GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – More than
seven million
Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s. In recognition of the staggering numbers,
Edgewood Healthcare
in Grand Island hosted their first annual ‘Longest Day’ event to raise awareness for the disease on Thursday.
The fundraiser featured free hotdogs, a bounce-house for children and a raffle for a 55-inch color TV, with all proceeds going to the
Alzheimer’s Association, Nebraska Chapter
.
Debbie Schaaf, executive director of Edgewood Memory Care Assisting Living, expressed why the event is meaningful to her.
“To be able to give back to the community and my own family, know that they’re taken care of,” Schaaf said. “Someday, may not be in my lifetime, but there will be cure out there somewhere.”
The proceeds raised will help with research and resources for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Brenda Wells, senior liaison of
Aseracare Hospice and Amedisys
, said with more people developing the disease, it’s important to raise awareness.
“I think the main thing is you can always go to the Alzheimer’s Association for education, but there lots of support groups out there,” Wells said. “So people know where to look for resources and Edgewood is great facility to provide those resources.“
The Alzheimer’s Association reports
35,100 people
are living with Alzheimer’s in Nebraska.
“I’ve learned a lot about how many people are actually suffering from this and it’s not good,” Marvin Engleman, son-in-law of a patient at Edgewood, said.
Engleman shared his mother has been at Edgewood for the past nine months.
“The disease has made me realize that people look, act normal but the disease causes behavioral changes,” he said. “The memory thing is one thing, it’s still good that their bodies are in good shape. We pick her up and take her to places. It’s a God-blessing that she can still get around good.”
“It can be hard sometimes but him and his wife love their mother very much,” Engleman expressed.
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