Following the successful kick-off event on March 10, the ACT on Alzheimer’s – Becker group met recently to consolidate plans for the next steps in making Becker a “dementia-friendly community” in the future, according to coordinator Tami Kolbinger.

 

Attending the wrap-up session were ACT Action Team members Kevin Doty, Sherburne State Bank, Jamie Cassidy, Becker parks and Recreation Director, Lori Lestina and Denice Freih from Becker Faith in Action, Jerry Brunn, Becker Area Senior Citizens, Mary Bauer, Central MN Council on Aging, Kate Selseth, Alzheimer’s Association, Barb Rebischke, Good Shepherd Community, Rita Waxon, Guardian Angels, Keith Martens and Rep. Jim Newberger, (R-Becker).

 

The group discussed the results of the volunteer survey conducted in December of last year, and the input from attendees at the kick-off event.  Among the topics discussed were ideas to increase dementia awareness via media outlets, in schools, civic associations, businesses, social media, providing speakers to special events and informational handouts.  Also discussed were methods for providing support for caregivers and families of dementia patients, which might include volunteers for caregiver relief, adult day care and informational classes.

 

Providing meaningful tasks for dementia patients, arranging for intergenerational projects, visiting groups to assist caregivers and patients and finding ways to make stores and other areas more dementia-friendly were also discussed. 

 

Among the most critical needs identified were building awareness of dementia among the general population, creating adequate services for underserved populations, wellness programs for patients living at home, meaningful engagement outside of a formal care setting and finding ways for employers to support caregivers.

 

Data from the survey was collected and input by BHS National Honor Society students Jamie Gruber, Kayla Wilken, Austin Hill, Aundria Howard, Sam Angell, Morgan Tillman, Kalley Anderson, Sydney Busch and Dani Girtz.  Girtz, Tillman and Howard also assisted during the ACT event last month, along with fellow students Celia Mix, Brittany Beutz, Megan Albertson and Sam Haugen.

 

Denice Freih is currently the primary writer on a grant application the organization will file to fund some of the activities identified in the survey, Kolbinger said.  The $10,000 grant will be a “one-time” source of funding for the group, with the goal now being to create activities that can become self-funding when the grant runs out.  

 

The funds must be used by the end of December, 2015,  Kolbinger said, and the grant is not renewable.

 

The group is also working on arranging for screenings of two films that depict the struggles dementia patients face.  Kolbinger said she is working to book a showing of “Glen Campbell: I’ll be me.” The movie deals with his struggle with dementia and the effect is has had on his friends and family.  She hopes to be able to show the movie in late May or early June this year, after completing arrangements with the foundation that handles distribution of the film.

 

Kolbinger is also hoping to arrange a showing of “Still Alice,” in which actress Julianne Moore portrays a college professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.  She said she would like to arrange for Sartell resident Sandra Oltz to speak prior to the showing, as she was a consultant on the movie.  Oltz, a nurse at St. Cloud Hospital, was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s after undergoing a battery of tests after displaying symptoms of the illness.  No time for a screening has been established yet.

 

In a recent interview, Kolbinger said that research is revealing new treatments and medications for dementia, though no real cure has been brought forward as of yet.  A new medication has shown promise in reducing the presence of the materials that affect connections within the brain, and a magnetic resonance treatment has also shown some benefits.  Both have considerable risk attached due to side effects, Kolbinger said, but they do hold out new hope for some dementia patients.