Leeza's Place

Joyce Kennedy
Leeza Care Advocate
The HF Leeza’s Place of Melbourne, FL
jkennedy@leezasplace.org

Joyce Kennedy is the Leeza Care Advocate for the Memory Foundation's second Leeza's Place in Melbourne, Florida. An advocate for individuals suffering from the challenges of Alzheimer's disease and other debilitating illnesses, she is a true agent for change who combines healthcare and hospital experience with a passion for helping others.

Prior to joining the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, she held the role of Manager Volunteer Services and Patient Care Volunteer Coordinator with Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. More recently, she was granted the opportunity to act as Quality of Life Patient Advocate and Primary Caregiver for an elderly adult who suffered from serious illness and health complications.

In her former positions with Children's National Medical Center, she oversaw day-to-day operations of volunteer services with emphasis on volunteer programming, recruitment, development, public relations/community awareness, supervision and hospital support. During her 5-year tenure with Children's National Medical Center she was responsible for public relations efforts and onsite functions with numerous political figures, foreign and local dignitaries, celebrities and performing artists. During this time, she received the unique honor of being selected to provide a complete hospital public relations tour to Mohammad Ali.

Joyce was pivotal in expanding the hospital's summer college internship program to include year-round admissions, which resulted in volunteer enrollment growth that filled over 100 daytime positions. She marketed the program to colleges and universities to gain approval for academic credit and significantly expanded training programs for volunteers to improve accessibility to the program.

Prior to her career in the healthcare field, Joyce held other notable roles with the Washington Business School in Vienna, Virginia, and as an Elementary Teacher of grades first through third with Montgomery County Public Schools. With the Washington Business School she held several positions which led to her title of Director of Admissions.

A consistent theme that runs throughout Joyce's career is commitment to the community. For the past year she has been Chairwoman, and past two years an active member, of the Health First Women's Healthcare Advisory Council for Holmes Regional Medical Center/Palm Bay Community Hospital. In her roles on the Council, she serves as an ambassador for the women's health services and programs of both hospitals.

She has completed graduated studies toward an MS in Education and holds a BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland. Her formal education is complemented by Home Health Update and Nursing Assistant training with the American Red Cross.


