Dennis Dulniak, founder of Dementia-friendly Dining in Central Florida, is the loving Care Partner for his wife Nancy who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2015. Through the journey together they have traveled extensively, pursued quality life experiences and fully engaged in activities to ward off the progression of Nancy’s Alzheimer’s. Even though Nancy had been placed in a local Memory Care Community, Dennis enjoyed taking her out to local businesses for meals and other treats like ice cream and deserts. Having learned of other communities that established Dementia-friendly Dining, Dennis teamed with Toni Gitles, Certified Caregiving Consultant, author of "21 Mistakes of Caregiving and Ways to Avoid Them," and Educator with Heart of Caregiving and Edith Gendron, Chief of Operations with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center to help provide personnel training, scheduling and marketing.
The Meatball Stoppe willingly accepted the invitation to be Orlando’s first Dementia-friendly Dining restaurant and opened their backroom “La Famiglia” every Tuesday from 11 am to 6 pm. Owners and Chef’s Isabella and Jeff Morgia are overjoyed when Dennis brings Nancy for another happy time at The Meatball Stoppe! Unfortunately, COVID-19 brought an ubrupt end to continuing and extending Dementia-friendly Dining in March 2020. Sadly, Nancy passed away January 26, 2021 after over seven years with Alzheimer's. In her honor as a lifelong librarian, Dennis and his sons Mark and Craig created Nana's Books Foundation that now is providing grade-appropriate books on Alzheimer's, dementia, and other disabilities to public libraries and students in Title I schools.
We were happy to restart Dementia-friendly Dining in May 2022 and will be continuing to announce new locations, days and times. If you are a restaurant or aware of places that may be potential Dementia-friendly Dining location, please email cfldfd01@gmail.com.
