JACKSON - A group of concerned West Tennesseans recently joined together to form the Alzheimer’s Community of West Tennessee. Their mission is to educate and support families in local communities dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The group, made up of medical and care giving professionals, hopes to build a community environment that is supportive to these individuals and their families.
Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in our country and it has become the most expensive disease to treat – surpassing both cancer and heart disease according to Regina Smith, Senior Services Manager at West Tennessee Healthcare and founding member of the Alzheimer’s Community. There are over 400,000 caregivers in Tennessee providing 476 million hours of unpaid care for their loved ones with this disease. We must offer not only the best care available, but also the resources, support, and education they need to survive this journey.
The Alzheimer’s Community has planned several events for 2017 including a senior walk/run, a presentation that allows participants to experience dementia, and the seventh annual Alzheimer’s Caregivers Conference featuring Teepa Snow. This event draws hundreds of caregivers annually to learn more about caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Funding for the conference and other educational programs, support, and resources are made possible through the Alzheimer’s Fund at the Foundation. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Community of West Tennessee, contact Regina Smith at (731) 541-8757. To make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Fund visit www.wthfoundation.org/give
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