REAL Services, Alzheimer's group here merge - WSBT-TV

SOUTH BEND — Two South Bend-based not-for-profits have decided to join forces.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia^[1] Services of Northern Indiana became a division of REAL Services Inc. effective July 1.

“This was the most natural step for us,” Becky Zaseck, president and chief executive officer ^[2] of REAL Services, said at a news conference Wednesday announcing the merger.

“We know that we are all aging and with that the incidences of dementia are increasing, and REAL Services needs to be there to help families.”

The merger will allow the two organizations to be better stewards of their resources and ensure the continuation of their services in the community, board members explained. But the only difference the community will notice is the name.

REAL Services provides programs ^[3] to help the elderly, disabled and low-income members of the community stay as independent as possible. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services fits neatly under that umbrella. The new division of REAL Services specializes in the education and support of caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or dementia and works with 20 support groups in 11 counties in Indiana, including Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph.

The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and Wells Fargo Bank are supporting the merger with grant money to help with legal expenses, signage and websites.^[4]

The idea for the merger came about when Bill Jack, the executive director at Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services, made the decision to retire later this year. The organization approached REAL Services at that time about a partnership.

“I wanted to know what can we do to ensure that what we provide will always be here as long as there is a need,” Jack said.

It was expensive for the small nonprofit — it has 17 employees — to operate, Jack said. Joining a larger organization would help alleviate some of the financial burdens. Also, the merger would provide the dementia services’ staff with knowledge of other local programs available to its clients ^[6] .^[5]

In the past, explained Steven Watts, chairman of the board at REAL Services, the two organizations have sometimes overlapped services such as family caregiver support programs, lunch and learn programs and volunteer recruitment.^[7]

“A merger would decrease duplication of effort, lower overall cost for programming and streamline accounting and better coordinate services for clients, community partners and families,” he said.

But the merger isn’t just a way to preserve existing programs, Watts said.

“We look at it as a growth opportunity. We can expand the services available to the community in the future.”

References

1. ^{^} Alzheimer's Disease (www.wsbt.com)


2. ^{^} chief executive officer (www.southbendtribune.com)


3. ^{^} programs (www.southbendtribune.com)


4. ^{^} grant money (www.southbendtribune.com)


5. ^{^} local programs (www.southbendtribune.com)


6. ^{^} clients (www.southbendtribune.com)


7. ^{^} caregiver support (www.southbendtribune.com)