Duet: Partners In Health & Aging Honors Pioneer of Ambiguous Loss

Did you know 1 in 9 Americans, age 65 and older, suffers from Alzheimer's? It can be very challenging for their caregivers. On Sunday, Nov. 17 Duet: Partners In Health & Aging hosted their annual fundraiser in conjunction with National Family Caregiver Month. The nonprofit honored Dr. Boss, an accomplished professor and author, with an award. An emeritus professor at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Boss is renowned for her pioneering research on stress reduction for those experiencing the ambiguous loss of a loved one.

“Dr. Boss is known worldwide for her work understanding caregiving and navigating the complexities of caring for someone with dementia,” said Ann Wheat, executive director of Duet: Partners In Health & Aging. “We’ve had the privilege of partnering with her on our Finding Meaning and Hope discussion series and she named Duet as the Western United States Center of Ambiguous Loss Knowledge and Application. We are one of only three entities in the nation selected by Dr. Boss to carry on her work!”

Dr. Boss coined the term “ambiguous loss” to describe the loss without resolution, and for more than fifty years, her groundbreaking work in this area has provided a compassionate framework for those experiencing the unresolved physical or psychological loss of a loved one.

Her impact is further validated by her election to esteemed professional bodies including the American Psychological Association, The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the National Council on Family Relations. Dr. Boss’s books include “Ambiguous Loss and Loving Someone Who Has Dementia”, have been translated into multiple languages, amplifying her influence worldwide and serving as an essential resource for caregivers and mental health professionals.

Seven years ago, Duet partnered with Dr. Boss to create Finding Meaning and Hope, Duet’s signature discussion series for family caregivers, based on her book "Loving Someone Who Has Dementia." Her support was also crucial in launching Duet’s Meaning & Hope Institute, a virtual community offering essential help and hope to isolated family caregivers nationwide.

Today, Finding Meaning and Hope remains the only program of its kind in the world and is the only ambiguous loss-based program for family caregivers endorsed by Dr. Boss. Duet now offers the series throughout Maricopa County and across Arizona from Pima County to the Navajo Nation. The life changing impact of Finding Meaning and Hope is now backed by robust data, participants surveyed reported that the series significantly lowered their stress and an increased capacity to care for their loved ones.

The Giving in the Garden Party is the nonprofit’s largest fundraising event in support of the growing number of homebound adults, family caregivers, and grandfamilies who rely on Duet for their health and well-being. The event took place at Mountain Shadows Resort from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

About Duet: Partners In Health & Aging: Duet is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote health and well-being through vitally needed services to homebound adults, family caregivers and grandfamilies. Duet’s free-of-charge services are available in the greater Phoenix area. Finding Meaning and Hope is offered in 17 states across the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.meaningandhope.org. To volunteer, donate or ask for help, go to www.duetaz.org or call (602) 274-5022.