Featured Stories
National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Professor Sandra Vukusic Awarded the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS
NEW YORK, Oct. 6 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news:
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October 5, 2026
Professor Sandra Vukusic Awarded the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS
Sandra Vukusic, MD, PhD, a French neurologist and researcher, is the winner of the 2026 Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS. She is being honored for her work that has transformed the field's understanding of pregnancy, reproductive health, and sex-based treatment differences in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Professor Vukusic played a pivotal role in overturning the long-held belief that pregnancy
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 6 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news:
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October 5, 2026
Professor Sandra Vukusic Awarded the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS
Sandra Vukusic, MD, PhD, a French neurologist and researcher, is the winner of the 2026 Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS. She is being honored for her work that has transformed the field's understanding of pregnancy, reproductive health, and sex-based treatment differences in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Professor Vukusic played a pivotal role in overturning the long-held belief that pregnancynegatively affects the course of MS, helping to redefine approaches to family planning, pregnancy, and treatment decisions.More recently, her research has highlighted disparities in MS care, showing that women of childbearing age are less likely than men of the same age to receive disease modifying therapies, possibly because of unproven concerns about future pregnancy.
Through her pioneering research, Professor Vukusic has helped ensure that women living with MS can make informed decisions about family planning and treatment, fundamentally improving care and quality of life for women around the world.
Professor Vukusic is Professor of Neurology at the University of Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, and Scientific Coordinator of OFSEP (the French MS Registry) - one of the world's largest MS registries and research platforms.
She will receive the award at the joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS Congress in Toronto, Canada later this month.
Read (https://www.rachelhorneprize.com/professor-sandra-vukusic-2026-winner) or listen to a podcast (https://ectrims.eu/podcast/sandra-vukusic-named-2026-rachel-horne-prize-winner/?utm_source=brevo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=30%20Sept%2026%20Rachel%20Horne%20Prize) to learn more about Professor Vukusic's work.
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About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Currently there is no cure. Symptoms vary from person to person and may include disabling fatigue, mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and vision issues. An estimated 1 million people live with MS in the United States. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimize disability. Significant progress is being made to achieve a world free of MS.
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About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National MS Society, founded in 1946, is the global leader of a growing movement dedicated to creating a world free of MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research for a cure, drives change through advocacy and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives. Connect to learn more and get involved: nationalmssociety.org, Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube or 1-800-344-4867.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/2026-rachel-horne-prize
[Category: Health Care]
National Alliance for Care at Home Welcomes Jennifer Stewart as Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Experience
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 6 -- The National Alliance for Care at Home issued the following news release:
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National Alliance for Care at Home Welcomes Jennifer Stewart as Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Experience
10.05.2026
(Alexandria, VA)- The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) today announced that long-time care at home executive Jennifer Stewart will be joining as Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Experience.
Stewart joins the Alliance with over 20 years of experience bringing together the leaders, relationships, and ideas shaping the future of care
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 6 -- The National Alliance for Care at Home issued the following news release:
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National Alliance for Care at Home Welcomes Jennifer Stewart as Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Experience
10.05.2026
(Alexandria, VA)- The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) today announced that long-time care at home executive Jennifer Stewart will be joining as Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Experience.
Stewart joins the Alliance with over 20 years of experience bringing together the leaders, relationships, and ideas shaping the future of careat home. Most recently as Associate Managing Director of Home Care 100 at Lincoln Healthcare Leadership, Stewart led a significant provider recruitment initiative, building relationships with CEOs and senior executives across home-based care, and driving growth for the Home Care 100 events. In her over two decades with Lincoln, she worked across marketing, information systems and executive engagement, helping build Home Care 100 into the executive community that it is today.
Her experience spans brand and audience strategy, CRM and data, operations, and team development. Throughout these different disciplines, Stewart has maintained an understanding of what the care at home community needs most, using cutting-edge data and information to make better decisions and paying close attention to the details that shape the experiences that our sector depends on.
