THE NORTON FAMILY. When Brian and Amy Norton married in 1995, they never dreamed they would have an incredibly difficult journey ahead of them. In March of 2013, at the age of 43, Amy was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. By 2015, she was no longer able to speak coherently and needed in-home caregivers to help her manage many activities of daily living. Amy passed away in 2018, but the Norton Family is grateful for the comprehensive care they received through the Memory Care Program, which offers long-term treatment and support for patients—and their caregivers—that evolves as the disease progresses.
WILLIAM AND SHEILA KONAR. William “Bill” Konar and his family knew something wasn’t right when he became confused with directions when driving and experienced difficulty with simple math. Bill was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2000 and the disease changed everything in his life. His wife, Sheila, became a caregiver, and they became philanthropists to help other families facing the disease. This included creating an endowed professorship to support research for the treatment and prevention of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Bill passed away in 2015, but Sheila remains committed to fighting the disease.
WENDY AND DAVID DWORKIN. Growing up, Wendy Dworkin’s mom, Barbara, did it all. She took care of her family, helped with her husband’s business, held fundraising events, and was known for having a mind like a steel trap. In 2008, she began forgetting things. Her personality and behavior changed and she was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Today, thanks to an assessment and adjustment of her medications by Dr. Anton Porsteinsson, her symptoms have lessened and her relationships with family and friends have improved. Grateful to Dr. Porsteinsson, Wendy and her husband, David, have become advocates for URMC’s AD-CARE program.