Alzheimer’s Resource Fair offers info, insight
Jenny Folwell, walk manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, provides information during the Alzheimer’s Resource Fair at WVU at Parkersburg Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Candice Black)
Organizations present information about caregiving and other forms of care for Alzheimer’s patients. (Photo by Candice Black)
Jenny Folwell, walk manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, provides information during the Alzheimer’s Resource Fair at WVU at Parkersburg Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Candice Black)
Organizations present information about caregiving and other forms of care for Alzheimer’s patients. (Photo by Candice Black)
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PARKERSBURG -- West Virginia University at Parkersburg hosted its first Alzheimer's Resource Fair on Wednesday as part of a senior project by student John Kavanagh.
Kavanagh is a sociology, communications and literature major and decided to put on the fair for his senior project because of his mother.
"My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her late 80s. As I was going for my degree, Alzheimer's kept coming up," he said.
A loved one with a new Alzheimer's diagnosis can be confusing, Kavanagh said.
"When my mother was first diagnosed, we didn't know where to go," he said.
Kavanagh gave two presentations in the college theater. He discussed communication with Alzheimer's patients during all stages and information about a study that shows written language can detect the disease early.
According to Kavanagh, Iris Murdoch, a writer, penned 28 bestsellers in a row, but her last book wasn't quite the same as her other writings.
"The doctor started looking at it, he compared the books and noticed the drop in vocabulary," Kavanagh said.
The doctor that studied Murdoch's writing found a 20 percent decline and that was two years before she was diagnosed.
Agatha Christie's books were analyzed, Kavanagh said. Although she wasn't diagnosed, it was discovered after she passed away that she had Alzheimer's.
"Her books declined," Kavanagh said.
Representatives in physical therapy, speech therapy and from the Alzheimer's Association were present for the event.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was invited but was unable to attend. He gave a statement:
"While we still have a long way to go to find a cure, we can take some solace in knowing that more than ever, we are seeing increases in research funding and a clearer path for patients and their families. Excellent progress has been made and it is due in large part of the promotion of resources and awareness like we're seeing here today."
The vision for the fair in coming years is that it will outgrow the college activities center, Kavanagh said, and that it continues annually.
"Part of my project is I'm going to write a continuity folder of how to put the event on for people in the future if they want to continue," Kavanagh said.
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.