"Jennifer Stewart understands what makes this community work and where it needs to go next," said Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the Alliance. "Her impact will be felt immediately across our membership and experiential priorities, helping us deepen connections, create more meaningful opportunities for our members, and convene the conversations that will define the next chapter of home-based care."
Stewart's connection to care at home began long before her career. Her mother was a pediatric home health and hospice nurse, and Stewart and her family have navigated the healthcare system as patients and caregivers, shaping how she thinks about experience and anchoring her commitment to the people and families that care at home serves.
At the Alliance, Stewart will lead across teams impacting the member experience and ultimately helping the organization achieve its strategic vision, including realizing its five centers of excellence.
"Care at home has been part of my life long before it became my career, and I'm passionate about the impact I will be able to make for patients and families in this role," said Jennifer Stewart. "I'm excited to join the Alliance and help move the industry forward, support our members, and ensure that the entire care at home community has pathways for greater connection. I'm eager to be a part of this growing team and make an impact for our members."
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Learn more about where the Alliance is heading by exploring its Strategic Plan (https://allianceforcareathome.org/about/our-strategic-direction-2026-2029/).
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About the National Alliance for Care at Home
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is the leading authority in advancing care in the home. We envision an America where everyone has access to the highest quality, person-centered healthcare wherever they call home. Through advocacy, education, and convening, we connect providers and stakeholders to strengthen care delivery across the home-based care continuum -- spanning home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home and community-based services. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.
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Original text here: https://allianceforcareathome.org/national-alliance-for-care-at-home-welcomes-jennifer-stewart-as-vice-president-of-strategic-engagement-experience/
[Category: Health Care]
ENA Announces Kansas City as Emergency Nursing 2027 Host City
SCHAUMBURG, Illinois, Oct. 6 -- The Emergency Nurses Association issued the following news:
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ENA Announces Kansas City as Emergency Nursing 2027 Host City
Networking and education conference for emergency and forensic nurses heads to Heart of America
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SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Oct. 5, 2026) -After gathering thousands of nurses for Emergency Nursing 2026 in Phoenix, the Emergency Nurses Association announced it will travel to the Heart of America - Kansas City, Missouri - for next year's annual education and networking conference.
"ENA's annual conferences are an amazing source of education
... Show Full Article
SCHAUMBURG, Illinois, Oct. 6 -- The Emergency Nurses Association issued the following news:
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ENA Announces Kansas City as Emergency Nursing 2027 Host City
Networking and education conference for emergency and forensic nurses heads to Heart of America
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SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Oct. 5, 2026) -After gathering thousands of nurses for Emergency Nursing 2026 in Phoenix, the Emergency Nurses Association announced it will travel to the Heart of America - Kansas City, Missouri - for next year's annual education and networking conference.
"ENA's annual conferences are an amazing source of educationand energy, and what makes them special is the people. This past week in Phoenix was filled with opportunities to reconnect with longtime colleagues, meet new people who represent all facets of emergency and forensic nursing, learn from one another and celebrate the profession we share," said ENA President-elect Chris Parker, MSN, RN, CNL, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, TCRN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, NRP, who will begin his term as president in January. "I'm excited to carry that energy into Kansas City for Emergency Nursing 2027."
Emergency Nursing 2027 will take place Sept. 15-18 at the Kansas City Convention Center in the vibrant downtown near plenty of options for live music, sports, barbecue and more.
The event will draw nurses from around the country and beyond with education and networking sessions for emergency and forensic nurses, educators and researchers. An Experience Hall will include vendors and exhibitors, as well as hands-on activities and networking opportunities.
Sign up to be notified when registration opens and more news about Emergency Nursing 2027 by visiting ena.org/EN27.
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The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 40,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.
