Woman with Alzheimer’s shares recipes on local TV

In early 2023, my client The Watermark at Vistawilla shared with me that they were working on a program called Mom’s Kitchen. The program, which was tailored to its memory care residents, was developed around the idea that the kitchen is a place full of wonderful memories. Residents who once enjoyed cooking would have the opportunity to get back in the kitchen to cook, or just enjoy, a meal.

Janet Lastarza was the first resident to participate in the program, and after hearing her story I was confident the local media would be interested in sharing her story. Lastarza was an avid cook in her younger years and was featured in the Sanford Herald in 1981 as the Cook of the Week.

Working with her daughter, we planned a time for her to prepare some of her favorite recipes. With help from the community’s Nayas, she made her grocery list, shopped, and prepared two dishes to enjoy with her daughters ahead of her 91st birthday.

Local TV station Fox35 joined Janet in the kitchen and shared her story on the evening news. The Sanford Herald also did a follow up story on her 42 years after the original story was published. Below are clips to those stories, and more.

Woman with Alzheimer's shares recipes

Local Woman with Alzheimer’s rediscovers Love of Cooking

Delicious Memories at Watermark

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