Claudia Amador is a volunteer support group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter. A support group is a regularly scheduled in-person or virtual gathering of people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, family, friends or caregivers who interact around issues relating to dementia. Groups can have social, educational and/or support components and are facilitated by individuals who have received training from the Alzheimer’s Association. Find a support group near you here: Illinois Chapter Support Groups.
Claudia Amador’s connection with Alzheimer’s started with her work as a neurologist in her home country of Honduras. One day a colleague approached Claudia about starting a memory clinic in the hospital. She knew starting a memory clinic would be a good opportunity to educate herself and others, and understand memory loss. For four years she ran a memory clinic in Honduras evaluating patients with memory loss, meeting with caregivers, coordinating neurocognitive tests, and running educational seminars for the population. Through this experience, she became very familiar with Alzheimer’s and dementia and grew a passion for sharing her knowledge with others. “For that reason, it’s important to be a part of the Alzheimer’s Association because I share the same vision and mission.”
Claudia’s involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association has spread across different initiatives, allowing her to help serve the mission in many ways. She started off volunteering at the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s for two years, followed by six months as a volunteer working for our 24/7 Helpline. Now Claudia serves as a support group facilitator, guiding those who are struggling to navigate the effects of Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
Claudia values the relationships she forms with support group participants because she sees the uplifting nature of sharing experiences with others. Claudia notes that her time as a volunteer support group facilitator has shown her how many people do not have enough knowledge of the disease that drives the impetus for action. In her groups, participants have a desire to learn just as much as they do to share. The supportive, bonded nature of the groups creates a cycle of knowledge sharing and encouragement. Facilitators like Claudia are important parts of guiding such strong foundations for successful support groups.
When she’s not volunteering, Claudia enjoys spending time with her mother and son. They enjoy walks outside in the Spring and Summer, as well as good conversation over delicious meals. Her favorite movies are foreign films and comedies that she can enjoy with her family.
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