Oklahoma City Retirement Community Raises Alzheimer’s Awareness
This news story was originally printed in The Oklahoman.
In an effort to encourage awareness about a health issue directly affecting more than 5 million Americans, Concordia Life Care Community is joining forces this month with the Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma chapter.
Concordia has invited Alzheimer’s Association Education Coordinator Carla Scull to deliver lectures offering practical information about the disease, according to a news release.
Concordia also will sponsor and participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and hold its own fundraising challenge for the association.
“As it is so common, particularly among older adults, Alzheimer’s is, unfortunately, an illness with which we have firsthand experience,” said Danny Eischen, executive director at Concordia. “The work the Alzheimer’s Association is doing to fund important research and educate the public is so important, and we are glad to be working with them to help spread their information and garner financial support.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, someone develops Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds, and one in nine people ages 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease.
“Partnerships with retirement communities like Concordia are so important to achieving our mission of improving and funding the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” Scull said. “Working together, we can drive public understanding and support for loved ones and community members with Alzheimer’s disease.”
About the events
The Coping with Alzheimer’s lecture series will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Concordia Life Care Community, 7707 W Britton Road. Scull will cover “The Basics” on Wednesday, “Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior” on Sept. 21 and “Legal and Financial Planning” on Sept. 28.
Concordia will participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Sept. 24. The event is one of more than 600 held annually across the country to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
Concordia residents who are unable to take part in the walk can participate through an alternative fundraising challenge, the NuStep Challenge: a ride-a-thon where staff and residents commit to ride a NuStep bike, a recumbent bicycle built for all ages, health conditions and skill levels, in exchange for dollar donations.
The challenge will take place in the Concordia lobby, beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 22 and lasting 24 hours. For every minute on the NuStep bike, a dollar is donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. Those who wish to simply donate and not ride on the bike can do so as well.
“We created the NuStep Challenge last year to make sure every resident and staff member has a way to contribute to the cause,” Concordia Lifestyles Coordinator Megan Carter said.
For more information, contact Carter at mwarn@concordiaseniorliving.com.
