14 Thursday, September 26, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
giving away
long sleeved
shirts to the
participants.”
Sherban
said the pup-
pet making
activity is
aimed at
helping chil-
dren learn
about demen-
tia though
adults are
welcome to
participate,
too.
In fact,
persons with
dementia and
Alzheimer’s
are welcome
to attend the event with their families
and caregivers, said Sherban.
Typically, most people who attend
the fund raiser have some connection
to someone with dementia.
See STROLL on 15SHELLY KEHRLE-SULSER
Executive Editor
An organization founded by Sherii
Sherban and Karla Fales more than
10 years ago to create solutions
for those impacted by dementia in
Calhoun County through move-
ment, programming and research
will hold its 11th annual Community
Stroll fund raiser Saturday, Oct. 5 at
Festival Market Square.
The Miles for Memories
Community Stroll will also feature
information tables, a puppet making
activity, drumming, painting, music,
photo booth and more.
Sherban said the public is welcome
to participate and to register for the
10 a.m. stroll by logging on to http://www.
milesformemories.org.
“We’re doing it later this year
because we wanted to try to avoid
other key events so that everybody
can participate in everything and
not let it get too far into fall,” said
Sherban of the event historically held
in September. “So instead of giv-
ing away tee shirts this year, we’re
Community Stroll Oct. 5 benefits Miles for Memories in Battle Creek
Sherii Sherban is one
of the founders of Miles
for Memories which
provides support for
people with dementia
and their caregivers.
(Shopper News photo by
Shelly Kehrle-Sulser)“They appreciate the opportunity to
get together, to share those kinds of
things in a way that others that sur-
round them understand and it’s a safe
environment for them,” said Sherban,
“for their loved ones, typically, as
well as emotionally and trying to fig-
ure out what other resources that we
might be able to have available for
them to be able to continue to move
forward and feel supported in the
process.”
Dementia is described by the
Alzheimer’s Association as “a gen-
eral term for loss of memory, lan-
guage, problem-solving and other
thinking abilities that are severe
enough to interfere with daily life.
Alzheimer’s is the most common
cause of dementia.”
People with dementia often act in
ways that are very different from
their “old self,” and these changes
can be hard for family and friends
to deal with, according to another
online source, the UCSF Memory
And Aging Center”“Dementia...alters how a person
responds to their environment. A
person with Alzheimer’s disease
may be forgetful and have trouble
following conversations. They may
become angry and frustrated because
they cannot follow what is going
on. Noise, conversation, crowds and
activity may be over-stimulating and
too difficult to process or understand.
“Also, many people with dementia
rely on others for emotional cues.
For example, if you are anxious and
worried, many people with demen-
tia will mirror your emotions and
become anxious and worried.
“Behavior can also change due to
medical issues, such as pain or infec-
tion. A person with dementia may
have a painful condition but may be
unable to explain it or describe it.
Instead, they may act out in an angry
way or be less active. Urinary tract
infections, constipation and poor
sleep are examples of conditions that
can cause sudden changes in the way
a person behaves.”Come Celebrate Chris & Kathy Fry's
50th Wedding Anniversary
October 5, 2024, 3-6pm at The Eagles Lodge
19757 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Your Presence will be Present Enough!