Appalachian Memory & Aging Initiative

04/30/2026

Are you providing care for a person with memory problems?

The Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech invites nieces/nephews, stepkin, and siblings of persons with memory problems who help care for their older relatives to participate in an initial telephone interview (approx. 70 minutes) and 8 brief telephone interviews (15-20 minute each evening).

You will be asked questions about the type of help provided, family involvement and use of paid services, and help-related and daily challenges.

Eligible family members will be compensation is $110 for full participation (VT IRB # 20-742).

Interested? Visit the study website careex.isce.vt.edu; call 540-231-9250; email careex@vt.edu, or complete initial inquiry form https://is.gd/careex.

04/28/2026

✨We enjoyed another wonderful day of outreach and connection with a lovely group of ladies at the Lee County Redevelopment and Housing Authority! This time, we remembered to snag a group photo to share, and we’re also posting some teaser shots of our presentation! If your organization is in Southwest Virginia and would like to provide access to brain health education and mobile cognitive assessment services, we would be pleased to partner with you!

💜

~Andrea Sartori, PhD & Kelley Kinder, MA, LPC

04/24/2026

Caregiver stress is real. And you don’t have to go through it alone.

Join us for our next Lee County Caregiver Support Group meeting on Tuesday, May 19 at 11:30 a.m. at First Christian Church in Pennington Gap.

During this time together, caregivers can:
• Build a support system
• Talk through challenges and ways of coping
• Share feelings, needs and concerns

It’s a welcoming space to connect, share experiences and find encouragement.

Refreshments will be provided. To RSVP, call 276-523-4202.

04/20/2026

04/20/2026

Our “On the Road to Better Brain Health” initiative is coming to Scott County, Virginia!!

Register here to secure your spot today:
➡️ https://www.eventcreate.com/e/agewell

04/18/2026

✨In our efforts to “Help Southwest Virginians Age Well,” we are currently offering FREE Brain Health Screenings to residents of Lee, Scott, Smyth, and Russell Counties!! This offer is open to those who are age 60 and older, and will be provided locally in each county. ✨

📞 Call 276-289-3020 to secure your spot today!

04/14/2026

Today, we officially launched a grant-funded project, titled, “On the Road to Better Brain Health:
Promoting Healthy Aging and Access to Dementia Care Through a Mobile Initiative.” Dr. Andrea Sartori and Kelley Kinder spoke to attendees of the first brain health education session, which was held in Pennington Gap, Virginia. Our partner agency, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, and their representative, Brandi Pettey, provided the facility, refreshments, and helpful information about community resources. This session will be followed by several visits to Lee County, which will include additional outreach, education, and the opportunity for individuals to receive brain health assessments by Dr. Sartori, who practices as a clinical neuropsychologist. We are humbled and grateful for this opportunity to provide outreach that aligns with our mission of Helping Southwest Virginians Age Well. 💜✨




04/14/2026

Most people want to stay in their own homes as they get older. PACE helps make that possible.

Mountain Empire PACE provides medical care, support services and everyday help so older adults can stay safe, independent and right where they want to be.

For those who qualify for nursing home-level care, PACE offers a way to remain at home while receiving the support they need. Call usl to learn more.

📞 276-523-0599

04/09/2026

Today would have been the 94th birthday of my sweet grandmother (or "mamaw," as we say in my part of Appalachia). We lost her on January 13th, 2022. This picture was taken in November 2018, a short time before her health took a downturn and she became unable to live independently.
She was such a strong, beautiful, and faith-filled lady who instilled in me many of the values that make me who I am today. Walking through those final years with her taught me much about the aging process and propelled me into focusing my doctoral studies and training on the evaluation and treatment of dementia and other aging-related issues. My mamaw was never evaluated for dementia by a specialist and my family struggled to understand the changes that were taking place when she couldn't recognize us, or when she spoke of the little girls in her room that no one else could see.
As I began searching for answers, I wanted to learn how to give a voice to people struggling like she had and to support families dealing with the same issues that my family had faced. I feel blessed to now have the knowledge and training to carry out this mission, and I honor my dear mamaw today and express my heartfelt gratitude for her love and legacy. 💜

~Kelley Kinder, Founder
Appalachian Memory & Aging Initiative