The 2018 Walk For Alzheimer’s was held at Century Field in Yorkton Thursday. The annual event, presented by Investors Group, saw a number of people take to the track to raise some $4,500 earmarked for the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.
Edna Parrott began the walk with a deeply personal message about her personal reasons for taking part in the walk.
“My husband and I suffered with this terrible disease for over 12 years,” she told those gathered.
“My husband suffered the terrifying effects of this disease as he knew about the diagnosis. He became worried and concerned. As the disease progressed he became paranoid and thought everyone was against him. He would get lost as he wandered away from home and could not find his way back. He didn’t recognize who I was and begged my son to give him my phone number, so he could talk to me, even though I was sitting right beside him. He continued to decline until he no longer could care for himself or even to communicate.
“I suffered the effects of this disease as I watched the love of my life, my best friend, my soul mate not only suffer with changes he was experiencing, but he was slowly and surely leaving me as the disease progressed. I felt the loss on a daily basis. He was always looking for me and asking where I was. He could no longer give me advice or fix things around the house. He passed away about four and a half years ago.”
Parrott said at the time her husband was diagnosed the process of discovering what was wrong was not easy.
“Along our journey we experienced many difficulties,” she said.
“The first difficulty was finding a diagnosis. Our local doctor who saw my husband for 10 minutes could not recognize the symptoms I saw. He finally sent my husband to see a psychiatrist for a diagnosis. The psychiatrist gave my husband hints and answers during his test and informed us there was nothing wrong with him. After a lot of persistence, we finally were seen by the Rural and Remote memory clinic where he was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.
“Because I was working in the health field I received a lot of support from my colleagues. There were times, however, when the support I needed was not there when I needed it. Most caregivers back in those days did not receive the support they needed.
“Today with the programs and resources available from the Alzheimer Society many don’t have to face these difficulties.”
Parrott said the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan has become invaluable in helping those dealing with the disease as it provides research and support for those suffering with Alzheimer and related dementia.
“The Alzheimer Society funds important research looking into the cause and a cure for Alzheimer and related dementia. This research is important. We need to find out what causes the changes in the brain and when we find the cause we will be able to find a cure. The funds we raise supports research which not only benefits people in Saskatchewan, it benefits everyone with dementia regardless of where they live, to increase knowledge and find solutions to causes, treatments and cures. Research is important because it will not only help those here in Yorkton but also in Saskatchewan, in Canada and eventually those throughout the world,” she said.
And the help in Saskatchewan is clearly needed.
“In this area of the province we have one of the highest percentages of seniors in our population. While Alzheimer and dementia diseases are not necessarily diseases of the elderly, the prevalence does increase with age. Therefore, we have a need to be diligent and be prepared to help all those affected by Alzheimer and other dementias,” noted Parrott.
The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan is a provincial organization that supports people with dementia all across Saskatchewan. Last year the number of clients they supported increased over 20 per cent and included people from over 300 communities across the province. Many of their programs are delivered on telehealth making them accessible to people across the province to attend. And all of their information is web-based so it is accessible anywhere. The majority of their clients choose to be supported over the phone or to receive information in an email, again making this information available in an equitable way whether there is an Alzheimer Society Resource Centre in the area or not.
There are six resource centres across Saskatchewan providing help and support to those who are usually referred when they are first diagnosed with dementia, detailed Parrott.
“This past year, the Alzheimer Society provided service to 66 different people in 19 different communities in the former Sunrise Health Region. This is a 60 per cent increase in clients served over the previous fiscal year (41 – 66). This is the highest number of people served in a former health region that does not have an Alzheimer Society Resource Centre (the Provincial increase was 20 per cent),” she said.
“In the last two years (April 2016 to 2018), over the course of five separate community visits, they have conducted 13 Warning Signs presentations about the ABC’s of Dementia in Yorkton and Melville, reaching just over 275 people.
“In January 2018, they did significant ABC’s of Dementia and Dementia Helpline radio advertising on Yorkton’s GX94 and Fox FM, the first market outside of Regina and Saskatoon to have such advertising.”
Along with all this the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan had a Dementia Helpline that is toll free. Support staff are available to provide information, support and connection to Alzheimer Society programs and services. The hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 to 4:30 at 1-877-949-4141.
“The Alzheimer Society is a concerned and caring society whose sole purpose is to care for the client with dementia, their caregivers and to help them through this difficult journey. They want to not only ease the challenge of this terrible disease; they want to see a cure. All these services, programs, resources and research need funds,” said Parrott.
