Botanical garden to host Walk to End Alzheimer’s

In 2015, these people participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Huntsville. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” event will be held at Huntsville Botanical Garden on Sept. 10.

In Alabama, 89,000 individuals live with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an opportunity for the community to come together to honor those living with Alzheimer’s disease,” walk coordinator Courtney Jeffreys said. Jeffreys works as senior manager of development.

The event will include a two-mile walk, vendors with activities and information booth and a ceremony in the Promise Garden. Participants also can learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, services the Alzheimer’s Association offers and how they can get involved in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

Nationwide, more than 600 communities conduct the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “We hope to raise $160,000 and have over 1,700 registered participants this year,” Jeffreys said.

“Over 7,000 people with dementia in Madison County, which means over 20,500 caregivers. Over 89,000 Alabamians suffer from the disease,” Jeffreys said. In Alabama, Alzheimer’s and related expenses for dementia cost the state Medicaid more than $808 million annually.

What signs, symptoms or behavior can children or spouses observe to identify the start of Alzheimer’s for a friend or relative? The association offered 10 patterns:

* Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
* Challenges in planning or solving problems.
* Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
* Confusion with time or day or a place.
* Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
* New problems with words in speaking or writing.
* Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
* Decreased or poor judgment.
* Withdrawal from work or social activities.
* Changes in mood and personality.

Anyone who notices any of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s should schedule a doctor’s appointment.

A person with Alzheimer’s will face confusion in completing everyday tasks. “We often suggest to remember the acronym ‘ARE’ for “do not argue, reason or explain,'” Jeffreys said.

Hollywood Feed is sponsoring the Canine Ambassador Contest directly before opening ceremonies.

The local Alzheimer’s office address is 117-A Longwood Drive SE in Huntsville. For more information, call toll-free 24/7 Helpline at 1.800.272.3900 or 256-880-1575 or visit alz.org.