ALZHEIMER’S WORKSHOP SET — The Fighting the Good Fight to End Alzheimer’s event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 16 at the First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction. Representatives of those who are making the event possible includes, from left, Lisa Foster, board secretary of Relationship Builders Inc.; the Rev. Vaughn Foster, pastor of First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo and executive director of Relationship Builders Inc.; Diane Pernick, board secretary, Mingo Senior Center and elder at First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo; and Fred Pernick, director of Mingo Senior Center. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Perhaps one of the most heart-breaking illnesses anyone can experience in their lifetime is losing someone they love to Alzheimer’s disease.

It is the pain of realizing …

A mother who once would have died for you because her love was that strong, now sees you as a stranger, someone whom she has never even met.

That strong, protective father whom you idolized as a child has suddenly become a scared and confused man who repeatedly asks you your name.

What do we do? How can we help? Where do we turn?

The answer to those questions and many more can be found by speaking with officials with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Chapter during an upcoming seminar, Fighting the Good Fight to End Alzheimer’s.

Anyone who is dealing with this illness in one form or another or who is interested in learning more about the subject is invited to attend the free event, scheduled for Nov. 16 at the First United Presbyterian Church in Mingo Junction.

A welcome and refreshments will be served at 10:30 a.m., followed by two morning workshops at 11 a.m. “Healthy Habits for Your Brain and Body,” will be the first workshop and “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” will follow.

A box lunch will be offered at noon.

The afternoon will feature two workshops at 1 p.m. — one being a repeat of the “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” workshop, and the other is entitled, “Building Foundations of Caregiving.”

According to the Rev. Vaughn Foster, pastor of the church, the place of worship has been partnering with the Mingo Senior Center for years, holding fundraisers which help to support those who are battling cancer — adults and children alike.

This year, however, it was suggested by church elder Diane Pernick, who also serves as the secretary for the senior center, that they expand their reach and direct their efforts toward helping patients of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, along with their families.

But why Alzheimer’s?

Because more than 120,000 people died in the United States from Alzheimer’s in 2022. And the number only increases every year after. The association’s website, alz.org, states there are nearly 7 million Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s.

Foster explained these aren’t just numbers or figures.

They are people.

And some of those who have succumbed to the disease have been members of churches at which he has served.

Foster recalled several elderly friends who battled the disease. He remembers all that their families had to endure while trying to care for them.

“In the latter phases of the disease, one man no longer remembered his wife,” Foster exclaimed. “Another, just before dying, seemed to forget how to feed himself.”

Despite his 33 years of ministry and working with these families, Foster still had questions. Lots of questions.

He is not alone. Most people are looking for answers.

That is why the Alzheimer’s Association is conducting a workshop at the church in the coming weeks.

Foster and Pernick asked officials at the Alzheimer’s Association if they would be interested in taking part in the fight to end Alzheimer’s event, which is being brought to the community by the congregation of the First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction, the Mingo Senior Center and its director, Fred Pernick and Relationship Builders Inc.

Foster inquired if the nonprofit could provide a couple of workshops so as to better educate residents throughout the area, as Diane believes the more people know about the disease, the more empathetic they will be when caring for those who suffer from it.

“The dementia patient isn’t giving you a hard time,” she commented. “The dementia patient is having a hard time. We are blessed to help them.”

“An added goal of the event is to raise funds,” Foster reiterated, saying, “After the costs associated with holding this event, every dollar and every dime raised above the expenses will go to the Alzheimer’s Association. Neither First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo, the Mingo Senior Center, nor Relationship Builders Inc., will receive anything from this event.”

The Alzheimer’s Association will be providing the workshops at no cost.

Anyone who is interested in attending needs to register in advance to ensure enough space and food will be available.

To register, contact the church at (740) 535-0309 or notify by e-mail at firstunitedofmingo@yahoo.com.

The association is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research.

It is the nonprofit organization that has the highest impact worldwide.

Chapters are positioned in communities across the nation, with its home office located in Chicago and a public policy office in Washington, D.C.

The chapter provides free care and support services to individuals and families living throughout the Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.