This project is important to us because Jennie has gravitated toward the dementia unit at the nursing home since she started working there. She deals with people with varying stages of neurological decline (and their families) full time. I remember my first face-to-face brush with Alzheimer’s – a friend had come back from visiting his mom and, in tears, relayed that she didn’t know who he was. I can’t think of a thing more alienating or flat-out sad. It’s one thing to lose someone when they die, but it’s a Twilight Zone episode gone very wrong when you lose them but can still have a conversation with them as though they’re a complete stranger.
There are fascinating aspects of Alzheimer’s, like how sometimes memories of close family members fade, but music persists. She says that people who no longer function in any other way will sometimes sing songs. Jennie would be the ideal person to study the disease, but in the short term, she takes care of these folks in their time of need.
We don’t typically ask people for money or donations. It’s not something we’re comfortable doing, but in this case, there is some viable research being done and it seems like there are small breakthroughs happening all the time in the study of Alzheimer’s. We will be participating in a walk to benefit Alzheimer’s research on 9/21/14, and while we are prepared to fund our goal ourselves, we’d also very much appreciate any help. There’s no pressure, obviously, but if you have an inclination to donate, click THIS LINK, or search for Jennie Borresen in the the Donate area. Here’s info on the Dekalb County Rehab and Nursing Center team.
Thanks for your consideration, and I hope you never have to face this disease.
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