There will be a Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 26 in Oxnard.
Each of our walkers have a story to tell of their connection to the disease, which is an important reminder of why we walk each year.
Mary Thompson in Oxnard lost her mother to the disease just a couple months ago in June. In tears, she spoke about the difficulties of losing a loved one amidst a pandemic, feeling isolated without her church community, in-person support groups, and friends. “2020 has shown us we are not in control. We really never have been; now it is undeniable.”
For volunteer and Alzheimer’s advocate Terry Seidel, this year will be his fourth time participating in the annual Oxnard Walk to End Alzheimer’s in honor of his wife who passed away a year and a half ago.
Mary and Terry are both walking this year in honor of their recent losses, gathering close friends and family to join them. They are just two of many other walkers with touching stories – some are currently separated from their loved ones locked down in nursing homes, while others are struggling being at home all the time while caregiving, and many have a close connection to a relative that passed from the disease.
And they’re all coming together for the Walk. It is a powerful time, now more than ever, to support this cause that impacts so many.
In California, 1,624,000 caregivers provided a total of 1,849,000,000 hours of unpaid care. Deaths due to Alzheimer’s have increased an alarming 146 percent since 2000, while deaths for other major diseases remained flat or decreased. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. And, the fifth-leading cause of death for people 65 and older and of women of any age.
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My Father is 95 years old and has been diagnosed by a neuropsychologist as having Alzheimer’s Disease. I am his guardian/conservator while my younger sister lives with, and provides his daily care. He’s one of the fortunate ones in that it hasn’t progressed to the degree that requires daily professional care. He lives comfortably in his home in Montana.
This disease has more a challenge for the caretakers than the patient. I would like to suggest that those in a caretaker role should have on hand, and read, “The 36 Hour Day.” It will help you to better understand the disease and give you direction for help.