WOSU's Fascinating Ohio Shares the Inspiring Story Behind EnergizeCare

What began as one family's journey through Alzheimer's disease has grown into a movement of hope for families throughout Central Ohio.

In a moving conversation with Amy Juravich on WOSU Public Media's Fascinating Ohio, Dr. Kenneth Vitellas shares how caring for his wife, Lisa, inspired the creation of EnergizeCare after witnessing firsthand the isolation, exhaustion, and lack of support experienced by so many care partners. He reflects on the extraordinary compassion shown by his family, friends, church, neighbors, and employer—support that ultimately became the foundation for EnergizeCare's mission.

During the interview, Dr. Vitellas discusses the urgent need for dementia awareness, community education, and meaningful respite care, while sharing EnergizeCare's vision to transform dementia care through engaging enrichment programs, professional education, intergenerational volunteerism, community partnerships, and the opening of one of the Midwest's first freestanding dementia engagement and respite centers in Dublin, Ohio.

The interview also highlights EnergizeCare's innovative collaborations with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Healthy New Albany, Dementia Friends Ohio, the Dementia Connection Institute, local musicians, volunteers, and community organizations—all working together to create a more compassionate and dementia-friendly Central Ohio.

At the heart of the conversation are the beliefs that inspire everything we do:

"It is possible to live well with dementia."

"They may forget who you are, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

"There is always more to the person than the dementia."

These simple truths remind us that while memories may fade, the ability to experience love, joy, dignity, purpose, and human connection remains.

We invite you to listen to the full WOSU Fascinating Ohio interview and join us in building a future where no family walks the dementia journey alone. Together, we can transform the future of dementia care—one person, one family, and one act of kindness at a time.

Listen to the Full WOSU Fascinating Ohio Interview

Interview starts at 14:55