7M People in U.S. Living with Alzheimer’s 2X As Many Family & Friends Are Providing Care But There's' Hope
Release Date: 04/04/2024
I Had ‘Hydrangea Envy’ This Year: Best in 20 Years Says Queen Of Hydrangeas
The Debbie Nigro Show
I’ve always admired hydrangea flowers but this year I was obsessed! I was slamming on my brakes and jumping out of my car just to take pictures of ‘other people’s hydrangeas’! It’s not like I'd never seen hydrangeas before. It’s just that this year for some reason they just seemed more beautiful than I ever remember. I wanted to share in the hydrangea joy, so I went and bought a pretty blue hydrangea plant at Home Depot. I think it died in the car on the way home. I planted other pretty flowers that actually lived, but sadly not that one. I was bummed. ...
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My Blind Summer College Intern Does ‘Live’ Reports on Technology Helping Those with Disabilities
The Debbie Nigro Show
Kathleen Masciana is my summer college intern. She’s a sweet and smart college gal with an impressive list of credits. She insists on calling me Miss Nigro. I keep telling her to call me Debbie. Kathleen who is blind, aspires to be a radio and podcast talk show host. She posted her first attempt at hosting a talk show on YouTube on ‘BTGS Radio’ on Stationhead.com. 'BTGS Radio' stands for Blind Techie Geek Speaks. Kathleen’s a self-proclaimed technology geek. That’s what she loves reading about, thinking about, learning about. So I gave Kathleen an important job to fulfill her...
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At ‘89’ This Guy Took a 19 Day 11-Flight Trip Alone Then Gave a Workshop on The Blue Zones
The Debbie Nigro Show
Talk About Risk It! Or Regret It!... After reading one of my email newsletters (they’re free btw at DebbieNigro.com) where my headline was my question “What are you going to do with TODAY?” James (Jim) Flaherty a subscriber replied to my email: “About to leave (Mon Morning) for a 19 day 11-flight trip, visiting Flagstaff, AZ; Las Cruces, NM; and Houston and San Antonio before landing in the Baja of Mexico to teach a Modern Elder Workshop on THE BLUE ZONES, where there are more centenarians than anywhere else in the world. Trust you are well. Good column today. ...
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Missed ol’ pal Adrienne Lopez Now Sr. Talent Producer at The Tamron Hall Show
The Debbie Nigro Show
Was missing my ol’ belly laugh pal TV Producer Adrienne Lopez. She used to live close by me but moved, and moved on to traveling for work. Hadn’t seen her in person since before Covid. Happened to a lot of friendships. Can’t remember exactly how we originally became friends, but I think it started way back when 5000 years ago when she once booked me on a TV show. Adrienne’s been in the tv & film business a long time. She’s a veteran television producer and talent executive. She’s been a casting director/producer in all tv genres including, reality tv, docu-series, and...
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Heard About The Nanny’s of Disney? They’re not just for the rich and famous!
The Debbie Nigro Show
“Super Nanny’ Shannon Albrecht is the creator and President of President/Nanny-Land®️, LLC, the world’s only company specializing in Nannies at Disney! Located at most Disney locations worldwide, and available on Disney cruise Lines they provide you with a Magical Nanny for your Family Adventures! Shannon joined The Debbie Nigro Show to share that most of her clients are simply families who could use an extra set of hands when they take a Disney Adventure. Typical families who book with her might have 3 or 4 kids, a child with special needs, or...
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Giving Writers The Keys To the Castle In Italy
The Debbie Nigro Show
Have you heard about The Key to The Castle workshops for writers? The next one is taking place in Torre di Cittara, Italy from October 19th to 26th this year. Kathy Curto, Patricia Dunn, William Papaleo and Angela Derecas Taylor are behind this. It's their signature workshop on the Amalfi Coast but they offer workshops for writers, artists and yoga enthusiasts both online, locally in the NY area and in other cool places abroad. I found about this when ran into Angela at a writer’s event. I’d known her from her days working in the mayor’s office in my city. When she retired 2...
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Vinnie Groppa Does Not Call Himself ‘Pool Artist to The Stars’ - I Do
The Debbie Nigro Show
Let’s just say if I was building or renovating a pool I’d call Vinnie Groppa. And for the record yes, stars do call him, but so do very regular people who still get the same star treatment! Humble guy that Vinnie. Great sense of humor. Really nice human and super creative pool and backyard design visionary. I wanted to give Vinnie his own star treatment, so I invited him into the studio to tell the great entrepreneurial story of his family’s 50-year-old pool business Gunite Pools of Westchester. It’s a good one. And a story that's entering a new chapter... 'expansion'. ...
