A quiet afternoon at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was anything but for Allison Slates and her father, Jim, as they beamed and boogied around a picnic shelter to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
You wouldn’t know it from watching the father-daughter pair, but Jim was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Since then, the Slates family has prioritized celebrating their time together as much as possible.
As passersby paused to take in the scene, several other patrons donning matching headphones and bright-pink “EnergizeCare” T-shirts joined the fun, clapping, twisting and twirling along to a playlist only they could hear.
Memory Discos – silent discos designed specifically for individuals with dementia – are
a signature staple of EnergizeCare’s respite sessions. The New Albany-based nonprofit founded by Dr. Ken Vitellas serves individuals with early to moderate Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Vitellas launched EnergizeCare after his wife, Lisa, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital radiologist began working from home so he could give his wife the care she needed in the comfort of their own home. As he and his three adult daughters navigated Lisa’s devastating diagnosis, Vitellas felt called to help others caring for loved ones with this disease alone. Early in 2025, EnergizeCare was born.
“Most communities only see Alzheimer’s when it reaches a crisis point – a hospitalization, a wandering episode or the transition to long-term care,” Vitellas said. “By then, families have often been living with the disease privately for years.”
EnergizeCare was designed to meet families at the exact moment of diagnosis, eliminating any need to navigate those early years alone. The organization provides an abundance of educational resources for caregivers, including support groups, monthly information sessions and even Dementia Connection Institute-approved training.
Respite care sessions currently take place Saturdays and Sundays at Healthy New Albany (150 W. Main St., New Albany) and Thursdays at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from April through October. These gatherings provide participants with music enrichment, dancing, storytelling, cooking, fitness, animal engagement and more. They also provide caregivers with some much-needed respite from their around-the-clock duties.
Vitellas’ enthusiasm, determination and ability to forge vital community connections at breakneck speed made him the perfect person to pioneer this mission. In less than two years, the nonprofit founder said he has managed to raise $150,000 for the cause via the organization's first annual gala in 2025 and individual donors. That funding was crucial for the organization's next step.
EnergizeCare will open Lisa’s Place, the first freestanding non-medical respite care and adult day center for individuals with dementia in Ohio, by early October. The Dublin-based location at 7293 Sawmill Road will serve as a hub of support for central Ohio caregivers and their loved ones.
“This curse on Lisa came with a blessing to me and the community,” Vitellas said. “Without going through this journey with Lisa, EnergizeCare would never have been created.”
The overwhelming joy present at EnergizeCare’s respite sessions is evidence enough that Vitellas is onto something big, and everyone touching the organization seems to agree.
“Ken is building a really unique organization that partners with folks who are all on this mission to help loved ones be home with their care partners,” said Jim Mendenhall, EnergizeCare board member and care partner to his wife of 40 years, Gail.
“So, the surprising thing for me is how successful he's been in such a short period of time. And this thing's going to get bigger. I could see it going nationwide.”
To learn more about EnergizeCare or register for respite care, visit energizecareoh.org.
Reporter Kelly Tucker can be reached at ktucker@dispatch.com.
This article was made possible by support from the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation, which has partnered with The Columbus Dispatch to profile those making our community a better place. Help us lift up inspiring stories of kindness by suggesting people, initiatives, or organizations to feature by emailing kindness@dispatch.com. The Dispatch retains full editorial independence for all content. Learn more at Dispatch.com/Kindness.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: EnergizeCare creates community in the face of Alzheimer's
