Many of my reflections seek to make the world a better place today, by educating and advocating for dementia, mental health, and other neurological conditions.
This summary reflection is addressed to:
- Our YouTube and blog subscribers who wish to learn more about mental health issues.
- Editors of regional and national media and publications. Many of these reflections can be the basis of a magazine article.
- Fellow Rotarians whose club is searching for speakers. Many of these speakers will be available to Rotary Clubs in Southeast Florida.
- Organizations, including churches, cities, nursing colleges, and mental health organizations, who would like to sponsor health and wellness seminars to educate the public on mental health issues.
The video for this blog: https://youtu.be/RQEBB77x9Vc
My personal crusade is to promote greater mental health awareness through the media and the various Rotary clubs. This crusade is in reaction to a rather horrifying experience when, as Treasurer of my condominium association, I halted the foreclosure of a destitute owner with advanced dementia who had no family. This sparked a condominium war, where only a few fellow owners supported my efforts to have the court assign him a guardian who could place him in an appropriate lockdown facility, sell his unit, and pay his overdue condominium maintenance fees. His demented behavior had turned most of his neighbors, and perhaps his estranged sister, against him.
Today, our condominium association is forming a committee to determine how to help our neighbors who suffer from dementia and mental health issues.
How I Halted a Foreclosure on a Destitute Owner with Advanced Dementia! We Discuss Dementia
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/how-i-halted-foreclosure-on-owner-with-advanced-dementia-reflecting-on-dementia/
https://youtu.be/_uAJPCCRNQ8
What would have happened had the foreclosure continued? Since the local police supervise evictions, quite likely they would have referred him to the proper agency so he could be placed in a facility. Or maybe not. Even though our local police agency is encouraging their police officers to become aware of dementia-related issues, this is a learning process, and it will take time for this to become second nature with many officers.
What would happen if the demented patient is turned out in the street by the eviction? If a lost and wandering dementia patient is not found within two days, there is a one in four chance they will be found face down in a ditch or canal. But if someone is not looking for a demented patient, the odds are worse.
We plan to lobby the Florida Legislature to require condominium property managers and board members to learn the basics of when they should suspect mental health conditions, and who to call for diagnosis and assistance. This would be part of their professional examinations and education.
Why Are Dementia Patients Who Wander So Drawn to Water? Why Do They Drown?
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/why-are-dementia-patients-who-wander-so-drawn-to-water-why-do-they-drown/
https://youtu.be/aZMgG1YzpD0
In 2017, Steve Leifman, an associate administrative judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County, was one of the authors of an article in the Atlantic magazine: How Mental-Health Training for Police Can Save Lives and Taxpayer Dollars.
This reflection updates the Atlantic article with information from the Miami-Dade police website. Why the original article was so short is inexplicable: you could easily hold a reader’s attention for five or ten thousand words on these topics. Plus, it will be an opportunity to discuss incorporating more dementia awareness training in his department.
Wellness Checks for Dementia: Police and Mental Illness
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/wellness-checks-for-dementia-police-and-mental-illness/
https://youtu.be/z_SlPLARCxU
We have a reflection on how church groups, small cities, Rotary clubs, and other organizations can sponsor their own health and wellness seminars that include discussions on dementia and mental illness. People are more likely to attend health and wellness seminars that reveal how they can become healthier and wealthier. Thus, we anchor them with presentations by law firms, hospitals, doctors, health insurance firms, or other paid sponsors. These paid sponsorship contributions should be donated to a charity like the Alzheimer’s Association or NAMI. We prefer Saturday events where there is no time pressure. Senior citizens are also attracted by free lunches and free blood pressure readings at the end.
YT
If you are curious about neurological diseases and conditions, you will find the story of Phineas Gage fascinating, every series of introductory psychology lectures tells his story. Every medical student will likely read the equally fascinating collection of neurological case studies in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.
When the fourth wife of Glen Campbell described their life from the decade before his dementia diagnosis, and then his diagnosis and how his dementia evolved until his passing, she gifted us perhaps the most complete case study of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The daughter of Rita Hayworth was one of the original fundraisers for the fledgling Alzheimer’s Association, as her mother was one of the first celebrities to admit their diagnosis. Tony Bennett also suffered from dementia. The story of Glen Campbell’s and Tony Bennett’s final concerts are touching.
The book, Travelers to Unimaginable Lands, contains case studies of caretakers of those who suffer from dementia and other neurological disorders, which would be a great encouragement for those facing the challenges of living with these disorders.
