A Walk to Remember
October 02, 2023 | Blog | Reading Time 2:00 Minutes
Shipley Living Supports the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Everyone has moments when memory fails you: when you walk in a room and forget why, you put down your phone to go look for your phone, think you’ll remember your digital passwords, but forget what you ran to the grocery store. For most of us, minor memory loss is perfectly normal, sometimes even amusing.
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are an entirely different matter. This devastating disease is affecting more and more people every year. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that 6.7 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. As the number of Americans ages 65+ grows, so too will the number of cases of Alzheimer’s.
This impacts not only those living with Alzheimer’s but also, those who are caregivers for loved ones and friends with the disease. The toll on caregivers in terms of physical, mental, and emotional well-being is immense.
Ongoing research, family support and increased awareness are largely funded by the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which is held in more than 600 communities across the country. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Walk is “the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.”
There are two Walks to End Alzheimer’s in Delaware; one in Rehoboth Beach on September 23rd with more than 70 teams and 350 participants, and one in Wilmington with more than 90 teams and 460 participants on October 28th. These include corporate teams, family teams and countless teams walking in honor or in memory of a family member either currently battling or has died from Alzheimer’s disease. Do More 24 Delaware reports that more than $300,000 has been raised from these two events to fund research at the University of Delaware.
The staff at Shipley Living is deeply invested 24/7 in the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the race to find a cure, and has joined its sister community, Foulk Living’s Walk team. How can you get involved? The best way is to participate in or support the team of walkers representing our staff, residents and friends at Shipley Living on October 28th!