By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
June 18, 2003
Health care representatives and family members of patients with Alzheimer's came together to form a council on Tuesday to fight the degenerative brain disease and better care for its victims.
The meeting was held at Silver Leaf Manor to better connect people who deal with Alzheimer's.
Barb Dobrosky, east central Mississippi branch director for the Alzheimer's Association, said it's important to plan for Alzheimer's care in Meridian particularly as it is classified as a state retirement community.
The nine-county region of the east central branch of the Alzheimer's Association includes Lauderdale, Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Smith counties.
An annual Memory Walk to raise awareness about the disease and money for Alzheimer's research is held each fall in Meridian by the Alzheimer's Association. The local association branch also organized support groups that meet regularly for Alzheimer's patients, their families and care givers.
Paul McCarty, southeast regional field director for the National Alzheimer's Association, led the meeting Tuesday. He started discussions with representatives of several local health care agencies, including hospitals and nursing homes, to form an advisory council for the area Alzheimer's Association chapter.
It is estimated that about 50,000 people have Alzheimer's in Mississippi.
Dobrosky called the Tuesday meeting a good start toward forming what will be known as a Regional Advisory Council, which she hopes will be developed within 60 to 90 days.
Meridian was the first location for such a meeting. There are plans to form 10 regional advisory councils in the state.
Anyone wanting more information about the Alzheimer's Association should call the local office at 483-4720.