A few years ago, Sarah Schurr went to visit her grandmother in Texas. She was shocked to overhear her grandmother ask, "Who is that young girl there?"
Pretty soon, it was evident that Schurr's grandmother needed help with symptoms of early onset dementia. But as a teenager, Schurr wasn't sure what to do.
Then, as she volunteered at Northside Hospital, she created a toolkit that could help families communicate with members who are suffering from dementia or other forms of diminished mental capacity.
The project earned Schurr a Gold Award from the Girl Scouts and lead to her being named one of 10 National Young Women of Distinction, the highest award the organization gives.
"It's not just adults who can change the world, and these young ladies prove that year after year," said Leslie Gillem, marketing and communications manager of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.
Amy Dosik, CEO of the Atlanta organization, said: "Sarah has made a remarkable achievement and exemplifies leadership in every form. Her Gold Award project has made a lasting impact, and we couldn't be prouder of her and her accomplishments."
Schurr joined her local Peachtree Corners troop when she was in kindergarten, hoping to go on camping trips the same way her big brother, Matthew, did in Cub Scouts. She said she knew early on that she wanted to earn a Gold Award.
"The Gold Award is an amazing platform for girls to follow their passion," she said.
Schurr said a lot of the information she received as a hospital volunteer helped her family as they addressed her grandmother's health. This information wasn't readily available to others, however.
The nurses at Northside said they had a need for sensory mats, which have various activities for older adults to do with their hands, but Schurr wanted to go further.
After talking with nurses and doing some research, Schurr created photo books that could help spur memories and conversations, and put together dozens of cards with conversation starter questions on them.
She also wrote an in-depth instructional booklet, which she published on her website www.talktomegold.com.
"When Sarah started the project, she was the typical teenager. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do," said her mother, Cynthia Schurr, who was the troop leader. "The more she started researching, the greater importance it took in her life.
"It was a good process for our family," she added. "It was turning on a light bulb."
It turned out the symptom's Cynthia Schurr's mother experienced were related to nutrition and other medical issues. She has since recovered.
But the Talk to Me toolkit has helped other families connect with loved ones facing dementia. Sarah Schurr delivered the toolkits, including the mats, to Northside, and she trained volunteers and others on how to use them. She also donated kits to several assisted-living facilities.
A staffer at one of the facilities said the conversation starter cards helped her make real connections with patients.
"It was cool to see how much this affects people and their relationships," Sarah Schurr said. "You could see the quality of the conversations improving."
Being a Young Woman of Distinction gave Sarah Schurr a national platform, and she talked about her project on the Dr. Phil Show.
The project also helped Sarah Schurr to find a trajectory for her life. She recently completed her first year at Stanford University, and she is spending her summer working in a laboratory dedicated to Alzheimer's research. She is considering majoring in biochemistry or neurobiology.
"I'm so thankful to the Girl Scouts for all the amazing memories and skills they brought me over 14 years," she said. "It has opened doors for me. ... It has meant so much to my life."
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