Neurological Case Studies Including the Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and the Curious Story of Phineas Gage
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/case-studies-including-the-man-who-mistook-his-wife-for-a-hat-and-the-curious-story-of-phineas-gage/
https://youtu.be/tBZIs0YZ05A
Rotary https://youtu.be/Yp0nOLii92A
Glen Campbell Suffering from Alzheimer’s, Early Signs and Symptoms
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/glen-campbell-suffering-from-alzheimers-early-signs-and-symptoms/
https://youtu.be/F9NmDiiPowI
Rotary https://youtu.be/xCq8RNyy-KU
Tony Bennett and Rita Hayworth: Their Struggle With Alzheimer’s
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/tony-bennett-and-rita-hayworth-their-struggle-with-alzheimers/
https://youtu.be/4ujlV3a7Il8
Rotary https://youtu.be/Y5wxSLyUSsI
Problems Family Caretakers Face When Caring for Loved Ones Suffering From Dementia
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/problems-family-caretakers-face-when-caring-for-loved-ones-suffering-from-dementia/
https://youtu.be/VqR7y0Z8bYk
Rotary https://youtu.be/ePgQG8WAxL8
The Alzheimer’s Association has about a dozen presentations that their staff and volunteers can deliver in your community. We invite the Alzheimer’s Association to provide speakers for each of our health and wellness seminars.
Info on Dementia for Caretakers, Speaker From Alzheimer’s Association, Rotary Speaker, May 2025
https://youtu.be/TazglvUmPvw
Rotary https://youtu.be/dnGu5nmztHg
Alzheimer’s Association: Dementia: Care, Prevention, and Causes, April 2024
Rotary https://youtu.be/5ucUnvjrjD4
Alan Dupuis teaches nursing at Broward College. Before he retired, he was Director Of Behavioral Health at University Hospital Medical Center.
Alan Dupuis also spoke on the International Seafarer Ministry of Miami. This is also a potential Rotary project. Many of the crew cannot leave the ship when they dock. Your club or your church could adopt a cargo ship, and when they dock in port, you can assist with holiday meals and companionship.
Allan Dupuis, Psychiatric Nurse, Evolution of Mental Health Treatment, Sunrise Rotary, April 2025
https://youtu.be/7FLejHY9v4k
Rotary https://youtu.be/7QZ1TvBpfEo
Allan Dupuis, Psychiatric Nurse, Seafarer’s Ministry, April 2025
https://youtu.be/CEpqZ0TIVRc
Rotary https://youtu.be/zzWX3uh-lIE
This is our YouTube Psychology and Dementia playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJVlY2bjK8lgYFj5b6w1OlsWkviazLeWX
AGING, SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND MENTAL HEALTH
Often, talented writers break into the general interest magazines with an article with unique personal experiences, and if you can add Stoic perspectives, so much the better.
Which means I am definitely an expert on aging, and my article will include the best quotes and insights from when my parents departed to sing with Elvis, and how I celebrate the main advantage of drawing social security.
An imminent proposed essay will piece together the best of my series of reflections on Aging and Retirement:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJVlY2bjK8lhYGJAe3yctJqdRIWqwjtYm
When discussing aging and retirement, many ancient Stoic philosophers discuss suicide. However, it is a gross simplification to say simply that Stoics condone suicide. There is no doubt that suicide was tolerated more in the ancient world than today, likely because few pain-killing drugs were available in the ancient world.
The Stoic Epictetus strongly condemned suicide, as did St Augustine. However, the Stoic Seneca obsessed about suicide, since he lived for years waiting for Nero’s soldiers to knock on his door compelling him to choose between noble suicide or a fatal blow with the sword. St Augustine opposed suicide under all circumstances.
Epictetus, Eminent Stoic Philosopher, on Living Well, Dying Well, and Opposing Suicide
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/epictetus-eminent-stoic-philosopher-on-living-well-dying-well-and-opposing-suicide/
https://youtu.be/MDRCc8Gu4y8
Roman Stoic Philosopher Seneca on Aging, Death, and Suicide
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/roman-stoic-philosopher-seneca-on-aging-death-and-suicide/
https://youtu.be/c9JXjqRKgBE
Can those who commit suicide be saved? Practically speaking, current church teaching says it depends on who inquires. If someone contemplating suicide asks, the answer is NO, you will go straight to hell. If a relative of a suicide asks, the answer is YES, absolutely yes, since his mental condition likely damaged his free will.
Opposing Suicide: According to the Bible, Catholic Catechism, and St Augustine’s City of God
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/opposing-suicide-biblical-exhortations-catholic-catechism-and-church-father-teachings/
https://youtu.be/G0e0uVCDIwg
Nina Abelo, from our local NAMI organization, spoke on suicide prevention. After her brother took his life after a lifelong struggle with depression, she became a certified counselor and manned a suicide hotline, as well as founding the charity, Tony’s Tribe.
