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Florida Association Offers Memory Help for People with Alzheimer’s

A veteran of the fragrance industry, Ken Wessel is the founder of Wessel Fragrances of New Jersey, a company he owned for 20 years. Ken Wessel has donated to many worthy causes in Florida, such as the Alzheimer’s & Parkinson Association of Indian River County. Located at 2300 5th Avenue, Suite 150 in Vero Beach, Florida, the association offers several programs for people who have memory problems due to Alzheimer’s or other conditions.

One common fear of Alzheimer’s caregivers is that their loved one will get lost. Operation Lifesaver addresses this problem by equipping patients with bracelet tracking devices. If someone wanders away, law enforcement officers can track their movements on the ground and in the air. They generally find the patients in 30 minutes, which is a great improvement over other methods.

The association also works with the Vero Beach Museum of Art to help jog patients’ memories. Its Movement in the Moment program uses music to stimulate mild exercise. Meanwhile, the Artful Engagement class facilitates self-expression and relaxation through painting, sculpting, and other activities. Music and pet therapy round out the association’s memory respite programs.

The organization also sets up memory screenings, which involve 20- to 30-minute tests where older adults answer questions and perform tasks. Results are available on the spot and can be given to doctors. The association recommends screenings for people over 50, and earlier if Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia run in the family.

Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Studies Safety of Perfumes

Ken Wessel, the founder of Wessel Fragrances, Inc., has been in the fragrance industry for several years. A resident of Vero Beach, Florida, he has served on the board of multiple organizations including the International Fragrance Association and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM). In 2008, Ken Wessel received a recognition plaque honoring his 33 years of service on the board of directors at RIFM.

RIFM established its Human Health Science program which makes sure that perfumes and other fragrant products are safe to use. The institute carries out research based on exposure data to assess the safety of such products. The scope of research data entails any toxic effects of fragrant products including phototoxicity, skin sensitization, and carcinogenic side effects. All data collected by RIFM are published in peer-reviewed journals such as Elsevier. Research findings aid in the formulation of new safety assessments as well as testing techniques for future products.

Healthy Habits Program Promotes Nutrition and Exercise

The recipient of the 2007 Eric Bruell Distinguished Service Award from the Fragrance Materials Association, Ken Wessel owned and operated Wessel Fragrances for more than two decades. Since selling the company in 2008, Ken Wessel has focused on philanthropy, supporting organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Indian River County, Florida.

A youth service organization committed to improving children’s lives, the Boys and Girls Club offers services such as mentoring, homework help, and recreational activities, as well as a wide range of educational programming. The Healthy Habits program, for example, provides tools to help young people incorporate healthy habits into every aspect of their lives.

Focused on topics from the benefits of exercise to how to choose nutritious food, the program helps children understand how healthy choices benefit both their bodies and their minds. Healthy Habits, open to children aged six through 15, is the Mind component of the Triple Play program, which takes a holistic approach to health and wellness through equal emphasis on Mind, Body, and Soul.

RIFM’s January 2020 INFOX Event

Based in Florida, Ken Wessel is an entrepreneur with a career spanning over 50 years in the fragrance industry. After starting in perfume research and development with Procter & Gamble, he went on to found his own company, Wessel Fragrances Inc. Ken Wessel has also served on the board of several associations that support the fragrance industry, including the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), where he served as vice-chairman.

The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) is an international body that ensures the safe use of fragrance materials in consumer products. In 1967, the association established the expert panel for fragrance safety to review all its scientific work and approve all safety assessments before publication. This panel comprises an independent group of scientists, including dermatologists, toxicologists, and chemists with no involvement in the fragrance industry.

In January 2020, the expert panel hosted an information exchange or INFOX in New Delhi, India, to share the science behind fragrances. RIFM staff and expert panel members presented to a group of fragrance industry professionals, academics, and government oversight officials. Among the presentations was a detailed look at RIFM’s groundbreaking research and safety assessment programs and an overview of contact allergies caused by fragrances.

RIFM Releases Paper on Ingredient Clustering and Read-Across

A businessman from Vero Beach, Florida, Ken Wessel has held various leadership roles in companies and industry associations. In 2008, Ken Wessel received a plaque of recognition for serving on the board of the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) for 33 years.

