Help Eradicate a Devastating Disease by Joining a “Walk to End Alzheimer’s”

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are 5.8 million Americans of all ages living with Alzheimer's disease. This number includes 5.6 million people age 65 and older with the disease and another 200,000 individuals under age 65 afflicted with younger-onset Alzheimer's.  Experts also predict by the year 2050 the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s will grow to nearly 14 million.  Now when you add the fact that the cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia will be $290 billion in 2019; it is imperative that we all take a step toward finding a cure for this devastating disease. 

One way we can do this is to participate in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, which is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.  This year’s Walk will be held in 600 communities nationwide with people of all ages and abilities joining the fight against the disease.     

  

The event dates back to 1989 when nine Alzheimer’s Association chapters held a Memory Walk® with just 1,249 participants and raising $149,000.  From there, the idea quickly took hold and four years later it was a nationwide event raising $4.5 million and held at 167 locations.  The 2018 Walk had 65,000 teams participating and raised over $90 million.

If you or a loved one is having memory problems, learn more about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s.  The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one of the earliest signs is experiencing memory loss to the extent that it disrupts your daily life.  This includes forgetting recently learned information and finding it difficult to organize a plan or to problem solve.  People may also get lost driving to familiar places or remembering things like the rules of a favorite game. 

Other signs it may be more than typical age-related memory problems are forgetting how you got somewhere and misplacing things in unusual places such as keys in the refrigerator.  Additionally people may have trouble finding the right words to use, following a conversation, and experience changes in their mood and personality. 

To get involved in a Walk, simply visit the Alzheimer’s Association’s website and follow the instructions to find an event in your area.  Most are held throughout September or early October and you can join a team, start your own team, or walk as an individual.  The site also has lots of suggestions on how to raise funds for this great cause!  

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan Creek, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest senior living Des Moines and the surrounding area offers.

Source: alz.org/