Staff
January is “Alzheimer’s Awareness Month” and Mary O’Connor, local Client Services co-ordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River Districts, will be busy all month.
Having already attended Alzheimer Society flag-raisings in Rainy River and Fort Frances in the past week, O’Connor will have a booth set up at the Emo Public Library tomorrow (Jan. 12) from 2-6 p.m.
O’Connor said she will be there to provide information about the local Alzheimer Society and the services it offers, as well as to answer any questions people may have.
The Alzheimer Society then will hold a “Coffee Break” and public education session on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Sister Kennedy Centre here.
O’Connor also will be at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre from 2-6 p.m. that day, where she’ll have an information booth set up.
Then the “Forget Me Not” annual charitable dinner—the local Alzheimer Society’s major fundraising event here—is set for Saturday, Jan. 21 at La Place Rendez-Vous.
Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m.
There also will be a guest speaker, entertainment provided by “Entyrely Mac,” and a prize auction.
Tickets cost $50 each or $400 for a table of eight, which can be purchased at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts or the Rendez-Vous, or by calling 1-800-682-0245 (a $25 charitable tax receipt will be issued).
The following week, O’Connor will conduct a “virtual dementia tour” on Tuesday, Jan. 24 from noon-6 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel here.
The sessions involve putting special garb (i.e., gloves, goggles, etc.) on people and then getting them to do simple tasks so they can experience what it’s like to be a person with dementia, O’Connor explained.
It’s open to the public and it takes less than half-an-hour to go through, she added.
“It is fabulous,” said O’Connor, stressing it is eye-opening for those who have taken it in the past.
But you must pre-register to take the tour by calling O’Connor at 852-4767 or the Alzheimer Society at 1-800-682-0245.
As well, O’Connor will be at the Rainy River Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for an information session.
The public is urged to drop by and learn about the Alzheimer Society and dementia.
Then the Linda Johnston Memorial dinner, also featuring a penny table, is set for Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Rainy River Legion.
Buy tickets from any of the “Red Hatters” in there.
But act fast as this event sells out every year.
