Every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death for those 65 and older. There is no known cause, said Sheoli Makara, West Hawaii program coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter.
Every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death for those 65 and older. There is no known cause, said Sheoli Makara, West Hawaii program coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter.
“Without a cause, there’s no cure,” she added.
Still with community support, steps can literally be taken to find a cure.
The upcoming Walk To End Alzheimer’s is the biggest fundraiser and awareness event for the West Hawaii program, Makara said.
The group hopes to raise at least $5,000 at the walk, held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 30 at the Old Kona Airport Park’s Main Pavilion. All the money raised stays in the community. The funds go toward maintaining the free family caregiver classes, education programs, coordination of caregiver respite care, assistance with legal and medical power of attorney, and a monthly support group at Regency at Hualalai, Makara said.
Another support group will likely be offered in Waimea starting next month, she added.
There’s been an annual walk, raising awareness, funds, support and hope for those impacted by the disease, for the past four years in West Hawaii. But this is the second annual Walk To End Alzheimer’s, Makara said.
The Sept. 30 event features a zumba warm up, opening ceremony, 3-mile walk, and celebration with live music, hula, refreshments and awards. Awards and prizes, donated by local businesses, are given to the individual and team captain who raises the most funds, as well as the team captain with the most registered members.
While there’s no fee to register, each participant is expected to make a tax-deductible donation or raise funds to contribute to the cause and help spread awareness. So far, 10 teams are signed up, and more participants are being sought, Makara said. Those interested can register online at alz.org/walk or do so in person at the event.
Some residents participate to honor someone they know with the disease or in memory of someone they have lost. Others form teams with family members, community groups, businesses and churches — all wanting to make a difference. There are also walkers who suffer from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia — a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, Makara said.
“The numbers of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is increasing at an alarming rate,” she said. “While many life-threatening illnesses are on the decline, such as HIV-AIDS, breast cancer, prostate cancer and heart disease, Alzheimer’s-related deaths have increased in just an eight-year span by 66 percent. We don’t know the exact reason why it’s climbing, but we do know people are living longer and this is not a normal part of aging.”
Symptoms include aggression, anger, anxiety, agitation, depression, hallucinations, memory loss, confusion, repetition, sleep issues, suspicion, delusions, wandering and abuse. More than 30,000 Hawaii residents are estimated to have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, of which nearly 3,000 live on the Big Island. The disease attacks both those diagnosed and those caring for them. The task of caregiving can become a full-time job for unpaid family members. Many of them do not reach out for help and may struggle in silence, Makara said.
For 30 years, the Aloha Chapter has been serving those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia, as well as their caregivers, throughout Hawaii. It provides information, referrals, education, seminars, individual guidance, family consultations, translation services and a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week help line, (800) 272-3900.
By working with government officials, the chapter has help get the funding for services to benefit caregivers and their loved ones. For instance, a bill was passed to provide funding to establish a Wanderer’s Registry, intended to develop a coordinated effort to locate individuals with dementia who are lost while wandering. The impairment makes it difficult for Alzheimer’s patients’ perception of time and space, memory and language skills. It causes a gradual and irreversible loss of higher brain functions, and eventually, the loss of the ability to care for oneself, Makara said.
This past year alone, the chapter provided counseling services to more than 900 people, educational workshops to 3,756 people, and had more than 1,000 people attend support groups, she said.
For more information, contact Makara at 238-0484 or Sheoli.Makara@alz.org.