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Original text here: https://www.ena.org/news-publications/newsroom/ena-announces-kansas-city-emergency-nursing-2027-host-city-0
[Category: Nursing]
Cancer Quality Expert Daniel Boffa, MD, FACS, Named Chair of ACS Commission on Cancer
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 6 -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
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Cancer Quality Expert Daniel Boffa, MD, FACS, Named Chair of ACS Commission on Cancer
Yale surgeon and cancer quality expert will lead national efforts to advance cancer care and quality
October 5, 2026
CHICAGO -- Daniel J. Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS, a thoracic surgeon at Yale University and expert in cancer quality and outcomes, recently began a two-year term as chair of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC).
The CoC sets standards for cancer care at approximately
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 6 -- The American College of Surgeons issued the following news release:
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Cancer Quality Expert Daniel Boffa, MD, FACS, Named Chair of ACS Commission on Cancer
Yale surgeon and cancer quality expert will lead national efforts to advance cancer care and quality
October 5, 2026
CHICAGO -- Daniel J. Boffa, MD, MBA, FACS, a thoracic surgeon at Yale University and expert in cancer quality and outcomes, recently began a two-year term as chair of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC).
The CoC sets standards for cancer care at approximately1,400 accredited programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, which diagnose and/or treat more than 74% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States.
As chair, Dr. Boffa will help set priorities for the CoC, serve as a spokesperson on oncology issues addressed by the organization, and strengthen relationships with CoC-accredited programs. Among his priorities is helping hospital teams deliver high-quality cancer care amid financial and workforce challenges.
"I'm most excited about the responsibility of leading the Commission on Cancer. More than 1.5 million people with cancer each year trust their lives to Commission on Cancer hospitals. It is indescribable to work with teams of people that feel the magnitude of that responsibility and purpose, and together choose to run towards the hard things," Dr. Boffa said. "We have a unique body of content expertise, structure, community, data and influence of health system priorities. I hope we leverage this position to increasingly allow Commission on Cancer hospitals to elevate their care."
Dr. Boffa was announced as chair on September 26 during the CoC plenary session at the ACS Clinical Congress 2026 in Washington, D.C. He succeeds breast surgeon Laurie J. Kirstein, MD, FACS, who served as chair since 2024. Ko Un Clara Park, MD, FACS, an associate surgeon in the Division of Breast Surgery, assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and director of research for Breast Surgery Network Sites at Mass General Brigham, was announced as vice chair.
The CoC brings together professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with cancer. Its accreditation program establishes quality standards and supports hospitals, treatment centers, and other facilities in improving cancer care. The CoC also provides reporting tools that allow cancer programs to benchmark and improve patient outcomes and maintains the National Cancer Database, which tracks national trends and demographics in cancer diagnoses.
"A first step in supporting CoC hospitals will be better preparing the people who carry out CoC priorities," Dr. Boffa said. "From navigation and survivorship to screening, research recruitment, and cancer committee leadership, we need to help develop the experts the CoC depends on."
A Fellow of the ACS since 2011, Dr. Boffa has held several leadership roles within the ACS and CoC, including chair of the Quality Assurance and Data Committee and most recently as vice chair of the CoC.
At Yale, Dr. Boffa serves as chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and a professor of thoracic surgery. He specializes in treating lung and esophageal cancers and other conditions of the esophagus and chest, often using minimally invasive approaches. His research focuses on treatment for patients with advanced cancers and improving the quality of cancer care across hospital systems.
Dr. Boffa earned his medical degree with honors from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
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About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
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Original text here: https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/cancer-quality-expert-daniel-boffa-md-facs-named-chair-of-acs-commission-on-cancer/
[Category: Medical]
American Farm Bureau Federation: Farmers Grateful for Diesel Tax Relief
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 6 (TNSida) -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release:
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Farmers Grateful for Diesel Tax Relief
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall tonight applauded the executive order signed by President Trump to ease limits on the use of tax-exempt dyed diesel fuel to give farmers a break.
"We thank President Trump for recognizing that what happens at the fuel pump directly affects what happens on the farm and therefore at dinner tables across America. Allowing dyed diesel fuel to be used over-the-road will bring welcome relief
... Show Full Article
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 6 (TNSida) -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release:
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Farmers Grateful for Diesel Tax Relief
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall tonight applauded the executive order signed by President Trump to ease limits on the use of tax-exempt dyed diesel fuel to give farmers a break.
