Support Group Leaders and Locations

The Miami Valley Chapter has a superb group of support group leaders that help to coordinate each meeting and connect with every person that comes through their doors.  Each support group leader has been trained and has either personal or professional experience with dementia (or both) and are in touch with the Chapter for new information and updates on programs and services on a regular basis.  Our leaders receive periodic trainings from the Chapter and have a strong desire to help us with our mission to "provide care and support for all affected."  Please find below a listing of our support groups and our facilitators:

Click here for our leaders' biographies

Biographies of Support Group Leaders

Prior to attending one of our support groups, take a moment to connect with our support group leaders.  We encourage you to talk to one of our group leaders prior to attending a meeting.  Call our Help*Line at 800.272.3900 to request to talk to them.

Dayton Early Stage Group

Facilitators:  Julie Worley, M.S., LSW 

"I have my undergrad in social work and my graduate degree in counseling.  I have worked in both long term care and the mental health arena.  I have worked at the Alzheimer's Association for seven years as the Family Assistance Director.  I love working with families and with the early stage support group."

               Julie Worley

West Springfield Caregiver Support Group

Facilitators:  Jane Eckels & Dawn Suchland

Jane Eckels approaches caregiving as a daughter and as a professional.  She and Dawn Suchland facilitate the West Springfield Caregiver group at Pathways Center of the Masonic Home.  Please call Jane or Dawn for more information at 937.325.1531.

    
Jane Eckels                    Dawn Suchland

Englewood Caregiver Support Group

Facilitator:  Nancy Wahl

After my terms on the Board (of Directors for the Miami Valley Chapter), I wanted to stay involved.  I began working with Judy Fowler on the Caregiver's Education Series.  Then there was an opening for the support group in my area as an assistant - which the "assistant" part lasted about three months!  I feel I can share a lot of information as my father and his two sisters died from Alzheimer's and the "baby" of the family can only sing songs.  I encourage any chance I get for those to take advantage of all the programs that are offered.  I didn't have that much available (when I was dealing with it) as the organization was "young."

             Nancy Wahl

Huber Heights Caregiver Support Group

Facilitator:  Joy Wilcox

"I am Joy Wilcox.  My husband had dementia and I started going to the Huber Heights support group...After the facilitator died and the co-facilitator moved up, she asked me to be the co-facilitator.  When she left the group because of illness, I was asked to be the facilitator.  I have an Associates Degree in Mental Health and felt that was what God wanted me to do."
 

   Joy Wilcox

Kettering Caregiver Support Group

Facilitator:  Dennis Wiseman

Dennis Wiseman has been facilitating the Good Shepherd support group for over nine years.  Dennis had to learn about Alzheimer's the hard way.  His mother was diagnosed and left him as the sole caregiver.  Raising his own family, challenged with a new job, and being the primary caregiver made it very difficult for Dennis to deal with his own life.  He turned to the support group for help.  Since, he has studied and has learned a great deal about the disease; he has participated in panel discussions and is a part of the Alzheimer's Association speakers' bureau.  Dennis has developed the "13 steps to care" and shares this as part of his group discussions.

  Dennis Wiseman

Miamisburg Caregiver Support Group

Facilitator:  Darrell Grapes

 "I am retired Air Force and live in Springboro.  I was caregiver for my mother for 18 months in NE and her advocate and part-time caregiver for three years while she was in a nursing home in Dayton.  During that time I attended the Miamisburg Caregiver support group.  After her passing I continued and now facilitate the group.  I am a volunteer speaker for the Chapter and participate as an advocate.  Also, I am the team leader for the Memory Walk Care Talkers team.  I choose to be a support group leader because I have compassion for the person living with the disease and their caregivers and wish to let them know they are not alone."

 Darrell Grapes

Sidney Caregiver Support Group

Facilitator:  LuAnn Presser

"My grandmother and mother both had Alzheimer's.  Grandmother lived with me when little was known about the disease - I always tell people it was the only time in my life I lost weight without trying!  One physician mentioned Alzheimer's and my quest began.  A year or so later I started working as an LSW at a nursing facility and who were many of my clients - but Alzheimer's patients and their families.  So I formed a support group because I remembered how alone I had felt.  That was over 20 years ago and it is now just part of my life."