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Photos top to bottom:

Leeza Gibbons (right) tells a Brooklyn friend about the center.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz welcomes Leeza and Leeza's Place to Brooklyn.

Scrapbooking memory workshops are part of the fun at Leeza's Place.

Cathy Warburton, left, in front of the State Farm Memory Wall.

Leeza's Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center
Photos from the Opening Festivities, November 4 , 2005

PSGDC is excited to welcome our new partner, Leeza's Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center, located at our 1 Prospect Park West center. The national Leeza’s Place programs are community-centered resources offering programs that educate, empower and energize both caregivers and those recently diagnosed with memory disorders.

After having two generations of her family diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, noted television and radio personality Leeza Gibbons and her family created the nonprofit Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation to meet the growing needs of those impacted by memory disorders. Leeza’s Places, the signature program of the Memory Foundation, provide an intimate and safe community-based setting where those affected by memory disorders can gather to prepare for the challenging journey ahead.

One of the highlights of the Brooklyn location is the innovative programming available to the local community, including Memory Television, which offers families the opportunity to create their own family video documenting their stories using cherished photos and mementos as a backdrop. Memory Preservation Scrapbooking Workshops, Computer Basics, and Caregiver Q&A are some of the other programs offered.

“From the beginning, my family’s fight against Alzheimer’s disease has been fueled by my mother’s courageous insistence to inform, educate and heal the patient, caregiver and community,” said Leeza Gibbons. “I’m so excited that now we can share the outcome of our efforts with the opening of Brooklyn’s first Leeza’s Place. Together with Park Slope Geriatric Day Center we’re creating a stigma-free environment to help those feeling alone, frustrated and frightened by this thief of memories. We believe there is life after diagnosis and are so thankful to be partnering with such a well-established and like-minded organization.”

“Leeza’s Place addresses a growing need for services and programs to help individuals and families deal with memory loss,” says Marianne Nicolosi, Executive Director of Park Slope Geriatric Day Center. “I am proud that our center is partnering with The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation to bring Leeza’s Place to Brooklyn. At our location, clients and families who might otherwise suffer alone will find support; newly diagnosed individuals can come for information and family members can receive caregiver training and support.”

Each Leeza’s Place has been carefully crafted to empower both the caregiver and the recently diagnosed by offering services that nourish self esteem, relieve symptoms, impart knowledge, reduce stress, promote inclusion, and ultimately improve the quality of life while helping those affected to acquire advocacy, coping and care-related skills. With the combined unique programming of both Leeza’s Place and Park Slope Geriatric Day Center, caregivers and their loved ones will now have access to a full continuum of integrated wrap-around services from early intervention to end-of-life hospice.

Cathy Warburton is the Leeza Care Advocate for the Leeza’s Place in New York City. A caregiver by nature, Cathy strongly believes in the importance of reaching out to those in need and providing them with support and kindness. In her role as a Leeza Care Advocate, she strives to create awareness of caregiving issues and resources available to caregivers within the NYC community.

Contact Leeza's Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center at (347).296.2345 or click on the name to link to their website.