Orrville event will bring Alzheimer’s to life
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the local Alzheimer’s Support Group, which meets at Orrville’s Trinity United Methodist Church, will host special guest April Suva, who will conduct what is known as a Virtual Dementia Tour.
“The Virtual Dementia Tour is the original patented, evidence-based scientific method of building a greater understanding of dementia by building awareness and empathy in individuals who care for people living with dementia,” Suva said. “The program was created for Second Wind Dreams to help change the perception of aging.
“The program will diminish the participants’ physical and sensory abilities to help them better understand the changes and emotions that happen with dementia.”
Participants will be divided into pairs, who will then go through the virtual experience together.
“Due to licensing with the program, pictures of the experience and specific details of the program cannot be shared in order to keep the integrity of the experience,” Suva said.
In other words, caregivers who wish to know and understand their loved one’s dementia need to see it and experience it firsthand by participating in this program.
Suva, a certified dementia practitioner, is the senior community relations specialist for Arden Courts Memory Care Assisted Living of Bath, Westlake, Parma and Chagrin Falls, where she counsels and educates caregivers, family members, and health care professionals on various topics related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. She has been trained on the latest information regarding background information and research related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Suva currently facilitates a virtual Lewy Body Dementia Support Group and is a volunteer speaker for the Alzheimer’s Association. Her professional experience prepared her for caring for her father, who had dementia.
Margaret Sander of Orrville, whose husband Larry had Alzheimer’s, is one of the co-facilitators of the support group.
“In addition to providing support for our members, our group has also had meetings about practical issues caregivers may need to know,” Sander said. “One program we had involved an attorney who offered suggestions on legal matters that need to be addressed when you have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Members of the group also offer practical advice and share experiences we have had with doctors, nursing homes, memory care, home health aides, family members and memory day care centers.”
New members are always welcome, and the Feb. 5 event is free to attend. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at Trinity UMC, 1556 Rex Drive, Orrville.
In addition to this event, the group meets the first Wednesday of every month at Trinity UMC for advice, friendship and support.
Find the website of the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. A Facebook group, Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers Support, also provides ideas and help.
“Many have found that reading and gaining knowledge about what you are facing is a bonus,” Sander said. “Your local library has many books that one could read to gain more insight.”