CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The 16th annual Texas Face to Face Walk for Memory event is set to take place this Saturday, Nov. 4 at Water's Edge Park.
The 2-mile walk will raise awareness and funds needed to educate those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the people who support them.
Dr. Nestor Praderio and Lisa Oliver with Texas Face to Face joined Rudy and Barbi on Domingo Live to talk about the event and how dementia-related illnesses can affect people in our families and communities.
Dr. Praderio, a specialist in the field of dementia-related illnesses said that there is a significant difference between typical signs of memory loss due to aging and the more serious symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
"The most common factors and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is losing memory- short term memory, today's memory, what we ate for breakfast, what we said 20 minutes ago," said the expert in geriatric psychology.
"It's not old memories we lose; we lose judgment, rationing, we make mistakes. "
The walk begins at 9:00 a.m. and requires a registration fee of $25. That fee, combined with other community donations, will go toward providing education, respite and support group services and community education for Alzheimer’s Disease and related forms of dementia.
Oliver, whose mother was diagnosed with frontal-lobe dementia, said the walk is important for people who may not be aware of local resources available as they care for their loved ones. The funds raised will also help provide training and resource coordination throughout the year to caregivers and family members within the Coastal Bend community.
"You're participating in raising awareness for Alzheimer's and related dementia," she said.
"It's more than the walk, the money stays local. "
Dr. Praderio has been working in the community for 30 years and said that he has seen efforts to spread awareness of the illnesses pay off, as he has witnessed more patients reach out for help at earlier stages of the disease than in past years.
He believes family members and friends with Alzheimer's can experience isolation and loneliness as a result of the stigma associated with the illness and emphasized the importance of watching out for the signs in loved ones. He said he hopes people will come to the walk on Saturday to learn what they can do.
"Please, come get connected, seek treatment. Talk to your doctors and tell them to do a test and start the process early. We may not have a cure, but we have help- there are things that can be done," he said.
"We can fight this dark and silent illness that ends people's lives. I will wait for you on Saturday. "
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