Awareness walk highlights Alzheimer’s and Dementia
“Most of us know someone who has been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease."
Eighty community members of varied abilities united when Rand Aid held its dementia awareness walk.
Hosted on September 21, World Alzheimer’s Day, the event took place on the grounds of Thornhill Manor Retirement Village.
Fifty Thornhill residents and 30 from Rand Aid’s Thembalami Care Centre united to forge friendships and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.
The walkers had three routes to choose from.
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Leading up to the walk, Rand Aid hosted several events to promote the message that ‘My friend with Alzheimer’s is still my friend’.
“Most of us know someone impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Whether it touched our family or a friend’s loved one,” said Karen Griessel, the Thornhill Manor social worker.
She said Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It worsens over time, and the person affected eventually loses the ability to accomplish daily tasks.
One of the first warning signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss – frequently forgetting names, words, or new information.
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Griessel said moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer’s have these symptoms:
• Confusion with times or places;
• Trouble planning, organising, or solving problems;
• Communicating struggles;
• Misplacing things; and
• the inability to retrace steps.
Thornhill Manor resident and trained occupational therapist Vicky Keenan, known for her passion for helping people, was the brains behind the event.
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Her creative flair was evident in the purple cone hats worn on the day by the support staff and the purple ribbon necklaces that all participants wore.
“The Alzheimer’s awareness ribbon is purple, representing the fight against the disease and the hope for a cure,” said deputy village manager Jackie Scott.
Over the past two years, several occupational therapy-aligned events fostered connectedness between less abled residents at Thembalami, the Ron Smith Care Centre and Thornhill Manor.
Griessel said managing Alzheimer’s could feel overwhelming, especially with a new diagnosis.
She said it is vital to reach out to a healthcare professional.
“If you think you or a loved one may have dementia, visit your GP for a referral to a neurologist or a geriatrician,” she advised.
Visit www.alzheimers.org.za for more information.
