-3 p.m. Mondays Oct. 6 - Dec. 22 at the Memory Hub. Flyer
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FTD Caregiver Support Group - Virtual
A virtual support group for people caring for a loved one with frontotemporal degeneration. Every second Wednesday of the month 5:30 pm PT - 7 pm PT, on Zoom. Flyer
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Coffee Chat - Virtual
Make a cup of coffee or tea, and come together online for an informal social time with others living with memory loss or dementia. Facilitated by trained volunteers with support from Program Manager Marigrace Becker. Space is limited; sign up by the day before. Join for just one session, or multiple.
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Caregiver Forum - Virtual
Join other family caregivers online to connect, share strategies, and support each other's experience caring for a loved one with dementia. Facilitated by trained volunteers with support from Program Manager Marigrace Becker.
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PD+ Support Group
Mutual support for people with CBD, PSP, MSA, and their care partners and loved ones. Offered by MBWC and facilitated by the American Parkinson Disease Association NW Chapter.
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PPA Support Group
Do you or a loved one live with primary progressive aphasia (PPA/PPAOS)? Come explore a group just for you! We meet monthly, on Wednesday afternoons. A free event. Flyer
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Chinese Dementia Caregiver Support Group
A Chinese-language resource at the Memory Hub, offered by our new on-site collaborator Kin On Health Care Center. Sign up.
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Join us for Dementia Friendsgiving: A Special Virtual Event on November 18
You’re invited to the inaugural Dementia Friendsgiving, hosted by Dementia Friendly America (DFA) on Tues. Nov 18 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT for a virtual potluck celebrating a decade of the dementia-friendly movement, its dedicated network of volunteers and professionals, and the positive impact it’s had on people living with dementia, caregivers and their communities.
You’ll hear from keynote speaker Teepa Snow, people living with dementia and their caregivers and community and state leaders in the dementia-friendly movement. Register today for this unique opportunity to make connections, envision the future of the dementia-friendly movement and find out how you or your organization can use DFA’s programs to join the movement.
| | | | Other Community Resources | | |
Part-Time Program Assistant Needed for Old Friends Club
Old Friends Club is celebrating one year of serving the community through cognitive stimulation for people with mid-stage dementia and respite for their caregivers. We provide meaningful conversation, arts and crafts, storytelling, music, movement and more. OFC is looking for a Program Assistant who can help plan curriculum, prepare crafts, games, and activities, and promote the program. This role is 8 hours per week, including 5 hours on Thursdays during program sessions. Please email: ofc@mipc.org
| | NEW “Ignite the Mind” dementia-inclusive series at Edmonds Center for the Arts starts Wednesday, October 1, and continues every first Wednesday of the month. Enjoy music-making, movement, and visual arts. Learn more and sign up. | | NEW clay sculpting class offered by Dementia-Friendly Recreation with the Seattle Parks Dept. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays October 20 – November 10. To register, contact Tamara at tamara.keefe@seattle.gov. | | Dementia Support Northwest offers their Fall Conference 2025 on Friday October 10 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Four Points hotel in Bellingham. Gain valuable knowledge on dementia care, connect with others, and explore practical strategies to support people with dementia. Learn more and sign up. | | Seattle’s Greenwood Senior Center offers their annual Family Caregiver Retreat from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Wednesday October 29. Join other caregivers for a day of reflection and rejuvenation. Learn more and sign up with Kristen: kristeno@phinneycenter.org. | | | | |
