Posted on March 16, 2021
| 7:36 p.m.
Katina Zaninovich
Katina Zaninovich has been elected board chair for the Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter. Zaninovich additionally will proceed her time period as chair for the chapter’s Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Committee, which started in 2013.
“It is important that we discover a remedy, and that’s the reason I volunteer for this super group,” mentioned Zaninovich. “Alzheimer’s illness and associated dementias is the sixth main reason for dying within the U.S., killing greater than breast most cancers and prostate most cancers mixed.
“In 2021, the associated fee to our nation will likely be $355 billion. I need to be a part of the answer for an issue that impacts so many.”
According to the 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 6.2 million Americans reside with Alzheimer’s dementia. In California, the variety of individuals age 65 and older residing with the illness is predicted to enhance by 21.7% to 840,000 in 2025, and there are 1.12 million caregivers within the state offering a complete worth of $18.126 billion in unpaid care.
While Zaninovich was a caregiver for each her father and mom at the top of their lives, she famous the extra difficulties that got here from her expertise along with her father, who was residing with some undiagnosed type of dementia.
“Being a full-time caregiver for somebody with Alzheimer’s illness or a associated dementia is a relentless and endless job,” mentioned Zaninovich. “Fortunately, there’s assist and help by the Alzheimer’s Association. If we don’t maintain the caregivers, they are going to by no means have the option to absolutely maintain their family members.”
After graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in 1978, Zaninovich spent most of her profession in Santa Barbara at VNA Health — previously often called Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care — as a hospital liaison, director of medical providers, and government director.
Zaninovich has been energetic in her neighborhood, serving on a number of boards since 1992, together with Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care Professional Advisory Committee, Cottage Health System, and San Marcos High School Foundation.
Currently, she stays concerned in neighborhood service as an energetic volunteer and board member for Montecito Retirement Association, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and Neighborhood Clinics Capitol Campaign, Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, and the Alzheimer’s Association Central Coast Chapter.
“We have been so lucky to have Katina because the chair for our Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative, and I’m assured that her sturdy management as board chair will proceed to drive our mission ahead within the native communities that we serve,” mentioned Meg Barron, Region 3 chief of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“I’m more than happy that she is dedicating her time to this chapter, and to someday seeing a world with Alzheimer’s and all different dementia,” Barron mentioned.
For extra info, go to alz.org/CaCentralCoast or name the 24/7 Helpline, 800-272-3900.
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