Alzheimer’s Association reaches out to community

PORTSMOUTH — The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati (AAGC) is on a mission to make the 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer’s to be held in Portsmouth Oct. 8, 2016, bigger and better than ever before.

Jeffrey Dehner, special events coordinator of AAGC, gathered at Gatti’s Pizza Monday with a small group of local community members to share information, and to begin to build stronger ties throughout the community.

“We wanted to hear from the community as to what we at the Alzheimer’s Association can do to, particularly in respect to our Walk to End Alzheimer’s and how we can work together to ensure that this will be an event that will end up benefiting more people as it grows larger,” Dehner said. “So what I would like to talk with you all today, and get some ideas from you, and get some input from you on what we can do to make the Walk to End Alzheimer’s here in Portsmouth the best fundraising event that the town has to offer.”

Present at the gathering were Angela Adams, outreach director at Hill View Retirement Center, Clarence Parker of The Counseling Center Outreach Program, Pastor David Malone of Kingdom Builders Evangelistic Ministries, Cynthia Greene of Mount Zion Church, and Mark Williams of Pleasant Green Baptist Church.

Dehner shared information regarding Alzheimer’s disease and the negative effects of Alzheimer’s across the United States.

“Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s,” Dehner said. ” One of the most common questions that I get is, what is the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia? Alzheimer’s is a form of Dementia. It is the most common form of Dementia. Dementia is really a description of symptoms such as memory loss, loss of cognitive abilities. So Dementia is essentially a description of what the person is experiencing. “

Adams said her employer, Hill View Retirement Center supports AAGC annually. She is hopeful that more people in southern Ohio will support AAGC’s efforts.

“As we all know, it takes money for research to combat this horrible disease” Adams said. “The Alzheimer’s Association is helping many people affected by this, and the great people of Southern Ohio will hopefully be generous with their dollars once again. Hill View Retirement Center and our employees, supports these efforts every year.”

AAGC provides services in three states, and provides a helpline that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“What we do is provide boots on the ground, 27 counties in Ohio, southeastern Indiana and northern Kentucky,” Dehner said. “We have a help line that operates 24/7. You can call the help line and talk with a live person, and that can be used by family members, or professional caregivers. We encourage that, if they are experiencing some type of behavior that they need some help with, call our helpline.”

The Southern Ohio Walk To End Alzheimer’s has officially been moved to the Shawnee State University campus.

“For as long as I think that we have had the Walk, the start from the end has been on Market Street, between the two Riverview buildings,” Dehner said. “It is a beautiful, little area but it is too small. We are outgrowing it. So this year the Walk is moving to Shawnee State. We are going to have our start and our finish on the alumni green at Shawnee State. The space down there is really beautiful. So we are really anticipating a great event, and will continue to host volunteer planning meetings to bring the community together, to get as many people involved as possible to make this happen.”

For more information regarding the Southern Ohio Walk to End Alzheimer’s call 800-272-3900 or visit the website: www.alz.org.

By Portia Williams

[email protected]

Facts about Alzheimer’s disease:

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. In 2016, Alzheimer’s and other Dementias will cost the nation $236 billion.

Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.

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