David Walker, Judy Lemoncelli, Lawrence Brashears, Peggy Cunningham and Raz Ilie. [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

“Everyone in this room is responsible for moving this organization forward, with your time, your expertise and your philanthropy,” said Peggy Cunningham, Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County executive director, speaking to invited guests at a Donor Appreciation Reception last Tuesday evening at Northern Trust Bank.

Sharing some staggering statistics, she said that in Indian River County alone there are roughly 6,500 people with dementia, cared for by about 5,200 caregivers, most of them unpaid family members and friends.

“We are just collecting the data on Parkinson’s,” she said, noting that Florida is ranked fourth nationwide. They estimate upwards of 1,000 people in this county have Parkinson’s.

To address the issue, the nonprofit offers free programs and services, including Social Respite programs at sites around the county, where caregivers can drop off patients for the day, so that they can enjoy a day of respite for themselves. The newest one is at the Indian River Shores Community Center.

“Taking care of someone with dementia is three times harder than any other form of caregiving,” said Cunningham.

They offer a wealth of other services for patients dealing with memory and motion disorders, such as 12 support groups; Project Lifesaver, a search and rescue device in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office; memory screenings and a research library available to any resident; 50 hours of movement classes per month; classes and conferences; and Virtual Dementia Tours, to better understand the difficulties patients experience.

Cunningham said they are able to offer all their programs free of charge due to support from philanthropists and volunteers, legacy gifts, the board’s strategic planning, staff expertise, collaborations with other community groups, and fundraisers such as the annual Walk to Remember, and the upcoming March 19 Successful Aging Luncheon.

“We have challenges ahead, so while we are thanking you, we’re also going to say, don’t stop,” said Cunningham. Referencing the statistic of 6,500 people with dementia and 1,000 with Parkinson’s, she said they have served 2,500 individuals this year to date.

“So we still have more to reach, we have more programs to grow. This is going to be something that this community is going to need to prepare for, coming down the road,” said Cunningham. “So this is very exciting, because we get to think about what’s ahead and what we get to conquer.”

For more information, visit alzpark.org.