Alzheimer’s Caregivers Enjoy Food, Friendship with SUNY Plattsburgh Chartwells Staff

Once a month, a handful of local women who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease meet Chartwells staff at SUNY Plattsburgh for a cooking class.

Called the Teaching Kitchen, the classes are free for the caregivers and supported by the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative, which is housed in Sibley Hall. The Caregiver Support Initiative awards funding to the SUNY Plattsburgh Center for Neurobehavioral Health.

Classes are ‘Marked by Laughter and Smiles’

The cooking class started in the summer of 2023.

“What started as a one-time catering request has evolved into one of the most rewarding partnerships of my career,” said Chris Mihalyi, Chartwells resident district manager.

Mihalyi and the Chartwells team learned more about the Caregiver Support Initiative, taking time to understand the organization’s goals and needs, he said.

“From that initial encounter, a remarkable partnership bloomed, transcending food to foster engagement, community and true impact. The growth of this initiative, marked by laughter and smiles filling the room, has ignited a greater mission for both our team and me personally,” Mihalyi said.

The monthly class is in Samuel Ds in Sibley Hall. Attendees make the recipes at workstations prepped with cooking utensils and ingredients as Chartwells Executive Chef Laura Rathbun and Sarah Yandow, a registered dietician for Chartwells, walk them through each step.

‘Made Friends in Cooking Class’

Teresa Belair, 73, of Morrisonville said she cared for her husband, Peter, 76, at home for years until it became too much for her to do without help. Peter moved into a nursing home last December, she said.

“I visit him just about every day,” Belair said as she worked to crush graham crackers for the blueberry lemon no-bake cheesecake jars the group was making.

“By fixing the food and everything, it gets your mind going on something else, but also you get in with a group of people who know what you’re going through.”

Belair said she has made friends with the other women in the group, and they’ve met outside the class to go to the movies, dine out and go for walks.

Along with her fellow caregivers, she said she enjoys spending the couple of hours each month with Yandow and Rathbun.

“They’re all very, very nice (here),” she said.

‘One of My Most Fun Days of the Month’

Rathbun and Yandow said they look forward to seeing the caregivers at each cooking class.

“It’s probably one of my most fun days of the month,” Rathbun said, adding that the group of women “have a lot going on outside of here and to be able to provide this for them and this partnership, it’s been amazing and rewarding.”

Three of the six women who attended the August class have been to nearly every Teaching Kitchen, Rathbun said, and she and Yandow have gotten to know them.

“We share our lives with them, and they share our lives with us. It’s more like becoming part of their family, which is really awesome. It’s like I have three extra grandmas. They are amazing people.”

‘Way to Engage with Our Community’

Rathbun shows participants cooking techniques and different ways to use the culinary tools the class provides. During the August class, she taught the group how to use a microplane to remove zest from a lemon.

Yandow provides ingredient suggestions and substitution ideas that the caregivers can try to increase the nutritional value of the recipes they make in the class and can also use when they cook at home like swapping mayonnaise for Greek yogurt.

“This is a way to really engage with our (local) community and provide a fun learning environment for these caregivers to focus on themselves when they are very dedicated to focusing on and caring for others,” Yandow said.

Rathbun and Yandow like to use feedback from the caregivers to inform what kind of recipes they select for each class. One of the women suggested they make mocktails, Rathbun said, so they selected the drink recipes to go with food items for their summer meetings.

To take advantage of local seasonal produce, Rathbun bought fresh corn at Rulf’s Orchard for the Mexican street corn dip recipe.

Rathbun said she structures the classes so the recipes are as flexible as possible to maximize everyone’s fun and enjoyment.

“This allows them to just go with the flow and really relax and not think ‘did I do that wrong? Is this (recipe) not going to turn out the way that it should?”

‘Nice to Be with Other People, Socialize’

Patt Schaefer, 84, of Chazy Lake said she spends nearly all her time caring for her beloved husband of 61 years, John, 85. Schaefer also cared for her mother, Pauline Murdzac, who also had dementia, before she passed away in 2011.

“Some days are really good days, and some days are bad days,” Schaefer said of her husband’s illness, adding that she has lots of measures in place at home to keep John safe.

Caregiving is incredibly challenging, she said. Something that might seem simple like finding time to drive to Plattsburgh to run errands is a major event that requires a lot of planning, Schaefer added.

“It’s nice to be with other people, socialize” in the class, she said. “I made friends with a lot of people here. We go to all the support groups.”

‘A Chance to Recharge Batteries’

Megan Monica, project coordinator for the Caregiver Support Initiative, joined the group for the August class, providing a listening ear for those who wanted to talk about their recent experiences as caregivers as they cooked.

“Caregivers really enjoy the banter with Laura and Sarah and learning new recipes,” Monica said.

The class allows the women to have some time that’s just for them, she said.

“This gives them a bit of a reset and a chance to recharge their batteries,” Monica said. “Caregivers have viewed cooking class as a fun and lighthearted day. Some will tell you it’s the highlight of their week as they know they will be bringing new treats home to their loved ones to try.”

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Services

In addition to the Teaching Kitchen, the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative offers in-person, virtual and telephone support groups for residents of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren and Washington counties.

The organization also holds caregiver wellness gatherings designed to promote caregiver well-being that have included art classes, pickleball, book club discussions, gatherings over coffee, walking club and more.

Schaefer said she was looking forward to an upcoming scrapbooking class.

The caregiver and their loved one with Alzheimer’s can enjoy an event together at Memory Cafes.

Previous Memory Cafes featured live music and dancing, board games, arts and crafts, and more.

All the services and classes the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative provide are free for attendees.

To learn more about the Caregiver Support Initiative, go to plattsburgh.edu/about/center/cnbh/adcsi or contact Valarie Drown, director, at 518-564-3364 or [email protected].

— Story, Photos by Assistant Director of Communications Felicia Krieg; Headshots Provided