Over a year ago, Divine Home Care Services’ marketing team started defining the characteristics and scope of the Bosque County Alzheimer’s Expo. The goal was to organize a one-day event that would showcase all resources available for those affected by this growing disease. We partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association of Waco, Goodall Witcher Hospital and the Lutheran Sunset Ministries and successfully delivered the first Bosque County Alzheimer’s Expo at the Clifton Civic Center in March of 2023.

The experience prompted us to replicate the program in Waco and surrounding communities and the McLennan County Alzheimer’s Expo was born. This time, we partnered with the Heart of Texas Area Agency on Aging, Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Internal Medicine and Senior Health Center, Rainey & Rainey Attorneys at Law and the Alzheimer’s Association of Waco. We were also very fortunate to count with the Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Robinson as our hosting partner, as well as with the generous support of Extraco Banks.

The event was held on September 12th, 2023 from 10am to 2pm and included five breakout sessions, three one-on-one consultation stations, two dementia simulation sessions, one Matter of Balance demonstration, and a panel discussion featuring a physician, a diagnosed patient, a nurse, a caregiver, and a social worker, all professionally and personally touched by the disease. All this in addition to the actual Expo where over 30 vendors and organizations showcased a wide variety of resources for patients, caregivers, loved ones and more.

The McLennan County Alzheimer’s Expo was a success. Feedback from attendees, whether guests, participants or volunteers, was both positive and enthusiastic. Many have already started committing their participation and assistance for next year’s edition, initially scheduled for October 1, 2024. Before that, however, we have already started the organization of the Bell County Alzheimer’s Expo to be held next Spring. Stay tuned.