The Health First Leeza's Place of Melbourne, FL
HEALTH FIRST LEEZA’S PLACE 3661 Babcock Street, Melbourne, Fl 32901 T 321.951.7118 F 321.951.7280
Leeza’s Place is “A Place for Caregivers”, a community gathering place and resource center for caregivers impacted by chronic or progressive illness.We support all families by connecting caregivers to one another, and by offering individual guidance, information and referrals, as well as a calendar full of programs designed to Educate, Empower & Energize.
APRIL 2010 Download Calendar of Events >> April 29 2004-2010 HAPPY 6th ANNIVERSARY, LEEZA’S PLACE! April 4 (Easter Sunday) 11:00 a.m. Leeza’s Place Easter Dine Out Brunch Let’s Get Together for waterfront dining on the beautiful Indian River Lagoon at River Rocks Restaurant on Highway US 1 Rockledge. Please call Leeza’s Place for more information. April 7 (Wednesday) 11:00 a.m. Progressive Muscle Relaxation *The Three R’s* with Judy Busch You deserve a break today so please join us as Judy Busch helps us unwind from the stresses of caregiving and your daily busy routines with an hour of guided relaxation movements that will have you feeling relaxed, energized and breathing a little easier. *Reduce your Anxiety, Relax your Mind and Body and* *Renew your Spirit!* Judy’s session will be followed by a light lunch. RSVP 951-7118 April 8 (Thursday) 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Caregiving and Anger “Anger can be another natural reaction to the seeming cruelty and injustice of Alzheimer’s disease, but still an unhealthy one that risks doing more harm than good and can add insult to injury by making caregivers feel guilty for the anger they feel.” Learn to understand how anger may be affecting you and learn new ways to deal with it healthfully. Presented by Farah Sivolella, Director, ECF Memory Disorder Clinic. RSVP 951-7118 April 14 (Thursday) 10:30 a.m. Alzheimer’s Disease: A Family Affair Presented by Farah Sivolella Caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or a related memory disorder impacts the entire family. Learn ways to survive caregiving as a family and develop an action plan which enlists help from family members or friends whenever possible. Learn how to be careful of the trap called... “It’s probably easiest if I do it myself.” RSVP April 15 (Thursday) 11:00 a.m. Finding Care Outside the Home: Knowing When, Deciding Where “Placement in a care facility is not a failure. It is the only way to ensure that someone gets 24-hour care.” Presented by Kelly Penland-Holmes, Admission Director, Indian River Center, a Long-Term Care/Rehabilitation Facility in Melbourne. Kelly will also discuss financing the cost of care. RSVP April 17 (Saturday) 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Crop to Give ~ *having fun and raising funds* for Leeza’s Place~ an education, resource and support center for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. Please join us for a 12-hour ‘croppin’ round the clock’ good time! The $35.00 registration fee includes lunch and dinner, hourly giveaways, door prizes, raffles, and so much more! 100% of proceeds benefits Leeza’s Place. Please call Sue Coates to reserve your table. 951-7118. April 21 (Wednesday) 10:30 a.m. Estate Planning 101 Dale Dettmer, Attorney with Krasny & Dettmer, P.A. will present basic Estate Planning Information to include fundamentals and documents every estate plan should have. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of Brevard's most well-known Estate Planning Attorneys! RSVP April 21 (Wednesday) 10:30 a.m. Next Steps after Diagnosis Presented by Farah Sivolella, Director, East Central Florida Memory Disorder Clinic A family member just received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and now you are wondering what you need to do next. This class will provide an overview of the next steps on how to move forward after diagnosis. The class is geared for the new family caregiver and is intended to be an hour in length. RSVP 951-7118 April 21 (Wednesday) 11:30 a.m. Driving and Dementia: Balancing Independence and Safety With a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, driving can become an issue for both the family member and the person with memory loss. Learn new ways to deal with driving and dementia with Farah Sivoella, Director, ECF Memory Clinic. RSVP April 22 (Thursday) 10:00 a.m. Caution! Caregiving in Progress: Avoiding Physical Injury Caregiving can be a hazard to your health! Please enter our Safety Zone on the 23rd as Dr. Rosemary Laird shares her tips on specific areas of improvement caregivers should strive for when they’re responsible for the physical care of a loved one. Dr. Laird is the Medical Director Health First Aging Institute and Co-Author of “Take Your Oxygen First” RSVP 951-7118 April 27 (Tuesday) 10:30 a.m. ASK ROCHELLE…The Expert Is In the Building! Our community expert, Rochelle Baldwin-Newman, visits Leeza’s Place each month to answer your questions or address concerns you may have while caring for a loved one with memory loss. Please join us for an informal Q and A session designed for caregivers dealing with the challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders. Rochelle, is the Executive Director of Clare Bridge Brookdale Senior Living, ~ a community dedicated to the special needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. April 27 (Tuesday) 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Caregiver Café New to Brevard County! For caregivers feeling overwhelmed and overstressed from meeting caregiver demands while coping with chronic debilitating diseases that are distressing their loved one...You Are Not Alone. You deserve help, too. Take a break for an evening at the CAREGIVER CAFÉ and enjoy the company of other caregivers and health professionals who understand your challenges while dining and relaxing in an atmosphere filled with emotional support. Sponsors of the Caregiver’s Café are Joe’s Club, Leeza’s Place and Legacy Harbor. This month’s Caregiver’s Café will be held at One SENIOR Place, Spyglass Hill Road in Viera and dinner will be provided by Autumn House ~ “A Caring Community for People with Alzheimer’s Disease. For more information, or to make a reservation to nourish your spirit at no charge, please call Leeza’s Place at 951-7118. April 28 (Wednesday) 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Caregiving 101: How to Survive Being a Caregiver Good caregiving is a tremendous challenge and caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorder is a life changing experience. Many of us find ourselves in this unexpected role with little or no training. Please join us for Farah Sivolella’s Crash Course on how to adapt to your new role as a caregiver by understanding some of the emotions