"We thank President Trump for recognizing that what happens at the fuel pump directly affects what happens on the farm and therefore at dinner tables across America. Allowing dyed diesel fuel to be used over-the-road will bring welcome relieffor farmers because every cent per gallon matters when you're running a fleet of grain trucks or hauling cattle hundreds of miles.
"As we detailed in a letter to the president last week, this effort will bring much needed price relief for farmers as they work to complete harvest across the U.S. The federal highway diesel tax is currently more than 24-cents per gallon, so it's a big deal to farmers to be able to use tax exempt diesel more broadly to get their harvest to market. We appreciate that the president listened to farmers and responded."
Read a Farm Bureau Intel on the impact of diesel prices during harvest here (https://www.fb.org/intel/markets/diesel-costs-increase-for-harvest).
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INFODOC: https://www.fb.org/files/Diesel-Letter_WH_10.1.26.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.fb.org/news-release/farmers-grateful-for-diesel-tax-relief
[Category: Agriculture]
APTA 2026 TRANSform & EXPO Kicks Off in Chicago
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The American Public Transportation Association issued the following news release:
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APTA 2026 TRANSform & EXPO Kicks Off in Chicago
Industry leaders showcase the innovations shaping the future of public transportation
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CHICAGO, IL (October 5, 2026) -- Today, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) kicked off the APTA 2026 TRANSform Conference & EXPO in Chicago. The event runs through October 7 and brings together public transportation leaders, policymakers, suppliers, and tech pioneers from around the world to explore the equipment, technology, and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The American Public Transportation Association issued the following news release:
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APTA 2026 TRANSform & EXPO Kicks Off in Chicago
Industry leaders showcase the innovations shaping the future of public transportation
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CHICAGO, IL (October 5, 2026) -- Today, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) kicked off the APTA 2026 TRANSform Conference & EXPO in Chicago. The event runs through October 7 and brings together public transportation leaders, policymakers, suppliers, and tech pioneers from around the world to explore the equipment, technology, andideas shaping the industry's future.
"As agencies scale up sustainable tech and modernize networks, the innovations debuting on the EXPO floor this week will define the future of public transportation mobility," said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. "As we gather for EXPO 2026, we celebrate a $102 billion industry experiencing unprecedented momentum. We are not just meeting today's infrastructure needs, we are re-inventing modern public transit and passenger rail to drive economic growth and create more connected, sustainable communities."
Trending Topics at EXPO
The trends driving the agenda at APTA 2026 TRANSform & EXPO revolve around evolving fleet tech, artificial intelligence, and operational resilience. Attendees will find the heaviest floor traffic centered around four critical industry themes:
* Next-Generation Fleets and Infrastructure: The focus has shifted from individual zero-emission vehicles to the systems that support them, including hydrogen fuel-cell rail, heavy-duty charging networks, and power grid planning.
* Artificial Intelligence in Daily Operations: Exhibitors are demonstrating how AI has moved beyond back-office tasks to support day-to-day operations, including predictive rail maintenance and real-time bus demand planning.
* Connected Regional Networks: Technology providers are unveiling unified fare systems and shared data platforms that help agencies link city and suburban service into one seamless experience for riders.
* Securing Long-Term Funding: As many agencies face budget shortfalls, sessions will explore new funding approaches, partnerships, and transit-oriented development strategies that support long-term financial stability.
Chicago: The Ideal Backdrop for Innovation
Chicago's public transportation network provides more than 1.3 million rides a day across six counties and is entering a new era under the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), which coordinates service, fares, and planning across the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace. More than $11 billion in capital projects have been completed or announced in the region, including the $5.7 billion Red Line Extension, the largest single transit project in the city's history.
