Caregiver's Compass

All about the Association of Frontal Temporal Degeneration (AFTD) including what they do, who they help, and where they hope to go next, with Esther Kane and Debbie Elkins (Episode 128)

Stephanie Muskat Season 5 Episode 128

In today’s episode, caregiver @debbieelkins , shares her story caring for her husband Chuck with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), and discusses how @theaftd  supported her during both her caregiving journey, and provided her a sense of purpose through volunteer and advocacy. AFTD’s director of support and education, Esther Kane, also joins us on today’s insightful episode to discuss all that AFTD provides currently, how they support caregivers and those with an FTD diagnosis, and what may be on the horizon for the organization and the FTD landscape.


About Debbie Elkins: 

Debbie Elkins is a care partner for her husband, Chuck, who is living with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), a proud mother of three daughters and a grandmother of six. She is deeply committed to advocacy and education, volunteering with The Association for

Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) as an Ambassador and support group leader, and serving as a voting member of the West Virginia State Dementia Task Force. Through her efforts, she strives to raise awareness, support affected families, and contribute to the development of a stronger, more informed future for those impacted by dementia. You can theaftdconnect with Debbie on Instagram @debbieelkins

About Esther Kane:

Esther Kane, MSN, RN-CDP, has been serving as the Director of Support and Education at AFTD since November 2020. With a rich background in dementia care, Esther previously held the position of Director of Nursing at several long-term care facilities specializing in the care of individuals with dementia. Her expertise in clinical dementia care, combined with her deep commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care for those living with neurological conditions, drives her work at AFTD. Esther is dedicated to ensuring that every person affected by Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) has access to the support and care they need. She is also passionate about educating healthcare professionals to enhance diagnosis and care, underscoring the critical role of education and training throughout the entire process from diagnosis on. 

Find the AFTD website here: https://www.theaftd.org/
Find the AFTD on Instagram here: @theaftd


Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:
www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram!
http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving