On-site collaborators at the Memory Hub are organizations and people who care deeply about building a world in which people live well with memory loss – and who want to bring that vision to life, while working alongside others who share their passion. Learn more about Memory Hub on-site collaborators!
The UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (Memory Hub Founding Organization) promotes the well-being of people with memory loss and their families through exceptional care, innovative research, and community transformation. With its signature strengths-based approach, the MBWC helps people with memory loss engage their potential, adapt and live well with memory loss. By founding and operating the Memory Hub as a place for dementia-friendly community, collaboration and impact, the MBWC aims to redefine what it means to live with memory loss, in alignment with its partners. MBWC offers support, education and engagement programming on-site at the Memory Hub.
Who's Who from the Memory and Brain Wellness Center
Marigrace Becker is the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center’s Program Manager for Community Education and Impact and director of the new Memory Hub. She is passionate about building dementia-friendly communities and excited to see the way the Memory Hub will create new opportunities for collaboration and innovation. In her spare time, she enjoys running, bringing people together, and celebrating whenever possible.
Kris Rhoads is a neuropsychologist at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center and founding member of the Memory Hub. He is most excited about partnering with people and families around making positive changes to live well with memory loss and is grateful to be able to take this work to the collaborative space that is the Memory Hub. In Kris' spare time, his world mainly revolves around his wife and daughter, their Chocolate Lab (Mango), and his community of fellow (mostly middle-aged) rock climbers.
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Deb Cayz is Operations Lead for the Memory Hub. Her role entails managing daily operations for the Memory Hub community ensuring a welcoming vibrant space, with systems fully functioning and always improving so that program, services and events meet their objectives to educate, engage, support and celebrate.
Katie Zeitler is the Program Manager for Dementia Friends Washington. As the Program Manager, I will manage and continue to support the expansion of the Dementia Friends program throughout Washington state, working with leads in each county and tribe to bring on new Dementia Friends and Dementia Friends Champions. She enjoys meditation, rock climbing, hiking, painting, drawing cartoons, reading, and FaceTiming with her family.
Samantha Lafontaine is the Program Manager for ECHO Dementia. She is responsible for program implementation, including continuing medical education (CME) credit, and continuing developing community partnerships. She loves working within her local community; with a focus on organizations working within healthcare and animals.
Genevieve Wanucha is the communications specialist for the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center and the Memory Hub, who creates newsletters and manages the websites. At the Memory Hub, she is also the project lead of Maude’s Garden and coordinates the memory garden volunteers, communications, and planting. Genevieve is a mother and a botanical artist who works in watercolor and colored pencil.
For more than 10 years, the Frye Art Museum (Memory Hub Founding Partner) has offered Creative Aging programs for adults to engage in creative lifelong learning. Programs explore the rich potential of aging and offer opportunities to impact the community’s health and wellbeing. A founding partner, the Frye Art Museum welcomed the Memory Hub to operate on its campus and provided key support for its success. At the Memory Hub, the Frye Art Museum co-sponsors the monthly Alzheimer’s Café event, among other activities.
Who's Who from the Frye Art Museum
Lea Lovelace. Photo: Parker Deen
Lea Lovelace is the Associate Director of Creative Aging Programs at the Frye Art Museum. She helps facilitate the Alzheimer's Cafe at the Memory Hub as well as a host of dementia-friendly programs at The Frye. Lea's work is informed by two decades of experience in art education particularly serving aging populations. She's served as a teaching artist in senior living homes, community centers, museums and libraries, and an arts administrator in museums, arts organizations, and even a folk-art school. Lea has a passion for arts-based learning, community engagement and heart-centered work. The collaborative and empowering atmosphere of the Memory Hub and their partnership with the Frye Art Museum played a big part toward inspiring Lea's move from Iowa to Seattle for this position! Lea is a mother of two children and two dogs and in her spare time, loves exploring the beautiful landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
Formed in 1980, the Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. At the Memory Hub, the Alzheimer’s Association “Memory Navigator” care consultant will provide drop-in support 2 days per week during public hours. People with memory loss and their loved ones can meet with the Memory Navigator for information and resources, a consultation around care options and future planning, program referrals, and educational resources. The Alzheimer’s Association also co-sponsors the weekly Wellness Wednesdays webinar series at the Memory Hub and offers additional support and educational programs.
Who's Who from the Alzheimer's Association
Erica Farrell, Senior Clinical Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association / Memory Navigator consultant
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Erica Farrell is the Senior Clinical Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association. At the Memory Hub, she works as a Memory Navigator with families and individuals who are experiencing memory loss by providing consultations and resources. Erica is excited to be a collaborator within the Memory Hub as we work to create a community of dementia related programs and services.
Steve Wilson is a Care Consultant for the Alzheimer’s Association. At the Memory Hub, he helps people with memory loss and care partners get connected to helpful resources for via free in-person, phone, or virtual consults. Steve has worked as a music therapist in long term care homes in many different locations. He appreciates being a part of the Memory Hub community because of all the conversations and connections that happen in this collaborative environment. Serving people at the Memory Hub also means he can connect families to a wide array of engagement, education, and support opportunities. Outside of work, Steve enjoys playing strategy games and being in nature.
Founded in 1997, Elderwise creates space for adults to age well through their adult day program, outreach programs, and special events held around the Puget Sound. Elderwise invites adults living with memory loss to creatively and meaningfully engage with each other through art, discussion, movement, and shared meals. At the Memory Hub, Elderwise offers their renowned arts-based adult day program 2 days per week. Visit: Elderwise Day Program.
Who's Who from Elderwise
Annie Koziol has worked with Elderwise for many years and is now the Director. She looks forward to the incredible opportunity of collaborating with the dementia-friendly organizations coming together at the Memory Hub. In her spare time, she gardens and has fun with her children, grandchild, and friends.
Sandy Sabersky is co-founder and board chair of Elderwise and is co-author of The Elderwise Way: A Different Approach to Life with Dementia. She is looking forward to in-person meetings again and being in community with participants in the Elderwise day program. Sandy is happy to be a part of the Memory Hub team. Sandy enjoys being out in nature.
Janet Salsbury discovered her love of working with seniors while getting her Masters of Social Work at UW. Her first job in social work was discharge planning at a skilled nursing facility. She then worked with low-income seniors in independent living and as a contract social worker with a local senior village. Prior to geriatric and medical social work, Janet dabbled in residential landscape design after graduating from the UW Dept of Landscape Architecture. She is thrilled to be a part of the Elderwise and UW Memory Hub community that supports people with dementia and their families and friends.
Full Life Care is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic illness and disabilities and supporting caregivers. Since the 1970s, they have helped thousands of individuals preserve their dignity, maintain their independence, and stay engaged in the community. They are a multifaceted organization with a range of programs throughout the Puget Sound, from homecare to adult day health services. At the Memory Hub, Full Life Care provides dementia caregiver education, offering their evidence-based STAR-Full Life course. Visit: Dementia Training for Family Caregivers
Who's Who from Fill Life Care
Tegenu Negi is the Training and Outreach Specialist at Full Life Care. He is excited to provide the evidence-based STAR-Full Life Care dementia training for family and in-home caregivers. He sees being involved at the Memory Hub as a great opportunity to collaborate with other programs and expand services to communities. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, gardening, and playing ground tennis.
Rena Ferretti is the Director of Community Programs at Full Life Care and enjoys bringing people together to make the world a better place. She has worked in the dementia community as a support group facilitator for over a decade and holds dear the relationships that have developed over that time. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and fly fishing.
