We are endlessly grateful to our volunteers for giving their time to better the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Our volunteers are truly the heart of the Alzheimer’s Association here in North Carolina.
In honor of National Volunteer Week 2025, we’ll be spotlighting a different volunteer from our Western Carolina Chapter each day. Today we are featuring …
Dennis Moser
Forsyth County
What brought you to volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association?
After I retired from a long school administration career in 2020, I was fortunate to have been accepted into the [Alzheimer’s Association’s] U.S. Pointer Study, a two-year clinical study studying whether lifestyle changes might delay cognitive decline in older adults. All of us participating in the study learned a lot about healthy living. We also learned about the difficulty of making changes. Towards the end of that study, our facilitators raised the option of volunteer work with the Alzheimer’s Association. I looked into those opportunities, decided to apply, and, happily, was accepted.
What volunteer role(s) do you have with the Association?
I serve as an Alzheimer’s Association Community Educator. In this role, I share Association-created presentations on Alzheimer’s awareness topics to a wide variety of community groups: civic groups, businesses, retirement communities, library- hosted programs. Really, we can offer a presentation to any interested group. The presentations can be personalized to meet the group’s needs and interests.
What do you enjoy most about your volunteer role?
I’ve been a “people person” throughout my professional career; clearly the most enjoyable part for me is the opportunity to interact with people. These interactions include the Alzheimer’s staff who train volunteers and facilitate the presentations. The Alzheimer’s Association folks are good people. Also enjoyable is the interactions with individuals attending the presentations. I am always impressed with their interest, with their desire to learn about Alzheimer’s and its effects on the patient, on families, on really everything.
What piece of your role do you feel makes the biggest impact?
Facilitating a setting where people can learn and grow in their understanding of Alzheimer’s is the biggest impact for me. Alzheimer’s impacts so many of us and when participants share their personal experiences with dementia, it adds to the learning space for all. And that’s the goal. The more people know about and understand the effects of this disease, the more impact we all can have in helping those living with the disease, and ultimately, in seeking the cure.
If someone were considering volunteering with the Association, what would you say to them?
DO IT. The Alzheimer’s Association is top notch. Standards and expectations are high, but that’s to be expected from a quality organization. I respect that. I found the orientation and training to be complete, rigorous even. I respect that. Communication from the staff is thorough and complete. Support for the volunteers is always available. And finally, it’s rewarding to volunteer.
THANK YOU, DENNIS!
Volunteers truly help move our mission forward. Interested in becoming a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association in NC? Visit alz.org/volunteer or call 800-272-3900.
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