A Patient’s Perspective On the Award-Winning Care Offered to Older Adults

Steve Zabicki, 86, a resident of Pikesville, Maryland, has been a patient at the Beacham Center for more than a decade. Here, he shares his experience.

“About 10 years ago, my wife was having some health problems. Our primary care doctor diagnosed her with Alzheimer’s disease. It was something that I didn’t want to believe or accept, so I decided to get a second opinion. That’s how we began coming to the Beacham Center.

The physician we saw was Dr. Jeremy Barron. He was never in a hurry to move on to the next patient. He spent a lot of time learning about our history, listening to our concerns and making us feel like he genuinely cared. We were so impressed with him that we continued to see him for our primary care.

While I was blessed with good health, my wife unfortunately was not. Not long after our first appointment at the Beacham Center, a neurologist confirmed that she did have Alzheimer’s disease. She passed away six years ago from Lewy body dementia.

I guess you could say that I’m pretty lucky because I don’t have the same health problems as many people my age. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world with son, Steven, doing missionary work with the Serra Foundation, and even met Mother Teresa during a trip to India. I always tell Dr. Barron that I’m going to keep on traveling as long as I’m healthy!

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. This took me by surprise since I work out three times a week and try to eat balanced meals. Dr. Barron knew that I was afraid my traveling days were over. He reassured me that we would get my blood pressure under control and that I would be able to continue my active lifestyle.

I check in at the Beacham Center at least once a year, or whenever I have a problem or concern. Dr. Barron always gets back to me right away. I know a lot of my issues are because I’m getting older, but the services and care at the Beacham Center have helped me maintain my independence. Because of Dr. Barron and the team, I’ll be able to fill my passport with stamps for years to come.”