Every day I hear stories about Southern Maryland families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Although each family is different, the plea is very much the same: We have to do something about this disease.
The urgency of their message was even more apparent at the recent National Alzheimer’s Project Act listening session at the College of Southern Maryland on Aug. 16. More than 120 people signed up to make sure their voices were heard.
In the hour and a half of time allotted, 21 people from all walks of life stood at the microphone and shared their ideas of what needs to be done. Several themes emerged: support for caregivers; more education for physicians, nurses, staff, caregivers and families; research; and improved conditions for patients affected by this disease.
Their stories were so compelling that nobody objected when the time was extended for an additional 30 minutes.
Americans 5.4 million of them currently have Alzheimer’s disease. To bring the statistics to a more local level, one in eight older than 65 and one in two over the age of 85 will have Alzheimer’s. An even more compelling fact is that African-Americans are 50 percent more likely to have Alzheimer’s than Caucasians.
Alzheimer’s disease is the only disease in the top 10 that has no cure, no treatment and no way to stop the progress. Beginning with NAPA, our nation is taking the first step toward finding a treatment and ultimately a cure.
Special thanks to our NAPA input session community leader “listeners”: Betsy Bossart, representing Congressman Steny Hoyer; Maryland State Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton; and Charles County commissioners’ Vice President Reuben B. Collins II. On behalf of all those dealing with this disease, your presence and support has not gone unnoticed.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading research, education and support organization in the world. We are providing services, education, training and support to help caregivers provide the best possible care until a cure is found. In order to do this we need the community’s help to achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.
I am asking our community to join our movement to achieve that end by joining the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 17 at Regency Furniture Stadium and Asbury-Solomons Island. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at either location. If you know someone with Alzheimer’s and want to make a difference, please help create a world without Alzheimer’s.
Join us at http://2011walktoendalz.kintera.org/maryland or call 301-934-5856.
Linda Gottfried, La Plata
The writer is the director of Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter, Southern Maryland.
