Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s: Gratitude, Family & Community with Brenda Freed
All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton, were honored to welcome back Brenda Freed, Co-Founder of Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s, for a special conversation about gratitude, family caregiving, and helping children maintain meaningful relationships with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease.
As Thanksgiving approaches, families caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia may find themselves navigating changes in familiar traditions, communication, and family dynamics. However, even as the disease progresses, opportunities remain to celebrate together, express gratitude, and create lasting memories across generations.
During this meaningful conversation, Brenda shares insights from the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s educational blog, including the article “Educating Children About Alzheimer’s Nurtures Gratitude.” She discusses the emotional benefits of practicing gratitude, simple activities families can enjoy together, and thoughtful ways to include children and loved ones living with dementia in traditional Thanksgiving celebrations.
Lance and Brenda also explore how everyday moments, family stories, photographs, and familiar holiday activities can help strengthen connections while encouraging children to develop empathy, compassion, and a greater understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.
Brenda highlights the educational resources available through Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s, including free downloadable PDFs, the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Awareness Program, and the Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s Disease Picture Book. She also shares updates about the MMA Community Program and its mission to expand access to meaningful Alzheimer’s education and family caregiver support.
This special episode serves as an important reminder that although Alzheimer’s disease may change how families celebrate the holidays, the love, gratitude, and meaningful connections that bring families together can remain at the heart of every tradition.
About Brenda Freed:
Brenda Freed, MMus, is the Co-Founder of Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s, a family-centered educational initiative dedicated to helping children, parents, and caregivers better understand Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
With a background in music education and music therapy, Brenda brings a compassionate and creative approach to Alzheimer’s awareness, using education, music, storytelling, and meaningful activities to help families navigate the challenges of dementia caregiving.
Her work focuses on empowering families with practical tools that encourage understanding, preserve relationships, and create positive experiences for children and their loved ones throughout the dementia journey.
About Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s:
Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s is a family-centered educational program co-founded by Brenda Freed and Alder Allensworth to help children, parents, caregivers, and families better understand Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Through its Alzheimer’s Awareness Program, educational videos, picture book, blog articles, downloadable resources, and community initiatives, Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer’s provides accessible guidance and engaging activities designed to support meaningful connections between generations.
The program is particularly valuable for families in the sandwich generation who are raising children while caring for aging parents or other loved ones experiencing memory loss and cognitive changes.
Its mission is to help families move beyond simply understanding Alzheimer’s disease by providing the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to create meaningful interactions, preserve relationships, and experience moments of joy throughout the caregiving journey.
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