Dr. George Ackerman is from Brooklyn, N.Y. Now residing in Florida, he works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease.
George and his family started TogetherForSharon® to honour his mother by keeping her memory alive; and to share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.
Today TogetherForSharon® reaches thousands of individuals across the country for Parkinson’s Disease Awareness. George currently interviews individuals throughout the Parkinson’s community including various foundations, caregivers, and Parkinson’s warriors to help share their stories and causes, uniting voices in the fight against Parkinson's Disease.
George was his mother’s caregiver. She lived with Parkinson’s Disease and late-onset dementia. He takes his experiences now from caretaking to advocacy. Advocacy for caregivers, folks living with Parkinson’s Disease and those striving to find a cure.
This episode is airing just in time for National Parkinson’s Awareness Month and at the time of our taping, George was getting ready to meet his hero, Michael J. Fox. George and TogetherForSharon are huge supporters of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Social Media and Contact Information for George:
Island Treasures
As caregivers tell their stories they will share encouragement and insights to the listeners who may be in the midst of their own caregiving journey. It is a source of wisdom, encouragement and empowerment for caregivers so they do not feel they are alone. The idea for Island Treasures came during the pandemic as a means to reach caregivers in their homes where they may be feeling frustrated, isolated and alone; and needing a boost of encouragement. The guests share how they're managing their own caregiving journeys and what resources they have found especially meaningful so they could cope and even thrive during challenging times for caregivers. Encouragement and hope are both key goals of the podcasts. You may also find moments of joy and laughter mixed in with the realities of caregiving. The podcasts highlight caregivers of folks with dementia, Alzheimer's or other chronic illnesses, as well as elder parents, those providing care to a child or family member with special needs, and also guests who provide resources specific to caregiving: elders and dementia and caregiving tips and strategies. The podcasts are brought to you by Alongside Caregiver Consulting and if you find you are struggling and in need of supports, tap into Alongside Caregiver Consulting to see the resources and services available.