"Chicago is a city that helped build America, and public transportation has long been central to its growth," Skoutelas said. "The first APTA EXPO was held here in 1981. Forty-five years later, we are proud to return to a city that shows how transit connects people to opportunity and helps communities thrive."
For more information, visit apta.com.
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Original text here: https://www.apta.com/press-release/apta-2026-transform-expo-kicks-off-in-chicago/
[Category: Transportation]
AARP The Magazine: Wynonna Judd on Grief and Growth, Kyle MacLachlan on Staying Curious, Plus Stories on Housing, Music and Community
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- AARP issued the following news release:
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AARP The Magazine: Wynonna Judd on Grief and Growth, Kyle MacLachlan on Staying Curious, Plus Stories on Housing, Music and Community
The October/November issue highlights personal reinvention, housing security and the power of music, creativity and community later in life.
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WASHINGTON --The October/November 2026 issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM) features candid conversations with country icon Wynonna Judd and actor Kyle MacLachlan, alongside stories about housing security, music, creativity and community.
ATM sits down with
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- AARP issued the following news release:
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AARP The Magazine: Wynonna Judd on Grief and Growth, Kyle MacLachlan on Staying Curious, Plus Stories on Housing, Music and Community
The October/November issue highlights personal reinvention, housing security and the power of music, creativity and community later in life.
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WASHINGTON --The October/November 2026 issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM) features candid conversations with country icon Wynonna Judd and actor Kyle MacLachlan, alongside stories about housing security, music, creativity and community.
ATM sits down withJudd as she reflects on her first new album in more than a decade, grief, family and the lessons shaping this next chapter of her life. The issue also includes MacLachlan's reflections on creativity and younger generations, a look at mobile home residents fighting to protect their community, and stories about a volunteer costume maker and a chorus for people with dementia and their caregivers.
The issue also explores Rock & Roll Hall of Fame contenders, older residents fighting to protect their homes, a volunteer costume maker bringing Halloween joy to children, and a chorus creating connection for people with dementia and their caregivers.
In this issue:
UPFRONT/THE A-LIST: WYNONNA JUDD
In a revealing interview with AARP The Magazine, country music star Wynonna Judd talks about her first new album in ten years, The Hard Truth, and reflects on her past. "I'm such a people pleaser that I felt like I was always meant to be there for others," Judd says. "Now, at 62, I feel like I'm supposed to do what God wants me to do, and sometimes that is to say no. That's really hard sometimes."
The five-time Grammy Award-winner also talks about what it was like growing up on welfare with her mother, Naomi, and sister, Ashley. "Sometimes we had no meals at all. We wore secondhand clothes from the Goodwill, and we cut our own hair. I had no idea how to handle success or even balance a checkbook." Regarding her daughter, Grace, whom she longs to connect with, she says, "I became so consumed with worrying about Grace--where she was, if she was safe, if she was alive--that I lost myself." She also reveals, "I had dinner recently with Melissa Etheridge [with whom Judd toured this summer] and her partner. Melissa and I share a bond of grief over our children, since she lost her son Beckett to opioid addiction. That talk opened a channel of information that I can apply to my life."
UPFRONT/WHAT I KNOW NOW: KYLE MACLACHLAN
Golden Globe-winning actor Kyle MacLachlan, star of such films as Blue Velvet and TV shows like Twin Peaks and Sex and the City, talks to AARP The Magazine about his career.
Regarding his past performances, MacLachlan admits, "When I watch an early film of mine like Blue Velvet, I look at the performance and cringe. But if I could give that younger me advice--though he certainly wouldn't have listened to me-- it would be: Put more trust in yourself. Know that you can't do everything and be OK with that. You're not going to be right for everything, but you're going to be really right for some things." On Showgirls: "While filming, I felt good. Then I saw it. Just awful. Cut to a few years later and people now enjoy it. Over time, I've done different things--some great, some regular. And that all balances out somehow."
UPFRONT/LISTEN: WHO'S NOT IN THE ROCK HALL?
