Dementia- Pat Summit

Pat Summit was the women's basketball head coach for the University of Tennessee for 38 years. She began coaching at the age of 22 and eventually even coached the women's olympic basketball team. Pat Summit was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 59. She also had rheumatoid arthritis. She began to get confused and people close to her began to notice a shift in her personality. She would frequently lose her car keys, call out the wrong plays during a basketball game, or leave her car running outside. Eventually, Pat Summit went to the Mayo Clinic to get some answers. When she was diagnosed with dementia, she was forced to retire and move to the Sherrill Hill Senior Living Facility. Katherine shared with our group that usually occupational therapy would not be utilized for late stage dementia. OTs could be used to help with home modifications and caregiver education, but not much more can be done to help the client. Pat Summit created the Pat Summit Foundation in order to raise funds for Alzheimer's research.