Peter, Paul And Mary Performance

To Benefit New Alzheimer Program

BROOKFIELD — The legendary folk singers Peter, Paul and Mary will perform in concert on Wednesday, November 15, at the Palace Theatre in Stamford at 8 pm. Proceeds from the concert will be used to fund one of the most ambitious projects related to Alzheimer’s Disease in the country.

The Virginia Coigney Alzheimer’s Project, named in honor of the mother of Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, will create a program of coordinated, community based services that will allow people with Alzheimer’s to find meaningful participation in their communities and provide support to family members and other caregivers. The programs will aim to develop cost effective service initiatives that qualify for Medicaid funding.

“Our main goal is to discover a broader continuum of services that are affordable for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and their families,” explained Thomas Fanning, president and CEO of the Datahr Rehabilitation Institute, which will develop the Coigney Project. “Clearly existing services are inadequate. We want to support both the people with the disease and the family/caregivers in a unique, flexible manner that would include day and respite care, home health care, and counseling. We hope through this project to develop a model of alternative services which can be replicated nationwide.”

The Virginia Coigney Alzheimer Project evolved from the fact that only two alternative areas currently available for Alzheimer’s institutionalization in a nursing home or care in the home where family members are caregivers at great sacrifice to their own careers and livelihoods.

“The good news is that we at Datahr believe that through creative problem solving and energetic resource sharing, a model can be developed that affords a more humane and cost effective approach,” Mr Fanning said.

The Peter, Paul and Mary concert tickets are $100 to $1,000, with VIP seating and a reception following the concert. Tickets may be purchased by calling 888/832-8247, extension 0321.

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals had provided major funding for this concert.

Datahr Rehabilitation Institute is a not-for-profit health and human service provider serving 1,000 people with chronic developmental and neurological disabilities. Established in 1953, Datahr offers residential, vocational, and rehabilitative programs in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties in Connecticut and Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties in New York.