The Comfort Matters team is comprised of dedicated professionals who are nationally acclaimed experts in their fields. They are assisted by dozens of Beatitudes Campus staff members from interdisciplinary care teams, who bring unique experiences to the program.
Tena R. M. Alonzo, MA
Director, Education & Research, Comfort Matters
Ms. Alonzo has spent the past several decades enhancing the lives of persons with dementia. Her work has appeared in The Gerontologist, Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, Arizona Geriatrics Society Journal, Annals of Long Term Care, The NY Times, The Boston Globe and The Global Mail. Ms. Alonzo speaks nationally on evidence-based caregiving practices for people with dementia. Under her leadership, Beatitudes Campus received the 2010 Excellence in Research and Education Award from LeadingAge (formerly American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging), the 2012 Award of Honor from LeadingAge Arizona, the 2012 Promising Practices Award from Matherlifeways, and the 2013 Public Trust Award from LeadingAge. Ms. Alonzo holds bachelor of science and master of arts degrees in psychology from Northern Arizona University.
Maribeth Gallagher, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Dementia Program Director, Hospice of the Valley
Dr. Gallagher’s work with Hospice of the Valley focuses on optimizing quality of life for persons with advanced dementia. Dr. Gallagher has been a featured guest speaker at both national and international conferences and has published in several professional journals. She received first place in the non-cancer category at the 2012 International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards in London for her work with Hospice of the Valley’s dementia program. The Visiting Nurse Associations of America honored her with the 2012 Program Manager of the Year Award. In addition, Dr. Gallagher has been a family caregiver, sharing the journey with a family member with dementia from diagnosis to death.
Karen Mitchell, RN, BSN
Nurse Educator, Comfort Matters
Ms. Mitchell is a registered nurse and educator who has spent the past four decades improving quality of life for both older adults in a long term heath care setting and their families. In her career she has served as a nursing assistant, charge nurse, nursing instructor, nursing supervisor, assistant director and director of nursing. Ms. Mitchell joined the staff at Beatitudes Campus in 1983 and since then has been a driving force in the development and implementation of evidence-based, best practices health care. Her work has been published in the New York Times, the New Yorker Magazine and the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. Ms. Mitchell received her RN from Maria College in Albany, New York and her BSN from the University of Phoenix.
Evelyn J. Sowell, EdD
Professor of Education Emerita, Arizona State University West
Research Associate and Principal Writer, Comfort Matters
Dr. Sowell is a lifelong learner, teacher and writer. She has led and been part of curriculum development groups for university teacher education programs, public school mathematics programs and church school education programs. Thereafter, she was frequently one who implemented these curricula with students whether they were in elementary school, undergraduates, or graduates. Her published work appears in multiple journal reports, book chapters and textbooks on curriculum and research methodology.
Vermilion Cliffs Interdisciplinary Team
The interdisciplinary team at Vermilion Cliffs, (care center for people with moderate to advanced dementia at Beatitudes Campus) is uniquely experienced in all facets of the Comfort Matters program. Members of this team frequently help educate peers from other organizations involved in onsite education at Beatitudes Campus. Based on their own experiences, team members aid their peers as they seek to embed new concepts into practice.
Amanda Weiler, BS
Comfort Matters Educator
As a healthcare provider serving in multiple roles, Amanda Weiler has helped adults across a broad spectrum of senior services. During her 15 year career Ms. Weiler educated and counseled older adults and their families on many topics related to aging and living well. As a program director, she led healthcare staff to superior performance levels in caring for adults with dementia and other chronic diseases. Ms. Weiler’s passion for helping older adults comes from a well-defined sociological perspective and strong clinical approach in various areas of service including nursing homes, adult day health services, and senior centers. As an educator and consultant for the Comfort Matters program at Beatitudes Campus, she teaches and advises staff at long-term care organizations across the country on evidence-based practice in dementia care. Ms. Weiler has a Bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in Biomedical Science and Sociology.