Join to support those in our community with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
An estimated 733,040 people in Canada are currently living with dementia according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s website and that number is predicted to rise to nearly 1 million by 2030. Because so many people in our communities are and will be affected by this disease, residents will have two opportunities locally to participate in awareness walks in the next few weeks.
“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia,” explained Samantha Holland, First Link Regional Team Lead for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.
Dementia itself is an umbrella term for many different diseases of the brain. Dementia diseases, as a whole, impacts not only a person’s ability to recall details and their memory but also their ability to get through daily life by affecting their ability to communicate, problem-solving skills, their judgment and decision-making.
The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba has branches throughout our province including in Selkirk.
“The Alzheimer’s Society is a non-profit organization that supports individuals and families impacted by any form of dementia, not just Alzheimer’s disease. We are there for daily support if people have questions or if they just need someone to chat with whether you’re a person that is experiencing changes themselves, or if you’re caring for someone that is having those changes. We encourage people to give us a call. We have support groups, we have education sessions, and community programs for people all across Manitoba,” said Holland.
The first Alzheimer’s awareness walk that will take place in our community is a local walk that Selkirk’s Services to Seniors is inviting anyone to attend who has more time in the day. It will be taking place on May 24 at 1 p.m.
“We’re meeting at the Lions Centre at 316 Christie Ave. That’s one of the buildings that we work directly with a lot of our clients in. And then, we’re planning to walk down to the waterfront from there,” said Colleen Larocque, Selkirk’s Services to Seniors group living coordinator.
The route will be paved to make it easier to traverse for those with mobility aids and there will be refreshments at the end.
They believe it’s important to show support for people with dementia in our community.
“Working directly with the seniors, we see a lot of people that don’t have a lot of support and families so, I feel like, it’s important for us to make sure that we have these functions,” said Larocque.
The residents can donate to this walk specifically by donating to their team ‘The Unforgettables’ which can be found by searching on the Walk for Alzheimer’s website’s donate tab. They can also sign up to be a team member on the same page.
The second walk is the official Selkirk Walk of the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s. It will take place on June 13 and will be easier for people with open schedules in the evening to attend.
“We are going to start checking people in around 5:30 p.m. and they can enjoy a barbecue that is sponsored by No Frills in Selkirk. At 6:30 p.m., we will have a warm-up with Zumba Jan at the waterfront, just outside Gordon Howard Center, and then at 6:45 p.m., the larger group will walk down to Selkirk Park.
The route has participants going as far as the boat launch and back to the waterfront. The route is also fully paved to make it easier for those with mobility aids.
“We have people that are coming pushing their parents in wheelchairs. We’ve had a golf cart come on our walk one year, so, we want to make sure that it’s accessible. We’ll also have a rest area for people who want to stop partway just after the pool. We booked the picnic shelter for that and we’ll have refreshments down there,” said Holland.
Finally, Selkirk’s Bucky Anderson and the Métis Music Van will be bringing some fun and music to the event following walkers and encouraging them.
Donations to the Alzheimer Society and registration for the official walk will see proceeds help with programming that the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba provides.
“As of this past month, we have a brand new support group in Selkirk. We have not only an evening support group on the first Wednesday of every month but now on the first Thursday of every month, we have a daytime support group for care partners. We’re hoping that that will be a new offering that can touch even more people. In terms of other programs we have in Selkirk, we also offer Minds in Motion,” said Holland.
Minds in Motion is the Alzheimer Society’s eight-week program that brings people with dementia and their care partners together with others for activities, fun and friendship with sessions in the spring and fall.
Holland explained that these fundraising walks are important as they are the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s biggest fundraising event of the year.
“[Fundraising] not only goes directly back into our programs and services, but it also helps to raise awareness. There’s really something about coming together, all in our blue t-shirts, walking, to show people that are impacted with dementia, that they’re not alone, that they don’t have to withdraw from their community, that there’s support available and just to create that visual presence for people during that walk to really realize that you don’t have to feel isolated. You’re among friends,” said Holland.
Holland invites people to sign up for the Selkirk Walk.
“We would encourage anyone and everyone to come out to our event, we would encourage people to register online or by phoning the Alzheimer’s Society. We’re really just hoping to make this a more public event,” said Holland.
To sign up for the Selkirk walk visit secure.alzheimer.mb.ca. To learn more about the May 24 walk contact Services to Seniors at 204-785-2737.
