Deborah & Quentin’s Story

When Deborah Dougherty and Quentin Looney retired, they saw it as a chance to pursue their passions. For Quentin, that meant teaching cooking classes, while Deborah led weekly fitness classes illustrating the relationship between exercise and bone health.

“About 10 years ago, I taught a workshop at Iona,” Deborah, 77, remembers. “Our Cleveland Park friends talked very highly about Iona.”

It was around that same time that Quentin, 81,  began  exhibiting signs of dementia. “There was loss of executive functioning,” Deborah says. Ultimately, Quentin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which affects his balance, sensory perception, and memory. A year ago, Deborah began looking for an adult day health program for Quentin and landed at Iona’s Wellness & Arts Center. “Quentin loves being around people,” Deborah says. “He enjoys the exercise and dancing, anything that gets him moving.”

Today, Quentin attends the center three days a week, giving Deborah much-needed time for herself. “It gives me a break to maintain our home and spend time with friends,” she says. She’s also active in Iona’s Around Town DC classes, including improv and Monday night movies.

“Iona’s staff are amazing,” Deborah says. “I appreciate the way they support each other and my husband.”

“Care groups are absolutely critical,” she says. “You have to have somebody who understands what you’re going through.”

When she first began her caregiver journey, Deborah was surprised at the lack of resources and information available about dementia. “It’s random if you  hit a doctor who understands,” she observes. “There are not enough resources or support for managing the rest of your life with somebody who has dementia or memory loss.”

“Caregiving is about the toughest job I’ve ever had,” Deborah adds. “I think Iona is uniquely placed to develop more comprehensive supports for caregivers at the local and national level.”