Toni Gitles
Central Florida Dementia-friendly Dining, Heart Light Enterprises
Dr. Dennis Dulniak retired from a 40-year career in higher education as University Registrar at the University of Central Florida and VP at Parchment when his wife Nancy was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2014. His dedication to caregiving came from focusing care partnering skills with his wife Nancy who passed away after seven plus years with the disease. He now serves as Co-Founder for Central Florida Dementia-friendly Dining, President and Founder for the Nana’s Books Foundation to honor his wife - a lifelong librarian, as a key resource and facilitator for a large Men’s Dementia Caregiver Support Group, and member of the Central Florida Dementia Care and Cure Initiative.
He is a consummate volunteer and enduring advocate with a desire to share his knowledge, insights, and journey with others as they seek quality life experiences with their Loved One and in their lives moving forward. After a forty-year career in the Hearing Healthcare field, Toni retired to take care of her aging mother, which was a 14-year journey. When her mom died at age 100, she became a Certified Caregiver Consultant and started HeartLight Enterprises. She was invited to join the State of Florida Eldercare Dementia Care and Cure Initiative and started Dementia-friendly Dining with her then partner, now husband, Dr. Dennis Dulniak. This project fills a need for families taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's and other forms of Dementia to continue to engage in enjoyable activities that would otherwise present challenges. Toni is the author of the International Best-Selling Book, "21 Mistakes Caregivers Make & How to Avoid Them," and continues to advocate for caregivers and educate people about progressive diseases and disabilities. She is an advisor to the Nana's Books Foundation, which provides books on Alzheimer's, dementia and disabilities to Title 1 schools across the United States. Toni has a desire to share her knowledge, insights and journey with others as they seek quality life experiences with their loved ones.