CAREGIVER'S GROUP
- George Coniglio
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
FROM PEEKSKILL HERALD NEWS.
"Alzheimer’s organizations emphasize importance of support groups Almost 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Given the prevalence of the disease, the association’s Hudson Valley Chapter asked the Common Council for support in getting the word out about its Alzheimer’s caregivers support group held bi-monthly at the Neighborhood Center in Peekskill. David Zucker, Community Engagement Manager at the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter, gave a presentation on the organization and its mission which is to create a world without Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Zucker encouraged involvement in the newly created caregiver support group “Peekskill Fights For Cure,” facilitated by volunteers Sudha Ramaswami and Rev. George Coniglio.
“We’ve been running this caregiver group for a couple of months now and we would ask for your help in getting more people in the community to attend this,” Ramaswami said. “We know there is a need… but we are not getting a lot of people to come to the support group.” Rev. George Coniglio at the Common Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 24. Rev. Coniglio thanked Nutrition Site Manager Johnathan Zamora for his support for all the different senior programs offered in the Community Hub. Coniglio said that he doesn’t just approach the group as a co-facilitator but as someone who’s dealing with a parent suffering through dementia. He explained that about a year ago his then-93-year-old mother was doing great until they learned she had dementia.
“It presented itself when she asked me, ‘How is Dad doing?’ Dad died 34 years ago,” Coniglio said. “And when I told her, ‘Mom, Dad’s been gone,’ she re-lived the loss like (I was) telling her for the first time.”
The support group meets every first and third Thursday of the month at the Neighborhood Center located at 4 Nelson Avenue. Meetings are held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and are free to attend.
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