Rock fans are all peace, love, and understanding...until the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame comes up. Then everybody starts debating who deserves to be there. AARP rock critic Edna Gundersen offers her choices of worthy candidates including these top 10: Smashing Pumpkins; The Monkees; Chic; The Smiths; Devo; Connie Francis; John Coltrane; Jane's Addiction; The Replacements; and The Shangri-Las. Tell AARP what you think: Leave a comment about which artists should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at aarp.org/rockhall.
STANDING UP FOR THEIR HOMES
Nearly half of mobile home residents are 55-plus, and mobile home parks, once affordable havens for older Americans, are being targeted by private equity firms that jack up rents and often evict longtime tenants. But Meadowood Village in Littleton, Colorado, just 10 miles south of downtown Denver, decided to fight back after they received a 10-page "Notice of Intent to Sell" without warning. The park's 139 residents--most of them retired and living on fixed incomes--understood at once what that meant. A new owner would control the facilities, the rules, the lot rents, everything. Their days there were numbered, if the experience of many other recently bought-up parks was anything to go by. These residents banded together to halt the sale and change their destiny.
One of AARP's main missions is to help older people choose how--and where--they live. Recently, that meant working in Congress to support the June passage of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This landmark housing law will help households recover more quickly from natural disasters and provide funding to low-income homeowners for needed home repairs. At the state level, AARP has pushed for legal protections against companies that pressure older people to sell their homes for cash. For advice and news on how to keep your own home safe and affordable, visit aarp.org/housing.
REAL/PEOPLE: DRESSING THEM UP - GIFTS FROM A "FAIRY GODFATHER"
Christophe Waggoner, 63, is a customer success manager in Austin, Texas, who turns thrift store items into costumes for kids. "When I'm at my sewing machine, I'll get an idea for a great Halloween costume and think, I bet I could do that...I buy my materials from re-sale stores, then wash and repair them. With some dye, decorations sewn on and a wig added, it all comes together. Then I put the costume into my inventory and wait for a child to pick it out."
His inspiration started with Halloween. He explains, "The idea of giving away costumes came to me after I moved into my first house in Austin in 2016 and started getting trick-or-treaters. I saw children in nice Star Wars and Toy Story costumes. But I also saw them with torn shirts and what seemed like a longing, a wishing. Halloween can be an equalizer. I wanted to make sure that every child had the chance to dress up and be anybody...I decided to buy some things, adapt them and hold a free yard sale before the following Halloween...In September, I hung 50 or 60 costumes in my garage. People came and took all of them. The biggest thing I remember is the laughter of kids and their parents."
REAL/PEOPLE: COMFORT AND JOY - A CHORUS WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS
Connie Young, 78, a retired virologist who lives in Gainesville, Virginia, and Susan Dommer, 62, the music director at the Manassas Church of the Brethren in Manassas, Virginia, created a musical community for people with dementia and their caregivers.
"There's extensive research about music and the brain. We know that in dementia patients, response to music is one of the last things to leave. People's speech may be gone, but when they hear the right music, they can sing," explains Dommer. "Caring for someone with dementia is hard, sad, and isolating. After my mother died, I saw a post about the Giving Voice Chorus in St. Paul, Minnesota, where people with dementia and their caregivers sing together. I immediately forwarded it to Susan, the choral director of the church I attend. I asked, 'What do you think?'" To which Dommer replied, "'I'm in!' We started our group, Forgetful Friends Chorus, in 2016, to perform at our local Walk to End Alzheimer's."
She adds, "I have seen people who were nonverbal start to nod and then sing...Everybody deserves to have joy, and singing can often provide that." Says Young, "For people with the disease, their world isn't making sense anymore. But when they sing, it makes a bit more sense to them. When we perform, we tell people in the audience, "Sing with us if you want to."
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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.
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Original text here: https://www.aarp.org/press/releases/2026-10-05-aarp-the-magazine-oct-nov-inside-the-book/
[Category: Sociological]
