PARAMUS[1] — Alzheimer’s transforms the lives of not only the 5 million Americans, including 150,000 New Jerseyans, who live with the disease, but also the spouses and children caring for them.
MINJAE PARK / STAFF
From left, Ken, Maureen and Ashley Vander Velde of Byram walking in support of Maureen’s mother, who has had the disease for five years.
Thousands of caregivers, families and friends walked three miles at the Van Saun County Park on Sunday in support of — and in some cases, in memory of — those who suffered memory loss because of Alzheimer’s, the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s a disease that can’t be cured, prevented or slowed.
The walk in Paramus[2] , now in its 11th year, is the largest of the Alzheimer Association’s four walks in New Jersey. The group hosts hundreds of walks throughout the country.
Brenda Troublefield recalled the challenges she faced in getting her mother, Madie Hill, who died last October, to eat and take her medication.
“It was hard just to get her to function,” Troublefield said. Her seven-person team of members of the Elks Lodge of Hackensack[3] was named “Madie’s Ladies.”
Ken Zaentz, interim president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Greater New Jersey Chapter, said, “It becomes very difficult for the people to provide the care they need 24/7.”
Last year, 15.4 million family and friends provided 17.5 billion hours of care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, according to the association, with more than 60 percent of those caregivers saying the emotional stress is high or very high.
The Paramus[4] walk aimed to raise $454,000 — by Sunday morning, online contributions had reached two-thirds of the target — and boost awareness, with the hope of increasing government funding for Alzheimer’s research. The money raised will go toward research, care and local programs that provide support, education and training for caregivers.
No less important for caregivers, the walk brought them together “so we can talk to other people and see how they get through things,” said Maureen Vander Velde of Byram whose 80-year-old mother was diagnosed five years ago.
“It gets tougher” as symptoms worsen, she said, noting the stress her 84-year-old father endures.
References
- ^ PARAMUS (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Paramus (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Hackensack (www.northjersey.com)
- ^ Paramus (www.northjersey.com)
0 comments:
Post a Comment