More than six million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
More than 11 million family members and friends provide care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
In Missouri alone, more than 120,000 people are living with the disease and 194,000 caregivers.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts its annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease, where St. Louis residents are encouraged to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s Disease on October 28 at the Chesterfield Amphitheatre.
On Walk Day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease with the poignant Garden of Promise Ceremony, a mission-driven experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease.
The colors of the flowers in the Promise Garden represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s disease, their personal reasons for ending the disease. Dollars raised help support local education classes, care consultations with social workers, support groups and help fund research for treatments, prevention and ultimately a cure for this disease.
Dr. Norris Roberts was a carer for his mother who suffered from dementia. He saw his signs years before his diagnosis, but his mother was good at hiding them.
He also participates in the Saint-Louis March to end Alzheimer’s disease, on October 29, in his honor. Roberts was selected among many others to participate in the remembrance ceremony that takes place during the Walk. He will hold the purple flower in memory of his mother and others who died of Alzheimer’s disease.
“I hold this flower in remembrance of my mother, Daisy Roberts, and many others who suffered and died from Alzheimer’s disease,” Roberts wrote in her remarks. “Holding this purple flower today symbolizes the hope, faith, and love that I apply to raise money for a cure, promote awareness of Alzheimer’s dementia, and advocate for caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease recipients. ‘Alzheimer’s.’
The author has written several books about his diagnosis of dementia and his career as a caregiver. The first book was released in 2012, while the second book was released in 2021.
Her mother died in March 2014 of Alzheimer’s disease and her father died three years later.
“Mom named the first one while dancing around the house on Thanksgiving, ‘Mama is always there,’ which is why I named it that,” Roberts said.
The second book was called “Dad Is Still There” because Roberts’ father was his mother’s primary caregiver.
“He did the best he could,” he said. My dad kept buying her clothes because she lost 40-50 pounds.
Roberts explained that her mother lost a lot of weight because she thought she wasn’t hungry due to the degenerative disease.
“I tell people if they’re physically mobile, socialize them,” he said. “We took her to eat and take a trip to Florida because she had her lucid moments.”
According to Roberts, it helped her mother stay social longer through socialization.
“She became immobile about a year and a half before she died,” he said. “We did a lot of things for her, like feeding her and dressing her.”
In her second book, Roberts framed the chapters around the six stages caregivers go through.
“I was a caregiver for my mother, my father and my stepfather for twelve years,” Roberts said.
According to the author, this is the story of the first volume.
“I approached the book from a holistic mind-body perspective,” he said.
“Many of the books I found and read had a clinical approach to talking about Alzheimer’s disease, while my book includes Christian scriptures and songs.”
The book also includes flashbacks to show happy memories to draw strength from the good times.
“I conclude each chapter with a scriptural help as it is meant to help them and a prayer for seekers to find a cure,” Roberts said.
For more information on The Still Here book series, visit TheStillHereSeries.com.
