TAKE FIVE!

September 07, 2021

Samantha Mango:
Hi, I’m Samantha Mango. Welcome to “Sullivan 180 Presents…. Take 5!” Our guest today is Erin Lynch, the Community Engagement Manager with the Alzheimer’s Association of the Hudson Valley Chapter. Welcome Erin. Thanks for being here!

Erin Lynch:
Thanks so much for having me.

Samantha Mango:
Can you please introduce yourself and give a brief description of your role and your organization?

Erin Lynch:
I’m a Community Engagement Manager, so there are several different opportunities for me in this role. I do outreach to the community to help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease, and I connect our community members to our programs and services, and to other agencies in the area. I also oversee our volunteer program, so I recruit volunteers who will help us deliver our programs to folks throughout the seven counties that we cover in the Hudson Valley Chapter. We have a number of education programs which we deliver to families facing a diagnosis, and also to the general public. We also have support groups and other types of engagement activities that help families who are facing a diagnosis.

Samantha Mango:
Can you talk about the programs and services that the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Chapter offers to Sullivan County residents?

Erin Lynch:
Sure, absolutely. So we have a “24 hour, seven day a week helpline”. Someone is there all the time, for anybody who might need assistance or have questions, or need information. That number is 1 800-272-3900. That is just a really great resource: if there is a crisis, someone is there for you, all the time. We have a number of staff who cover Sullivan County. All of our programs and services are free of charge. We’re really happy and proud to be part of the Sullivan Community. In addition to our education programs and support groups, we also have “Care Consultations” Our Master Level Clinicians will work with families who are facing a diagnosis. We also partner very closely with Cornell Cooperative and Sullivan County, and they provide a number of services for us there.

Samantha Mango:
What are some upcoming events or meetings that our residents can participate in?

Erin Lynch:
In addition to all the education programs, we have a number of really exciting events coming up this fall. The first event is our “Orange-Sullivan Walk to End Alzheimer’s”. This is our largest fundraiser and we are meeting in person this year. It will be October 9th, at Benedict Farm Park and Montgomery, right on 17 K. It’s very easy to get to and has lots of parking. It’s a really nice location. So we’re really excited about that. And for those who are unable to join us in person or aren’t comfortable yet coming back to an event with people, we will have a virtual component. So we’d love to have everybody helping or participating with us! We also have “The Longest Day,” which is a third party fundraising opportunity. With this, you can turn anything that you love into a way to raise awareness and funds to help support Alzheimer’s. We’ve had people bike a hundred miles, run a hundred miles, doing any number of things: crochet, bowling, yoga, whatever your passion is. We’ve got a really spectacular event manager, Lauren Bore, who can help turn your hobby into a way to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease. We’re kicking off our 2022 season in September, so we’re really looking forward to that as well. And then lastly, for our events, we have our “Sub-Zero Heroes Event”. If you’ve ever wanted to jump into a frozen lake, this is your opportunity! I do not do that myself, but if you do want to jump into the lake, you can be a hero! We also look for what we call “sidekicks”, which is more my speed and probably a lot of people’s, but it’s another great way to raise funds and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s a really fun day to come out and see people wearing costumes and supporting a great cause. Weather-wise, some years are better than others, but it’s always a really good day!

Samantha Mango:
How can people stay up to date with your organization?

Erin Lynch:
We have several opportunities for folks to stay involved. We have a monthly e-newsletter that people can sign up for via our website, which is “www.alz.org backslash Hudson Valley”. We have a great calendar on there which lists all of the upcoming support groups and education programs. We are also on a lot of social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn: those often have a number of events posted as well. And you could also call the helpline and ask if there’s anything happening. If you’re looking for an education program, they’re happy to tell you what’s coming up and they can register you right there on the phone.

Samantha Mango:
I know you’ve touched on it a couple of times, but can you give us a brief overview of what types of Support Groups are offered?

Erin Lynch:
We are the Alzheimer’s Association, but we support families who have any type of dementia. Dementia is the umbrella term: Alzheimer’s is the most common form, but there are a number of other types. We have some Support Groups that are just general, and open to caregivers. And then we do have a couple of specialized Support Groups for specific populations. We have one group that started during COVID, for families who have loved ones in long-term care facilities. That’s an additional challenge to caregiving when you aren’t with your loved one every day, or they’re in a place where you are not able to see them. So we have a very specific Support Group for that. We also have a couple of other specialty support groups for “adult children”, and “spouses only”, but most of them are just really “general” for caregivers and just a great way to connect with other people who are facing the challenge of caring for someone with the disease.

Samantha Mango:
Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

Erin Lynch:
We also offer “respite grants” for caregivers. Caregiving for someone with dementia is very challenging and it can be very exhausting. So we help support the caregivers to make sure they take time for themselves, and take a break when they need to. Also sometimes caregivers have their own health issues: they might need to have medical care themselves or maybe they just want to do something fun. So we do offer “respite grants”, which are an opportunity for families to identify a place or an agency that is comfortable for them, and for their loved one to go, so that the caregiver can get a break. We help with that financial piece. Lastly, I just want to mention that Alzheimer’s is not a typical part of aging. A lot of people think it is, but it is not. We have a great program called “Know the 10 Warning Signs”, which can help differentiate between “what is typical aging”, and “what is atypical aging”. Sometimes there are things that are reversible: you might have a vitamin deficiency or maybe a medication could be causing the dementia. We always remind people to “talk to their doctor”. And while there isn’t a way to prevent Alzheimer’s, there are a number of things that have come out in recent research that show us that you can reduce your risk by eating well, staying cognitively active and socially engaged. “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain”.

Samantha Mango:
Thank you for joining us today, Erin, and we really appreciate you working with us and working with the community to build a healthier Sullivan County!

Erin Lynch:
Thank you.