Island group to host Memory Mobile
There are times when nearly everyone forgets little things like where they left their car keys or someone’s birthday, but for others, memory loss is a genuine concern.
Alzheimer’s affects one in every four adults in the Untied States and can be very troubling for not just the person afflicted with the disease, but for those who care for them. Addressing this concern is a group that meets on Pine Island each week to lend support and to offer advice. Taking this support further, the Pine Island Alzheirmer’s Support Group will welcome the Memory Mobile on Wednesday, March 16, to assist those who are seeking information regarding the signs, symptoms and causes of memory loss. The Alzheirmer’s Association Memory Mobile will be at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Stringfellow Road in St. James City from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the Alzheimer’s Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Director of Education, Catherine Cruikshank and her staff will share her expertise as well a memory screenings free of charge.
“First, I would like to stress that the services we provide are free and strictly confidential. It is our purpose to generate awareness and provide information,” said Cruikshank. “The Memory Mobile will bring our services and provide an opportunity to have questions answer right to the people in the community and we encourage everyone to come out when we arrive on Pine Island whether or not they or someone they know is or may be affected by Alzheirmer’s. This disease can affect any one at any time in their lives and the information we provide can help now and possibly in the future.”
According to the Alzheirmer’s Association, there are 10 definable signs of possible Alzheirmer’s which include not only memory loss, but difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation with regard to time and place, poor judgement, difficulty with abstract thinking, misplacing things, changes in behavior and/or personality and loss of interest in things one used to enjoy. Among the topics to be discussed during the visit from the Memory Mobile will be ways to help inhibit the progression of Alzheirmer’s. According to Cruikshank, as people age, of the utmost importance is maintaining a healthy brain lifestyle. Many experts believe that a good diet, exercise and reading help to keep the brain healthy.
The Pine Island Alzheimer’s Support Group, led by Sonny Koutsoutis, meets each week at St. John’s Episcopal Church and is open to anyone interested in learning more about coping with the disease.
“Our group consists primarily of caregivers who have loved ones in various stages of the disease,” Koutsoutis said. “During our sessions, each person is given an opportunity to share with the group what is going on in their lives and many times, we will collectively come up with solutions to a variety of situations. The caregivers in the group who have been tending to a loved one for an extended period of time, bring with them a great deal of information and coping skills and are more than willing to share what they have experienced and learned with those who are new to dealing with Alzheimer’s.”
Koutsoutis said the most important tool when dealing with Alzheirmer’s is education.
“We would encourage everyone to come to the Memory Mobile regardless, whether or not they are concerned about getting or having Alzheirmer’s,” Koutsoutis said. “It is important for all of us to understand the disease so that we can better understand those around us who are afflicted with it wether it be a family member or just the person who lives next door. Alzheimer’s has finally come out of the closet and is no longer a disease that is hidden away. Education is the first step in helping those who are dealing with the disease to cope and it is important for others to understanding what they are going through.”
The Pine Island Alzheimer’s Support group meets on the second Wednesday of each month, year round, at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 10 a.m. All are welcome to attend and for more information, call Sonny Koutsoutis at 283-4980.