Walk to End Alzheimer’s set for this Saturday
Oct. 9 is the 6th annual Humboldt County Walk To End Alzheimer’s. For the safety of everyone, the walk will take place in your community or neighborhood again this year. Download the Alz app to watch opening ceremonies, track your steps or plant a flower in the virtual Promise Garden. There is a live Flower Garden at the Arcata Plaza. Other gardens are located throughout the county from Scotia to Trinidad. There are four types of Flowers: Blue for people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, purple represents people who have lost someone, yellow for caregivers or supporters of anyone with dementia and orange for participants who support the association’s cause and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s or other dementia.
Alzheimer’s is one type of dementia that affects a person’s memory, thinking abilities and behavior. Dementia, a general term, describes a decline in one’s mental ability which causes interference with a person’s daily life. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease, dementia is not. People routinely interchange these two words which is incorrect. Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, has three specific types. Late-onset, most common and, affects about 50% of people age 85 or older. Early-onset affects people under 65 and familial, the rarest form, is genetic.
Local help and support is available from several sources. The 24/7 tollfree helpline (800-2723900) is staffed by professionals speaking over 200 different languages. Here one can learn about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, local programs, services, medications, treatment options and speak confidentially about your concerns.
We have brochures printed in English and Spanish covering different topics relating to Alzheimer’s. Visit the Alzheimer’s website at Alz.org and explore resources, education programs and up-to-date information to help you learn about this devastating disease and what is being done to combat it. Help is also available at the Senior Resource Center, Area 1 Agency on Aging, Mad River Adult Day Health Care and Redwood Caregiver Resource Center, If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of dementia or taking care of someone with dementia, please reach out for help.
On Oct. 20 and 21 the Alzheimer’s Association, in partnership with the Senior Resource Center, is sponsoring the virtual “Renewing Care & Connections” dementia conference. Health care, longterm care, social services professionals and family caregivers will provide up-to-date information to help you optimize care for people living with dementia or dementia-related conditions. For questions or to register for this event, call 707-443-9747 ext.3230 or email abruhnke@humsenior.org.
If you have any questions or want more information, contact Kim Coelho, community engagement manager at 707-407-8826 or kcoelho@alz.org. To donate to this year’s walk, send a check payable to Alzheimer’s Association, put Visiting Angels on the memo line. Mail your check to Kim Coelho, P.O.Box 2542, McKinleyville, CA. 95519. Alzheimer’s hasn’t stopped and neither will we until we find a cure!