Walk To Remember Raises Awareness For Alzheimer’s, Dementia
From Jersey Shore Online
Walkers take to the two trails at World War II Veterans Memorial Park during the 3rd Annual AristaCare “Walk to Remember” event hosted by their two facilities in Manchester Township. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
MANCHESTER – AristaCare at Manchester and Whiting held their third annual Walk to Remember event recently at the World War II Veterans Memorial Park.
Walkers joined AristaCare staff and administrators, public officials and residents to promote Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness and to provide information about community resources available as well as to support those effected.
The autumn day proved ideal for a leisurely stroll through the trails. The event also featured refreshments, giveaways, a raffle and a gift basket.
AristaCare which provides post-hospital inpatient rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care services, held the event to bring attention to Alzheimer’s, and the needs of dementia patients and their caregivers.
AristaCare Health Services Executive Director Robert Greenberger thanked his staff and those present for coming out and introduced Mayor Joseph Hankins who spoke at the start of the event.
AristaCare Health Services Executive Director Robert Greenberger speaks to participants at the 3rd Annual AristaCare Walk to Remember event held at the World War II Veterans Memorial Park in the Whiting section of Manchester Township. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Greenberger said, “Unfortunately, we all know someone, a relative, friend, a loved one who has dementia or Alzheimer’s.” He noted how there isn’t anything locally for people who were having difficult times with their loved ones.
“A couple of years back we met with the mayor, (Robert Arace) who now happens to be a (Ocean County) Commissioner and we met with the current mayor as well and we discussed what we could do to raise awareness,” Greenberger added.
He stressed, “we wanted them to know that if you are going through this you are not going through it alone. You are going through it with a community of people that are dealing with these challenges and we should be there for each other to support each other.”
“I am glad everybody is here and glad you have this event which is important to the community,” the mayor said.
Manchester Senior Services Office Manager Amanda Johnson speaks to attendees of the 3rd Annual AristaCare Walk to Remember event about the office’s lock box program for seniors. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Greenberger expressed, “I am so proud of my team. We have two dementia units and an unbelievable staff that works so hard and are so committed to giving quality of life to patients who have Alzheimer’s or dementia. They do great work day in and day out.”
“Those that have family members with these diseases know, sometimes when someone breaks a leg or gets pneumonia and is getting stronger and you are part of that process, it is rewarding. At the end of the journey, when they finish that therapy, when they got better and are back on their feet, you feel like, wow, we accomplished something,” he added.
“They see the loved one who they are supporting through the process improve and they got them somewhere but unfortunately with dementia patients, you don’t have that,” Greenberger noted. “With somebody whose loved one has dementia, usually you have yelling, cursing, screaming and sometimes you have something physical as well.”
“That is really painful. There is no one saying ‘thank you’ because they are at a point where they can’t say ‘thank you’ anymore. We can see it with our staff; there is never a ‘thank you’ or a nice word that we appreciate all you do for us because they can’t. This event is also to say ‘thank you’ to all of those who spend their time with their loved one and others caring for dementia patients.”
Greenberger noted that the park has two walking paths, one slightly shorter than the other. Attendees could choose whichever one they felt strong enough for, or choose neither and just be present.
Various service agencies were present including the township’s Senior Services Office. Amanda Johnson serves as the office manager and she was busy manning the table, speaking with residents and providing information.
Mayor Joseph Hankins speaks to two residents at the World War II Veterans Memorial Park monument during the recently held AristaCare Walk to Remember event. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
She was promoting the office’s lock box program which involves a lock box with a key inside to a residence. The property owner is issued a code that is accessed by a first responder in the event of an emergency.
Johnson explained, “we started it a couple years ago. We ordered a certain amount that we had from the funding for and they ran out quickly so we ordered more and we have a sufficient amount so we are giving them out daily.”
“It is one per household. We don’t set them up but the purpose of it is when emergency services, fire or police respond and come into a person’s home, they don’t have to break a door or window to get in. When the resident calls the PD and gives them their name and address and code it will be associated with their file if there is a call to the residence,” she added.
For more information on that program visit manchestertwp.com/lock-box-program-information
Sponsors included Wawa, Toast Cafe Manchester, RWJBarnabas Health, Manchester Senior Services, Manchester Police Manchester Division of Emergency Services, Manchester Recreation and the Manchester Department of Public Works.