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James Bond Of Lifeguards Has Answer to National Lifeguard Shortage
The Debbie Nigro Show
We have an ongoing national lifeguard shortage. This is not good. This poses a significant risk to water safety in communities for the 3rd year. American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has launched a crucial initiative. and Wyatt Werneth their spokesperson, who’s like the Jame Bond of Lifeguards, is making headlines highlighting a crucial reality: "Professional lifeguards, the dedicated guardians of our waterways, are deserving of both acknowledgment and compensation that mirror the critical nature of their work.” The ALA is calling...
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Nuttin' Like A Blast of Hot Weather To Agitate Women Who Are Going Through the 'HOT' Phase.
The Debbie Nigro Show
There's nuttin' like a blast of hot ‘clothes shedding weather’ to make some people realize they wish they were in better shape. LOL If you’re a woman in your HOT phase of life this seaons hot weather shock can be even more uncomfortable. However, you can turn things around in just 30 days and feel a whole lot better if you listen to my Nutritionist pal Jacqui Justice. Jacqui is one passionate nutritionist! She’s the OG of ‘Talkin’ Menopause’ and was talking about it when nobody else was. She’s been a pioneer in the space trying to help her fellow...
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Aimee Hofmann paralyzed at 30 by a horrible disease, uses her wheelchair and paintbrushes to create amazing works of art.
The Debbie Nigro Show
Needless to say Aimee Hofmann is an INSPIRATION to many! At 30, she suffered from the neurological condition, Transverse Myelitis, an inflammation in the spinal cord that caused complete paralysis from level T10 of the spine. After learning she would never walk again, art gave her peace during the difficult stages of loss, grief, self-reflection, and re-discovery. Art helped her emotionally heal, as well as find joy again. Throughout the years that followed, while facing a new life with a disability, Aimee created a number of collections. Her works featured...
info_outlineSeven Million People Are Living with Alzheimer’s Disease in the US. 80,000 in CT alone & twice as many unpaid family members and friends are providing their care. But the money being raised is making a difference.
Nobody signs up for a brain disorder that gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s is a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills. These changes completely affect somebody's ability to function.
The bad news is the number of people with Alzheimer’s is increasing, but the good news is there are real advancements in treatment. These advancements are being made possible by the continued donations to this cause.
There’s a big gala benefit coming up in April in Greenwich CT (where I do my live show from) that hopes to help families in this dementia journey.
I invited Tim & Kelly Helstein the Chairs of The Alzheimer’s Association upcoming ‘Celebrating Hope Gala’ being held April 26th at the Delamar Greenwich Harbor in in Greenwich CT, to explain where the money raised goes to. They’ve been caregivers and know how hard it is.
Tim whose mom passed from Alzheimer’s shared; “My mother's life ended way too soon and no sot only is it something that Kelly and I are doing to honor my mother through this but also to help educate and care and prevent the future generations from having to go through what my family, what my father, what Kelly and I have had to go through. You know, we spend our days telling stories to our kids who love it. In the morning, they always say, you know, tell us a new story about Nanny. Tell us a story that was really funny.”
“It's because she can't share it herself. So really what Celebrating Hope is about is not only bringing awareness and celebrating all those who have moved on because of Alzheimer’s, but also celebrating the hope that we can change this, that tomorrow is a new day, that tomorrow the sun rises and there will be what we call a white flower, the first person who has overcome and has been cured from Alzheimer's. And science has been doing so much and the doctors and the FDA, and so we're excited to see what tomorrow does hold but it's going to be a gathering for all of us to really celebrate that hope.”
Kelly Helstein, Tim’s wife shared; “Like Tim said you know we have three young kids and they are missing their grandmother so much and that’s a good background story about why we're involved, but also I want to point out that it's just a great way to honor those who are struggling with the disease. You know, that's the first reason we stepped into this role, but also it's giving us a platform to raise awareness and funds to support research and almost just empower others who are going through the same experience just to link arm in arm and say, us too, and just share our story with them and they share it with others and just create awareness all around.”
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
Kristen Cusato, the Director of Communication for the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter & New England Research Champion also joined the show. She discussed the risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease and emphasized the importance of lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk.
Kristin also shared there are real advancements in treatment and that the availability of these treatments can change the course of the disease.
The powerful CT chapter offers 24/7 support for the public, healthcare professionals and caregivers. This chapter has influenced public policy changes and provided support to Alzheimer’s and dementia research in the hope of finding a cure.
There are many fundraising events held around the country to support Alzheimer's research and awareness. And the money is really making a difference. I encourage you to participate and support Alzheimer's research and awareness efforts.
The 11th Annual ‘Celebrating Hope Gala’ is being held in Greenwich, CT April 26th.
Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.
The Debbie Nigro Show on WGCH Radio. If you want to catch the show it airs Weekdays 11-12noon ET in the NY/CT area on 1490 on the dial. But you can listen from anywhere, just hit the ‘Listen Live’ button on WGCH.com. Catch the podcasts of interviews after on DebbieNigro.com