Check out some great upcoming events + research, a recipe & more! 💜
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Dementia News + Notes | Aug. 2026
💬 A Message from Sara
Dear RCC friends,
At Respite Care Charleston, we know supporting families living with dementia means continually looking for new ways to help caregivers learn and connect. That’s why we’re working to bring even more high-quality educational programs, meaningful experiences, and opportunities for connection to our community and our RCC family of caregivers. We have several exciting (and free) programs and events coming up, and I encourage you to check them out below and mark your calendar.
One event I’m especially excited about is our September Care Compass featuring world-renowned expert Jacobo Mintzer, M.D., MBA, whose work spans geriatrics, neuroscience, psychiatry, and the use of music to support brain health and well-being. His presentation, Music on Our Minds, will explore the powerful ways music can stimulate the brain and its potential role in dementia care. You can watch his TedX Talk from several years ago here. Dr. Mintzer promises to provide an inspiring and thought-provoking evening, and I hope you’ll join us.
Take care,
Sara Sara E. Perry Executive Director, Respite Care Charleston
🌟 RCC Spotlight: Jeff Clements
Jeff, known affectionately as "Jeffro" to all his RCC friends, has been volunteering with RCC's half-day memory program on James Island for over eight years.
Always in one of his signature Hawaiian shirts, Jeff brings joy to every room with a smile and a kind word. 🌴 Jeff shares, "The people here are so wonderful. I am so grateful because I feel I receive more from volunteering at the program than I give."
He makes sure our hummingbirds on James Island are well fed and recently donated a new feeder because our members love watching them flit outside the window. We are so grateful for Jeff, and RCC would not be the same without him! 💜 If you know anyone who might like to become a volunteer for RCC, please send them to our volunteer registration page here.
📆 Upcoming Events + Dates to Remember
Aug. 18 - Understanding the GUIDE Model: A Resource for Dementia Caregivers (Hosted by the SC Dept. on Aging)
Aug. 20 - Care Compass: "Dealing with Daily Dementia Challenges," Session 2 📍Waring Senior Center (West Ashley) ✏️ Learn more or register here.
Sept. 7 - Labor Day - All RCC programs operate on normal schedule.
Sept. 15 - Caregivers Reading Room book club with author Raphael James "I Don't Want to Talk About It: A Journalist's Essays on Autism, Dementia, Religion, and God" 7:00 - 8:30 pm on Zoom ✏️ Learn more or registerhere.
Sept. 17 - Care Compass: "Music on Our Minds: The Rich Potential of Music to Promote Brain Health and Mental Well-Being" Presented by Dr. Jacobo Mintzer (See flyer below) - 7:30 pm 📍Location: Martin Luther Lutheran Church, James Island ✏️ See flyer below for more information.
Sept. 28 - 22nd Annual MORE.GOOD.DAYS. Golf Tournament Only a few player spots left! 📍Location: Seabrook Island Club Information here Thanks to our title sponsors, Seafields at Kiawah by Bishop Gadsden and Seabrook Real Estate. ⛳
Nov. 12 - Care Compass: "Creating Dementia-Friendly Holidays"
📖 What We're Reading, Listening to, and Learning from: Neal Shah, "America's Chief Elder Officer"
Neal K. Shah is an NIH-funded caregiving researcher and the CEO of a health tech startup called CareYaya. He discusses topics relevant to seniors and caregivers. In a recent social media post, he talked about the benefits of doing simple daily tasks, like brushing your teeth, with your non-dominant hand. Research indicates this can increase communication between parts of the brain and boost neuroplasticity, which is the brain's natural ability to change, grow, and form new neural connections.
FDA approves At-Home Leqembi injection for early Alzheimer’s. Read more here.
THC/CBD combo shown to reduce agitation in advanced Alzheimer’s. Read more here.
Could a popular sports supplement boost brain health and cognition? Read about it here.
😫 Tips for Beating Stress
It may be hard to believe, but one in three American adults serves as a caregiver. With the role can come chronic stress and both physical and mental exhaustion.
Check out this article from Mayo Clinic to learn about burnout warning signs and tips for taking care of yourself while you're taking care of someone else. You can also learn about RCC's free caregiver support groups here.
🥗 MIND Diet-Inspired Recipe from RCC Brain Boost Summer Crunch Salad
This brain-healthy MIND Diet-inspired salad is packed with nutrition and will help you beat the heat in the dog days of a Charleston summer!
Crunchy walnuts, cranberries and green, leafy vegetables make this meal a brain health winner!
🧠 Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids shown to support memory. 💡 Cranberries are high in flavonoids, which may improve cognitive performance 🥬 Greens are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate and beta-carotene.
Ingredients
12 ounces cooked chicken, diced (about 1½ cups)
1 head lettuce, chopped, or 5–6 cups mixed greens (dark leafy is best for brain health)
1 pear or apple, thinly sliced
1 cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup vinaigrette dressing (your favorite variety using olive oil)
Directions
Place the chopped lettuce or mixed greens in a large serving bowl.
Top with the diced chicken, sliced pear, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts.
Drizzle with the vinaigrette dressing.
Toss gently until evenly coated and serve immediately.
💜 Caregiver Support Groups Schedule
North Mount Pleasant - 1st + 3rd Monday at All Saints Lutheran
Daniel Island 2nd + 4th Tuesday at Providence Church
James Island - 2nd + 4th Wednesday at Martin Luther Church
Johns Island - 1st + 3rd Thursday at St. John's Episcopal
Mount Pleasant - 2nd + 4th Friday at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian
West Ashley - 2nd + 4th Saturday at Waring Senior Center
All sessions from 10:00 am - noon. No pre-registration is required.
Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover or someone you'd like to shine a spotlight on? We'd love to hear from you! Please email us at info@respitecarecharleston.org.
Would you consider a gift to help us provide
MORE.GOOD. DAYS.?
If RCC has made in difference in your life, the life of a loved one,
or you just believe in our mission and want to help, please consider
making a gift so we can support more families in our community.