and stages of caregiving. RSVP April 28 (Wednesday) 11:00 a.m. Alzheimer’s Disease ~ How to keep the symptoms from worsening “ In the next 24 hours, another 1,000 people in the United States will learn they have Alzheimer’s disease, and another 1,000 times the same question will be asked: “What can be done about it, Doctor?” Dr. Visa will address this question and take a look at the best treatments from Modern Medicine, lifestyle benefits for the diagnosed and the importance of the human element of interaction from caregivers, family members and friends. V. (Dr. Visa) Srinivasan, MD is Board Certified in Geriatric and Internal Medicine. Her practice is located at the Health First Aging Institute. RSVP 951-7118 April 29 (Thursday) 10:00 a.m. Legal Considerations Before a Crisis Occurs … *Perhaps you haven’t thought of* Steps I need to take before my loved one loses capacity and why: Specific legal terms from state to state: Health care decisions, financial affairs, property assets…is one Durable Power of Attorney enough? Avoiding guardianship…the advantages of completing legal planning early in the progression of the disease: Second marriages? Blended families?...Now What?? These are just a few of the complicated legal issues Elder Law Attorney, Kurt Weiss, will address and answer. Mr. Weiss practices Elder Law at the Law Firm of Betten, Murphy & Weiss Attorneys in Melbourne. RSVP 951-7118 ONGOING EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS “Caregiver to Caregiver” Support Group every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. facilitated by Joyce Kennedy, Leeza Care Advocate, Health First Leeza’s Place ~ for caregivers caring for someone with memory loss. Moving towards resilient living through Education Empowerment Energy Companionship and supervision provided for your loved ones during our Support Group by our Leeza’s Place volunteers. Sit and Fit* (chair-based) Exercise Class for caregivers and loved ones held every Wednesday 2:00 p.m. Led by Joe Cataldo, Certified Fitness Instructor with The Fountains Kisco Senior Living Community. Joe is also certified in balance and stability for individuals over 50 and American Red Cross, CPR and First Aid certified. This dynamic fitness class is designed to increase strength and improve flexibility while enhancing balance and reducing falls and encourages socialization. Survivor Support Services Programs focusing on different stages of the grief process are offered for survivors dealing with the loss of a loved one. Please call (321) 952-0494 for information on the Bereavement Support Groups sponsored by Hospice of Health First. Stroke Support Group the 3rd Wednesday (April 21) of every month at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Led by Stacey Westphal, RN, MS, CEN, Health First Stroke Center Coordinator ~ for caregivers and stroke survivors. “Empowered Caregivers” Support Group every Thursday at 11:00 a.m., led by Meg Rayder, MSW, Social Worker, Health First Aging Institute. Meg’s group allows caregivers caring for someone with memory loss to share the journey with those who understand what they are going through. This group meets once a week and includes group discussions, education, and encouragement. Respite Care for your recently diagnosed loved one is provided by our volunteers at Leeza's Place during Meg’s support group. William A. Johnson, P.A., Elder Law Attorney, Wednesday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. will discuss “Medicaid Planning” opportunities available under new Medicaid laws, including legal and financial strategies that can help preserve your assets from nursing home costs. RSVP 951-7118 Making Memories in Melbourne ~ our weekly workshop on Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to assist you in preserving your family history and memories in a social setting with other caregivers and loved ones. Our volunteer instructors, Nancy Graebonhurst and Elaine Herron are on hand each week to help you creatively save those family photos and treasured memories in an artistic and attractive way. HEALTH FIRST DEMENTIA SPECIFIC CARE RESOURCES The Health First Aging Institute, a comprehensive patient-centered resource, represents a multidisciplinary team approach to elder care. With locations on Merritt Island and in Melbourne, the Aging Institute’s healthcare team is directed by Rosemary Laird, MD, a specialty fellowship-trained, board-certified Geriatrician and includes Visa Srinivasan, MD (Dr. Visa), – fellowship-trained, board-certified Geriatrician. Contact numbers for the two locations are: Medical Director, Rosemary Laird, MD, Geriatrics, call 727-9764 Visa Srinivasan, MD Geriatrics, Babcock Center, 3661 South Babcock Street, 2nd floor, Melbourne, 727-3370 And Aging Institute Merritt Island 220 S. Courtenay Parkway, Suite B, Merritt Island, call 868-5815. Health First Leeza’s Place, an affiliated program of the Aging Institute and signature program of The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, is an education, resource and support center for caregivers and loved ones facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders ~ offering programs that Educate, Empower and Energize families. For more information, please call 951-7118. East Central Florida Memory Disorder Clinic, 3661 South Babcock Street, As one of the fifteen state funded memory disorder clinics, the ECFMDC partners with the Health First Aging Institute and Florida Institute of Technology School of Psychology to provide the first step of identifying and evaluating memory loss through a comprehensive medical memory evaluation. Free memory screenings are also available although will not provide a diagnosis. Call 768-9575 to make an appointment. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Keeping Your Loved One Healthy, Safe, and Monitored Health First Home Care-434-7300 Health First Private Duty-868-8310 CST-Critical Signals Technologies-Emergency Medical Alert Systems-868-5809 IndeQuest Nurse Case Management ~ navigating your entire healthcare needs 453-7100 ElderCARE is now available: www.eldercare.health-first.org Eldercare, brought to you by the Health First Aging Institute, is a free online information, referral and care coordination resource for older adults and those who care about them. Introducing Our 2010 Advisory Board Kathy Durham Jo Ann Fisher Michael Gall Beth Glover Henry Goode William Johnson Elizabeth Kelly Audrey Lopez Rochelle Baldwin-Newman Debbie Pavlakos Don Spalding Janet Steiner Donna Sullivan John Trieste Brenda VanAntwerp Beverley Squire-Wiggins As we focus on our two major goals for this year ~ Program Expansion and our Annual Memory Fundraiser ~ On behalf of our families, volunteers and staff, Thank You Board members for your support of Leeza’s Place!