Watching a loved one die is one of the most agonizing experiences that a family can go through. The hardest part is caring for a loved one who doesn’t even know you as you witness their fast and steady decline. The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia will hit record highs as the baby boomers age. Around 5.2 million Americans are diagnosed with this deadly disease which includes 200,000 individuals younger than 65 years of age and older. It is estimated that by the year 2050 that the number of people 65 and older with Alzheimer’s may triple the national rates of today, raising numbers from 5 million to 16 million. Alzheimer’s disease attacks women twice as often as men.
It is important as our loved ones are aging to become aware of any signs and to help to get them medical attention as soon as possible. Trying to aid in the fight we, here at The Bridge, presented Miriam Clay, the manager in Programs in Education of the Memphis Alzheimer’s Chapter, with a check in the amount of $910.50 in a small ceremony on Wednesday, April 15. These funds were raised by the facility and headed up by the Quality of Life Director and her team in honor of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Day. Their efforts included the selling of Alzheimer’s awareness t-shirts, cake walks, carnival games, karaoke music and concessions where they sold hotdogs, popcorn and beverages.
They also had an awesome pie-in-the-face fundraiser where the top donation was in the amount of $50. Community and staff members had a rewarding and fabulous time helping with such a worthy cause!