RIFM has released a paper that outlines the strategies for fragrance ingredient clustering and “read-across.” The groundbreaking paper will facilitate the production of safe products without the need to test the products on animals.

Clustering is the process of organizing and grouping chemicals into structurally similar groups. Clustering compares each fragrance compound to understand how its chemicals behave in different routes of exposure, such as inhalation and skin absorption.

“Read-across” is a process in which scientists use clustering data to predict how similar ingredients may affect humans and the environment. Read-across is an innovative approach to evaluate materials with limited data, effectively bypassing tests on animals. It is noteworthy that some regions, particularly in the European Union, have prohibited animal testing for cosmetics and household products.

PCPC Promotes Global Halting of Animal Testing

Vero Beach, Florida resident Ken Wessel founded Wessel Fragrances, Inc. in 1988 and grew it to a multi-million dollar company before its eventual sale. Ken Wessel maintained a keen interest in the beauty and fragrances industry and was a member of the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC).

PCPC is committed to enhancing sustainability across the entire beauty and personal care products value chain. By working together with its members, the organization drives sustainable impact on the environmental, social, and economic fronts while promoting good governance in the industry. One of the areas where the organization is heavily engaged in is the fight against animal testing.

PCPC advocates for a global end to all animal testing and urges beauty products manufacturers not to use animals for product safety tests. PCPC’s member companies themselves do not test products on animals and have not done so since the mid-1980s unless required by law. Through collaborations with regulators, academic institutions, scientists, and private sector groups across the globe, PCPC is encouraging the use of alternative testing methods to evaluate product safety. The organization is working with the International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods to promote its tests.

Membership Benefits of the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials

An accomplished professional with over 50 years of experience in the fragrance industry, Ken Wessel sold the successful Wessel Fragrances in 2008 and currently lives in Florida. Ken Wessel has won numerous awards in his career, including a recognition plaque for serving on the board of directors at the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) for 33 years.

RIFM started as a non-profit corporation in 1966 to encourage and set safety standards in the industrial use of fragrance ingredients. Since its foundation, RIFM has been contributing extensively to advancements in the industry, creating a worldwide database, available online to members, with information about over 6,000 fragrance materials.

The Institute offers membership to companies in the fragrance industry that support research and education. Member companies can use the RIFM member logo, which attests their compliance and dedication to safety in their fragrance products.

Besides having access to the database of fragrance and flavor materials, RIFM member companies can also download exclusive research reports and publications, and have discounts for RIFM`s networking and education events.

Addressing Family Factors That Can Lead to Child Abuse

Over the course of his 50-year career, fragrance and cosmetics executive Ken Wessel has held leadership positions in multiple industry organizations, including the Personal Care Products Council. Today, Ken Wessel devotes his time to supporting nonprofits serving the southeast Florida community, such as the local Child Abuse Prevention Services.

Child abuse is more likely to occur in families facing stressors due to individual and environmental conditions. For example, families with a history of mental illness, addiction, or domestic violence have a higher risk of child maltreatment.

Additionally, parents who had their children at a young age or who lack an understanding of child development are also more likely to be neglectful or abusive. Child abuse is more prevalent in neighborhoods afflicted by high levels of unemployment and poverty.

These factors are even more straining if the child is very dependent due to age or disability. Child abuse prevention programs provide support to families in high-risk situations to reduce family stresses and educate parents on how to interact positively with their children.

Raising Awareness on Child Abuse Prevention Month

As the former president of Fragrance Materials Association and former head of Wessel Fragrances, Ken Wessel remains active in his Vero Beach, Florida community through his philanthropic work. Ken Wessel focuses on organizations that contribute to stronger and healthier families, including the Family and Children’s Association and the Child Abuse Prevention Services.

Nearly three million incidents of child abuse are reported in the United States every year. Starting in 2019, family and child-focused organizations observe Child Abuse Prevention Month. Made official during the Trump Administration, National Child Abuse Prevention Month calls for governments and community organizations to bring attention to programs and initiatives that promote the emotional and physical well-being of children by introducing protective factors against abuse.

In addition to educating the public on the long-term impacts of adverse events in childhood such as a higher risk of mental illness and substance abuse, agencies share tips and strategies for parents to manage their stress and respond appropriately to challenging behaviors from their children.