Walking to end Alzheimer's

Staff members and residents of Commonwealth Senior Living of Hagerstown and Elmcroft of Hagerstown took a walk on the east side of the city Friday to raise awareness about Alzheimer's Disease.

Some wore purple, the signature color of the Alzheimer's Association. And some carried flags reading "Walk to End Alzheimer's" as they strolled under sunny skies and in 70-degree weather.

"This is the first time I've done it," Commonwealth resident Earl Jackson, 85, said. "It's just such a nice day out."

According to the Alzheimer's Association, the walk is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. It is billed as the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

This year’s event, held in different ways in different locations, is being conducted with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind.

The residents and staff members from Commonwealth and Elmcroft wore masks and walked in separate groups to follow social distancing guidelines.

"(The pandemic) has definitely had an impact on our residents," said Gabriella Beard, executive director at Commonwealth.

Nursing homes and long-term living facilities were hit hard by the pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many cases of COVID-19 have occurred among older adults in such facilities.

In-person visits were not allowed at long-term care facilities for a time, meaning residents could only see their families through windows or via an online virtual visit.

The situation has been difficult for residents, families and staff members.

"We couldn't do what we do at Commonwealth without family support and input," Beard said.

Commonwealth, which specializes in memory care, has increased the number of activities for residents, Beard said. And it recently opened up to scheduled indoor visits for relatives.

It's also difficult for some residents to understand pandemic-imposed requirements, such as wearing masks, that have become commonplace.

"That's a struggle and kind of a heartbreak to explain to them every day. ... It's tough," Beard said.

Deanna Schleigh agreed. She's the sales director at Elmcroft, and she said consistency and routines are important for people with Alzheimer's Disease.

"This pandemic has kind of thrown a monkey wrench into all of that," she said.

Like other facilities, Elmcroft has made arrangements for families to see their loved ones, including visits on the porch.

"We do not have inside visits yet," Schleigh said. "That's something we are working on."

Elmcroft, at 1175 Professional Court, and Commonwealth, at 310 Cameo Drive, are about a quarter-mile apart. So staff members teamed up for Friday's walk.

A few Commonwealth residents and staff members walked to Elmcroft. Groups from both facilities made the trek to Commonwealth, then the Elmcroft group made its way back.

Because of the pandemic, Schleigh said, the walk was not open to relatives this year.

"It's important to do (the walk) every year, just to bring awareness," Schleigh said.

Alzheimer's affects relatives and friends as well as the person with the disease, she said.

"You mourn that person," Sleigh said. "You remember how they used to be. It is like a loss."