EAST TEXAS UNFILTERED w/J. Chad Parker: Featuring Bonnie Varner

Bonnie Varner joins host J. Chad Parker on East Texas Unfiltered for a candid conversation about a topic that touches nearly everyone's family. As CEO of the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County, Bonnie explains what Alzheimer’s and dementia can look like in real life. She talks about why early screening matters and the heavy emotional and financial burdens caregivers carry. She also shares how her background in politics and fundraising shaped her leadership and how “no” is not always the end of the conversation.In this episode, Bonnie walks through the real ways the Alliance supports families across Smith County, from the first worried phone call to long-term care planning. She explains how counseling helps caregivers cope, why memory screenings matter, and how respite scholarships and the Day Club program give families time to rest, work, or simply breathe. The conversation also covers safety tools like Project Lifesaver and the Alliance’s hands-on education for banks, law enforcement, and future medical professionals. If this topic hits close to home, or if you want to support work that stays local, you can learn more through the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County and the annual Butterfly Hope Luncheon.  Be sure to like and subscribe for more episodes of East Texas UNFILTERED.