NAMI Speaker on Suicide Prevention, Sunrise Rotary, November 2025
https://youtu.be/2rm0i92XwS4
Rotary https://youtu.be/1N6HagRuZHs
Due to the sensitive nature, I would prefer to find a NAMI expert to assist with an article on suicide prevention. Plus, I am planning a reflection on the early Christian martyrdom accounts, showing how they shared with the Stoics the urge to die the good death.
Playlist on Suicide Prevention
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJVlY2bjK8lgq7nHisOi12ukNF-g22Pev
Sunrise Police Chief Daniel Ransone spoke on policing and mental health. Recently, the Alzheimer’s Association proposed legislation requiring that optional mental health training be included in the CIT Police Training courses, which the Florida Legislature passed. How do you prioritize law and order with the need to safeguard the mental health of those whom officers encounter every day on their beat? The Sunrise Police Department has recently hired several social workers for their staff.
Sunrise Police Chief Daniel Ransone on Policing & Mental Health, Sunrise Rotary, May 2025
https://youtu.be/OsBZ6FnotxE
Rotary https://youtu.be/8NWzxq_2QYE
Although Tamara Dawes works for the Sunrise Police Department, she also works with the homeless throughout the county through the MJ Scarlett Foundation.
Nadine works with young women who are trapped by poverty into sex trafficking, who risk homelessness when they try to rise above their current circumstances. Her message is as beneficial as it is difficult to listen to.
Tamara Dawes on Human Trafficking and Homelessness, Sunrise Rotary, February 2025
https://youtu.be/VKZTWLDS0-k
Rotary https://youtu.be/hwVV9dsaFFE
Nadine and Her Personal Experience of Sex Trafficking, She Now Counsels Young Women
https://youtu.be/p9DrNf3lumQ
Rotary https://youtu.be/r8RJz2ZuEsg
We also had a counselor from NAMI speak on how her father suffered from both Schizophrenia and Alcoholism. Many of the homeless suffer from schizophrenia, or dementia, or both, as their hard life aggravates both conditions.
NAMI Speaker, How Her Father Suffered from Schizophrenia and Alcoholism, Rotary Speaker, May 2025
https://youtu.be/7IsgTP2U1N4
Rotary https://youtu.be/wBkjN-0dDeg
Bob Anthony, with the national Rotary Mental Health Action Group, promotes a program developed by the Boston Children’s Hospital to improve the mental health care of youth, through educational materials for the youth and their families and through providing professional education for pediatricians showing how they can both better address the mental health needs of their patients and ensure that their consultations can be reimbursed. If you invite Bob Anthony to speak, you may want to inquire if other clubs would like for him to speak since he would be driving from Naples.
Bob Anthony On Improving Children’s Mental Health with Boston Children’s Hospital
https://youtu.be/fuUHJg4b8YA
Rotary https://youtu.be/Jn5EbTR7e4k
We had a counselor for the Advocacy Group on Disabilities who discussed the various conditions that fall on the autism spectrum, which means that autism is really a family of maladies.
Is Autism a Neurological Condition, or a Personality? Rotary Speaker, May 2025
https://youtu.be/Dt4srvflW8A
Rotary https://youtu.be/2uJLQVmMlZg
We had David Sanderson of the Weston Rotary Club, Florida, speak on how his brother developed Parkinson’s disease, and his work with the Parkinson’s Foundation. We also reviewed Michael J Fox’s book on his experiences living and coping with Parkinson’s disease, plus we get a glimpse into how movie stars’ lives differ from our own.
David Sanderson, Parkinson’s Foundation, on Detecting and Combatting Parkinsons’s, Sunrise Rotary, March 2025
https://youtu.be/aVTVpzyq9aw
Rotary https://youtu.be/YgA7YMnC4Ic
Michael J Fox and Parkinson’s Disease: His Symptoms and Struggles
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/michael-j-fox-and-parkinsons-diseasel-symptoms-and-stuggles/
https://youtu.be/FmkrFanUc-0
rotary https://youtu.be/9NCTaqDY-PU
The Broward County Council of Aging describes the programs available to the elderly. Each county, or group of counties, in Florida has a similar agency. Both the 2025 and 2024 presentations cover similar topics.
Services Available to the Elderly: Broward County Council of Aging, Rotary Speaker, May 2025
https://youtu.be/nzGMuVmXnJk
Rotary https://youtu.be/dnGu5nmztHg
Aging Gracefully Seminar, Dementia; Elderly Programs & Services, Broward County Council of Aging, FL Rotary 4/2024
https://youtu.be/TCm4BYWrs8U
Rotary https://youtu.be/PSpWFnA5Qoc
Marty Kiar, Property Appraiser of Broward County, has developed programs to help prevent deed fraud. You can request that you be emailed when a change has been recorded on your deed. His office also has embedded Broward Sheriff officers to investigate and prosecute deed fraud. These two talks differ somewhat in content.
