On January 26th , the Walk for Memories will be taking place province-wide. To find out where your local walk is taking place go to: http://walkformemories.ca/findawalk/

This province-wide event is to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and education. Held annually in more than 65 communities across Ontario, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to help support people living with dementia.

Here are some facts and statistics about Alzheimer’s disease:

• Alzheimer’s disease has a major impact on the health of Canadians. About 500,000 Canadians suffer from some type of dementia, and 60% of these have Alzheimer’s disease. About 60% of people in long-term care facilities have Alzheimer’s disease.

• 1 in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

• Women make up almost three-quarters of Canadians with Alzheimer’s disease.

• In just 5 years, as much as 50% more Canadians and their families could be facing Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

• Within a generation, the number of Canadians with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia will more than double, ranging between 1 and 1.3 million people.

• There will be over 1 million Canadians living with dementia by the year 2038, largely because the “baby boom” generation (people born between 1946 and 1960) will have reached old age.

• The impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias engulfs whole families, and affects far more than the half a million people living with the disease.

• Many people have someone in their live effected by Alzheimer’s disease.

• 17% of Canadians have someone with Alzheimer’s disease in their immediate family.

• Alzheimer’s disease is the second most feared disease for Canadians as they age.Set featured image

• We still don’t understand exactly how Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain. Somehow, cells are damaged and eventually die in different areas of the brain. The damaged areas of the brain contain abnormalities called senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The death of brain cells leads to dementia, characterized by memory loss, impaired judgment, and behavioral changes.

• Each case of Alzheimer’s usually affects at least two lives: the person with the condition, and the patient’s spouse or child who gradually becomes a full-time caregiver as the disease progresses. Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s can be demanding and emotionally draining. Many caregivers must eventually face the difficult decision of placing their loved one in institutional care.

When you participate in the Walk, your fundraising dollars fuel your local mission-related initiatives of care, support and research. In addition, your actions, both through fundraising and participating in the event, help to change the level of Alzheimer’s awareness in your local community. So many families in our community is impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and the success of the Walk for Memories this Sunday will make such a difference in terms of support for those living with dementia. Only 35% of our local Alzheimer Society’s funding is from government sources so we must rely on the generous people in our community for the remainder.