Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease that leaves its patients and the patients’ loved ones feeling confused, hurt and unsure of how to handle the situation.  For the person suffering from the disease, the inability to remember simple day-to-day tasks and the tendency to use poor judgment when making decisions can be life threatening. For those that care about the person suffering from Alzheimer’s, watching the person’s slow deterioration without being able to help can be frustrating and downright depressing.  At the same time, thanks to volunteers and the money they raise through fundraisers, there is exciting research being done in the area of Alzheimer’s – and you can help make this research possible by simply purchasing a cup of coffee.

Tomorrow, September 21st, is the 13th year of the annual Coffee Break national fundraising drive in Canada. On this day, organizations, businesses and individuals across the country host special Coffee Break events in an effort to raise funds to aid with the research being conducted to help prevent this disease as well as to reverse its damage.

According to those that organize Coffee Break events, it is a fairly simple process that may involve using either brewed coffee or instant coffee.

“There really isn’t a lot of work involved, you just have to canvas for several dozen cookies and set p the coffee,” 85-year-old Emilie Hiertass, who has been organizing Coffee Break events for six years, told the Prince Albert Daily Herald.  “I think it’s very important because Alzheimer’s is very common.  At one time, it was such a rarity.”

In Saskatchewan, where Hiertass has organized her Coffee Break event, approximately 18,000 people are currently living with the disease.  One of these people is her husband, which makes the success of the event even more important to her.  Worldwide, there were over 26 million people living with Alzheimer’s in 2006 and the numbers continue to grow.  Symptoms associated with the disease include:

• Appearing Disoriented – patients may become lost in areas that should be familiar to them, such as in their homes or in their neighborhoods
• Changes in Mood – patients may experience sudden changes in mood for no apparent reason
• Changes in Personality – patient’s may experience dramatic and sudden changes to personality
• Difficult Performing Daily Tasks – patients may no longer be able to perform routine tasks, such as getting dressed, cooking or making a phone call
• Exercising Poor Judgment – patients may start making decisions that are potentially harmful to their health, such as wearing shorts outside during the wintertime
• Loss of Initiative – patients may suddenly become inactive and may simply sit on the couch for hours without moving
• Memory Loss – patients may start to forget things they recently learned on a routine basis
• Misplacing Items – patients may start placing items in unusual places, such as putting their keys in the freezer
• Problems With Language – patients may start to forget simple words or use words in the wrong way
• Unable to Perform Abstract Thinking Tasks – patients may become unable to complete mental tasks

In addition to helping provide funding for research, the money raised through Coffee Break events is also used to pay for programs to help provide support to Alzheimer’s patients, their families and their caregivers.  So, even if it is too late for you to organize your own event for tomorrows Coffee Break event, take some time out of your day to visit one of the events and to enjoy a cup of coffee while helping out a great event.  Visit the Coffee Break website to learn more about events that are taking place in your area.

1 Comment »