2024 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2024 Page 7 Working with people with Alzheimer’s helped Julie King be alert to its signs. According to Paul Boatman, “Julie King was the first person ever to “diagnose” Dad’s Alzheimer’s. We suspected it, but back in the mid-90s medical personnel typically avoided diagnosis. The only firm diagnosis was an autopsy, which left caregivers in the position of not having access to appropriately focused assistance, but Julie, who interacted with Dad on the Christian Village Campus, where he had an apartment, merely observed that Russell Boatman acted the way that people in earlystage Alzheimer’s typically acted.” As Boatman said, “Her experienced observation enabled us to do further research and equip ourselves to deal with his progressive dementia. He never was medically diagnosed, but when 16 of 16 “markers” were identified, we knew Julie was right on target.” Additionally, Boatman said, “15 years later, as the science and knowledge of Alzheimer’s progressed and my insight was intensified as my late wife developed the disease, I sought affirmation from Alzheimer’s Association to start a support group for Alzheimer’s caregivers. Julie was the obvious choice for co-facilitating the group. She always served well, and the caregiving community knew her as a trusted partner in difficult times.” On Friday, May 17, the Christian Village held a retirement party in the Congregate building’s dining hall. The full room of people showed just how many lives she touched. In a prayer at Julie’s retirement party, former Christian Nursing Home Chaplain Ryan Edgecombe, who worked with her for many
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