Preventing Deed Fraud: Broward County Property Appraiser, Marty Kiar, Rotary Speaker, May 2025
https://youtu.be/RxL0IS1FRgs
Rotary https://youtu.be/2m_u6YgWgdY
Aging Gracefully Seminar, Deed Fraud, Legal Challenges Facing Seniors, Sunrise Rotary 4/2024
https://youtu.be/Nd1EQV0Yfkc
Rotary https://youtu.be/2m_u6YgWgdY
These reflections refer to a Sunrise Community Police Academy course I recently participated in. Many residents take this course to learn about the challenges the police face every day on their beats, and afterwards you can apply for a Community Service Aide position. This course includes many of the same topics and simulations from the local police academy. Many police departments, from necessity, have included mental health courses in their police training. Previous articles from a decade ago emphasized the militarization of the police; this does not appear to be the case in South Florida. Experiencing the local police academy would be an interesting article.
Sunrise Community Police Academy: What is New? Cameras, Technology, Guns, SWAT Team, and More
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/sunrise-community-police-academy-cameras-technology-guns-swat/
Helene O’Brien spoke on the disastrous effect of the ICE Raids on working people and immigrants, many of whom have been working for decades on visas that were valid, but have been recently revoked. Many of these immigrants work in the service industries, including health care, restaurants, and construction.
Helene O’Brien, Service Union Leader, Effect of ICE Raids on Working People, 2025 Speaker
https://youtu.be/uRnSi4IyZ84
Rotary https://youtu.be/mLHSMLJ3jsA
Loretta Young is a long-standing member of our Sunrise Rotary Club. She spoke on her involvement with the local Junior ROTC chapters in the local high schools, and their scholarship programs.
Loretta Young, Speaker for Junior ROTC, Sunrise Rotary, December 2024
Rotary https://youtu.be/UauT1weDBms
Many mental health non-profit organizations sponsor walks in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties in Florida, and in many cities and counties across the United States, and other countries, which are great projects for Rotary Clubs, and other organizations. You simply form a team and show up for the Saturday morning event. Since the national Rotary magazine donates to the Alzheimer’s Association, local Rotary clubs are provided with a tent without further fundraising requirements. Many of the other walks will also provide a tent for Rotary clubs. Most of these walks are in the fourth quarter of the year in South Florida.
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2026/FL-SoutheastFlorida?pg=entry&fr_id=19535
https://www.namiwalks.org/home
https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/2025ImpactPartners
We reflected on the history of Rotary International. Rotary was founded over a century ago as a service organization, and provided input in establishing the United Nations relief organizations after World War II. Rotary supports non-profits and educational endeavors locally, nationally, and internationally. I also discuss why I joined Rotary, and some of the benefits of joining Rotary.
Bruce’s reflection on: Why I Joined Rotary, History and Philosophy of Rotary
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/history-and-philosophy-of-rotary-international-and-my-personal-experience/
https://youtu.be/gN6tb3YawI0
Rotary https://youtu.be/EkJhGcE5-Oc
Another reflection will include a compendium of reflections on Morality, Philosophy, and History, in roughly their order of views.
We can also speak on these topics for local Rotary and other clubs.
Some interesting topics include:
- Stoicism, including topics on Friendship, Virtue, Aging, and other topics.
- Is Epicureanism Really Stoicism Lite? Do Americans Live an Epicurean Lifestyle?
- Life of Ulyssess S Grant, as US President, and before then, as Administrator of Defeated Confederate States, and Why He was a Popular President.
- Is Artificial Intelligence More Artificial Than Intelligent? Is Wikipedia Better Than AI Chatbots ChatGPT & Google Bard?
- Were the Platonic Dialogues Primarily Commentaries on Peloponnesian Wars?
- Was Marcus Aurelius a Friends, or a Foe, of Roman Christians?
- What was is like to be a Christian or a Jew in the European Fascist Regimes Before and During WWII?
- How were the Vatican II Decrees are Influenced by Catholic WWII Experiences?
- What are Plato’s and Xenophon’s Views on Carnal Love and Divine Love?
Reflections on Mental Health Awareness, and Sunrise Rotary Speakers 2024/2025
https://seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/reflections-on-mental-health-awareness-and-sunrise-rotary-speakers-2024-2025/
MY BACKGROUND
My journalism experience includes articles in trade journals and editorials, including a stint as Contributing Editor for the Computers In Accounting/Accounting Technology magazine. Plus, I was the editor, as well as reporter, ad salesman, typesetter and layout, for the small-town weekly Mayo Free Press after I graduated from college. I am the Treasurer of my condominium association and will be taking the CAM exam for property managers in early 2026, mainly for journalistic credentials. My life experiences are detailed on my LinkedIn profile.
For more details, please see:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-strom-gp/
Be the first to comment