Alzheimer's disease is a growing condition, not just in Kansas but around the U.S. Last Thursday during Chamber Coffee at Daylight Donuts, Stephen Mitchell, Executive Director at Sterling House in Wellington took the opportunity to inform the community about what everyone could do to help.
Mitchell brought along Kathy Sikes with the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas. He also brought some Sterling House residents to the coffee gathering, some had varying levels of dementia. Mitchell said the residents really enjoyed the outing in spite of the effects of the disease.
"They still feel joy, they still laugh, they still have fun..." Mitchell said via phone on Monday. Sterling House's Executive Director emphasized that Alzheimer's effects more than the person who has contracted the disease.
"The Alzheimer's Association isn't for them, it's for us," Mitchell said. "And that's what the programs are designed to do- to help families in crisis." For those providing care to a loved one, the Alzheimer's Association can lend a helping hand.
"For the families, a big one is the Respite scholarship," Sikes explained. "A respite scholarship provides money to help the families to have a break because if you're a 24/7 caregiver you get worn out." One awareness raising events coming up in Wellington in October is the Memory Walk.
"Memory walk is our largest fundraiser," Sikes said. "They're kind of an awareness slash fundraising event." The event is similar to the Relay for Life. Sikes said people can put together teams to honor family members, or anyone they know effected by Alzheimer's. Companies can also create a team if they want to reach out and help. Mitchell is leading the Memory Walk efforts in Wellington, he said the event will take place at 10 a.m. October 2 at Memorial Auditorium during the Fall Festival.
With the little, green Casual for a Cause stickers, the Sterling House raised $584 to donate to the Alzheimer's Association. Sterling House also participated in a recent gift basket fundraising event, their basket fetched about $600 and was filled with donated items from local merchants. The $600 dollars went to the Leeza Gibboms Memory Foundation that provides relief for family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Mitchell said the efforts are a good showing for Wellington.
"It's to make the community aware that we can all work together for the betterment of the friends that we know," Mitchell said. "The families that we have." The Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas can be contacted at 1-800-272-3900. Sikes said if anyone has a question about Alzheimer's, they should call.
"Any questions that they would have about Alzheimer's or Alzheimer's care," she said. "Anything from how do I get a diagnosis to what do I do now that I have a diagnosis." For more information about Wellington's Memory Walk contact Mitchell at Sterling House, call 326-3031. To keep track of local efforts and information, visit the website www.wellingtonwalk.kintera.org. The effects of Alzheimer's in the state are very prevalent, it is important the community bands together to help.
"Right now 53,000 people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in Kansas," Sikes mentioned.
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Alzheimer's disease is a growing condition, not just in Kansas but around the U.S. Last Thursday during Chamber Coffee at Daylight Donuts, Stephen Mitchell, Executive Director at Sterling House in Wellington took the opportunity to inform the community about what everyone could do to help.
Mitchell brought along Kathy Sikes with the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas. He also brought some Sterling House residents to the coffee gathering, some had varying levels of dementia. Mitchell said the residents really enjoyed the outing in spite of the effects of the disease.
"They still feel joy, they still laugh, they still have fun..." Mitchell said via phone on Monday. Sterling House's Executive Director emphasized that Alzheimer's effects more than the person who has contracted the disease.
"The Alzheimer's Association isn't for them, it's for us," Mitchell said. "And that's what the programs are designed to do- to help families in crisis." For those providing care to a loved one, the Alzheimer's Association can lend a helping hand.
"For the families, a big one is the Respite scholarship," Sikes explained. "A respite scholarship provides money to help the families to have a break because if you're a 24/7 caregiver you get worn out." One awareness raising events coming up in Wellington in October is the Memory Walk.
"Memory walk is our largest fundraiser," Sikes said. "They're kind of an awareness slash fundraising event." The event is similar to the Relay for Life. Sikes said people can put together teams to honor family members, or anyone they know effected by Alzheimer's. Companies can also create a team if they want to reach out and help. Mitchell is leading the Memory Walk efforts in Wellington, he said the event will take place at 10 a.m. October 2 at Memorial Auditorium during the Fall Festival.
With the little, green Casual for a Cause stickers, the Sterling House raised $584 to donate to the Alzheimer's Association. Sterling House also participated in a recent gift basket fundraising event, their basket fetched about $600 and was filled with donated items from local merchants. The $600 dollars went to the Leeza Gibboms Memory Foundation that provides relief for family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Mitchell said the efforts are a good showing for Wellington.
"It's to make the community aware that we can all work together for the betterment of the friends that we know," Mitchell said. "The families that we have." The Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas can be contacted at 1-800-272-3900. Sikes said if anyone has a question about Alzheimer's, they should call.
"Any questions that they would have about Alzheimer's or Alzheimer's care," she said. "Anything from how do I get a diagnosis to what do I do now that I have a diagnosis." For more information about Wellington's Memory Walk contact Mitchell at Sterling House, call 326-3031. To keep track of local efforts and information, visit the website www.wellingtonwalk.kintera.org. The effects of Alzheimer's in the state are very prevalent, it is important the community bands together to help.
"Right now 53,000 people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in Kansas," Sikes mentioned.
