Over the course of her career, Vera never emphasized private practice feeling it was too isolating in terms of her capacity to effect change.  Above all, she said she stressed the importance of distrusting simple answers and instead dealing with complexity in the area of human behavior.

After the passing of her husband, the nature of her work extended to a broader field as she did international consulting, establishing relationships in Europe.  “I had the great opportunity to meet some extraordinarily gifted people from whom I did learn much,” she said.

According to Vera, her profession was interrupted almost overnight when she lost the capacity to read over two years ago because of a physical change in the structure of her eye. As her eyesight continued to diminish, she found it impossible to operate independently with certain tasks such as money management.  Fortunately, she was connected to Kate Finan of Finan Financial Care, LLC, who has specialized in the daily money management needs of seniors in the area since 1993.

When Kate visits Vera, they consider the priority of items such as paying bills and making donations to charities; reconciling the checkbook; and reviewing and making decisions on how to respond to a fairly large volume of mail.  Vera has also appreciated the focus on her need for legal help as they have established a will and other important documents.  “She has been great in helping me organize the practical aspects of my life under the condition of diminished sight; she acts as an alter ego,” said Vera.

She also said she has found a connection with Kate as far as her capacity to see the complexity of what Vera has to deal with beyond simple solutions.

“In this relationship with Kate, what is paramount is the mutual recognition that the problem is not in a loss of mental capacity but rather in the capacity to deal with practical everyday problems,” said Vera.  “Without her help, I would have been stressed and unable to manage my current life.”

“After my mom passed away with Alzheimer’s, I wanted to make a difference, so that others will not have to watch their loved ones go through what we did,” says Linda. “Since I can’t actually do the research, the least I can do is raise money to help find a cure.”

Linda emphasizes that her primary goal for participating in the Memory Walk is to make a difference. She has shared her enthusiasm with her co-workers at Calvert High School and has even challenged the employees of other county schools to form their own teams.

She says, “You get exercise, support a worthy cause, and do something good for others-all before lunchtime! What could be better?” While Linda finds the walks enjoyable, she also understands how vitally important they are in the search for a cure for Alzheimer’s. “Everyone needs to understand that there is no way to find a cure if we don’t all do our part,” she notes.

To individuals who are hesitant to participate in fundraisers or who will be first time walkers, Linda says, “Don’t be shy about asking for donations. The worst they can say is no!” She admits that while raising money for other causes, she was often reluctant to ask anyone other than family members and close friends for donations. Her mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s changed all that. “Alzheimer’s is very personal to me,” she states simply. Now she remains dedicated to raising all that she can for the cause.

Memory Walks give Linda a chance to interact with others who had similar experiences with the disease. She says, “I was amazed at how many of my co-workers had family members affected by Alzheimer’s. There are so many people out there in the same boat. Walking is a great way to share stories.”

Linda and her co-workers are getting the word out to more and more people every year. They enjoy their walks, and they feel good about the contribution they are making. Linda says, “Just think-someday, when they find a cure, we will all be able to say we were a part of it.” She concludes, “How cool is that?”

The Association’s Contact Center delivers around-the-clock service nationwide. The unique partnership between the Association’s national office and the chapter network provides families, caregivers, health care professionals, and the public with the most up-to-date information on Alzheimer’s. The Contact Center network of 70 chapters handles more than 23,000 calls each month.

Support groups provide practical help in coping with the disease and can serve as an outlet for feelings and frustrations as well as an important source of information. The National Capital Area Chapter offers more than 70 support groups for families and caregivers, people with early-onset Alzheimer’s (under the age of 65), early-stage diagnosed individuals, and Spanish-speakers.

If you can’t find time to attend a support group, help is just a mouse click away at the Alzheimer’s Association’s message boards and chat room at www.alz.org. Among the forums are groups for caregivers, health professionals, and people with memory loss. Other categories include sections featuring success stories, questions for care consultants, and news on Alzheimer medications.

Education programs are an integral part of the Association’s mission. The National Capital Area Chapter offers a variety of education programs, with topics ranging from caregiver skill-building to legal and financial concerns. Annual caregiver conferences provide a more in-depth look at specific caregiving concerns. A new program, “Life After Diagnosis,” helps those faced with a recent diagnosis to prepare for the challenging journey ahead. Our “Partnering with Your Doctor” program assists people with memory loss and their loved ones in receiving the best possible health care through improved cooperation with their physicians and offers specific tools and strategies to improve communication and understanding. The Association’s Maintain Your BrainT public awareness campaign is educating people about a brain healthy lifestyle. We also provide dementia-specific training to professionals in the caregiving, health, safety, and law enforcement communities.

Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return is a nationwide identification, support and enrollment program that provides assistance when a person with dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home. If an enrollee is missing, one call immediately activates a community support network – including law enforcement and local media – to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver. The nearest Association Chapter office provides information and support during the search and rescue efforts.

Advocacy is a major component of the Alzheimer’s Association mission. Alzheimer’s advocates are people with memory loss, caregivers, friends, and families whose voices together are a powerful tool for change and provide hope for a future without Alzheimer’s. Advocates are calling for advancements in research and enhanced care and support at the federal, state, and local levels. The payoff has been phenomenal to date: substantial increases in federal research funding, growth in state-supported services, and improvements in the quality of care for those in nursing homes.

Every year, National Capital Area Chapter volunteers, like thousands of others in 600 communities across the country, participate in a Memory WalkT to raise funds to support services and programs for those battling the disease. These events have raised more than $175 million nationwide since 1989. The Chapter holds other special events throughout the year to support programs and services, including the Tour de Canal Bike Challenge, the Washington Monuments Luncheon, the BB&T Alzheimer’s Golf Tour, and the America’s Great Generations Gala.

Funding for critical research and improved care and diagnosis will help ensure that the rapid pace of scientific breakthroughs continues. In just the past 15 years, we have learned 95 percent of all we know about the disease. Federal funding for Alzheimer’s research will increase to $700 million in 2005, and the Association continues to advocate for a yearly commitment of $1 billion. Private donations have enabled us to award $165 million to over 1,300 important research projects worldwide.

For more information on Alzheimer’s disease and/or the Alzheimer’s Association, please visit www.alz.org or call toll-free 1-800-272-3900.