Teaming up for the Alzheimer’s Association

Derby day Fieldstone Memory Care

Derby Day at Fieldstone Memory Care

In Washington State, there are over 120,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Nationwide, there are more than six million Americans living with Alzheimer's. These are people so many of us know and love. Alzheimer’s deeply affects those with the disease as well as their family and friends.

Doug Ellison, a founding partner of Cascadia Senior Living and Fieldstone Communities, understands. For Doug and his family, dementia is not only part of his professional life, but his personal life, too.

Doug writes:

“My family, like so many families, has been deeply affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. My dad was a family physician in Yakima, and he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his early 60s. Eventually, he developed Lewy Body dementia. We walked the journey with him, and it was incredibly hard on our entire family. We’ve also had other family members with Alzheimer’s, so our family knows very well what it means to walk this path with them.”

Out of this personal experience and understanding, Fieldstone’s Memory Care communities were created—to answer the crucial need for compassionate, leading edge care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Here at Fieldstone, our vision for engaged and healthy residents is closely tied to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s—and that’s why the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is so dear to us:

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia—by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s and dementia research, and their vision is of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias. Last year, they made their largest-ever total annual research investment: $70 million, including more than $59 million in grants to 253 new scientific investigations. They are currently investing over $250 million in more than 750 active best-of-field projects in 39 countries.

Each day as our staff across Washington care for people with dementia, they see the devastation of this disease and the toll it takes on residents and their families. Because of this, we are passionate about finding a cure and want to do everything we can to support the Alzheimer’s Association.

As we enter summer, Fieldstone Communities across the state are joining the cause with creative fundraisers to fuel the work of the Alzheimer’s Association. Here are a few of the events:

Kennewick

  • Purple asparagus donated by Larsen Farms will be sold at Fieldstone Communities in Kennewick to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Purple asparagus in five-pound bunches for $10 will be available daily at Fieldstone Communities at 575 N. Young St, Kennewick, WA 99336. Read more here.
  • Last year, this fundraiser raised around $4,000. This year, the goal is set for $10,000—and to reach it, in addition to the purple asparagus, the first Tri Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s Golf Tournament Scramble took place on June 3rd at the Horn Rapids Golf Course. Community Relations Director Donni Hatchett shared that the whole community is so pleased to be a part of this meaningful effort.

Yakima

  • BBQ & Car Show: June 16, from 11:00am - 1:00pm

Olympia

  • “Pay it Forward” Event & Raffle: Fieldstone Olympia Memory Care is hosting a “Pay it Forward” event for the greater community. Come for a delicious “grab n’ go” lunch made specially by our chefs and leave a donation for the Alzheimer’s Association. And don’t forget to buy tickets for our impressive raffle baskets in each community. Stay tuned for an event planned for later in the summer!

The Longest Day

“The Longest Day” is a special Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser set on the day with the most light—the summer solstice. On June 21, thousands of participants from across the world come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer's through an activity of their choice.

This year, several Fieldstone communities are participating in The Longest Day! Call your local Fieldstone to learn what fundraising events they have going on.

    Check your local communities’ event calendar for all the upcoming events. And sign up for LifeLoop by calling your Fieldstone community for an inside look at what’s happening each day. View calendars, communicate with your loved one and Fieldstone staff, receive announcements, and see photos and videos of daily activities.

    Doug has a message of support for families experiencing Alzheimer’s now:

    “I know experiencing Alzheimer’s or other dementias as a family can be very difficult, and I want to gently remind us all that it’s our turn to give back with empathy, patience, and unconditional love. Also, don’t do this alone. I would say to anybody who is dealing with a family member with dementia—there is so much support available to you. The Alzheimer’s Association has so many resources to help you through this. You can seek help from organizations like ours, join a support group, and more. This is not a journey that anyone needs to walk alone.

    This is very personal for me, and I would love nothing more than to get out of this business completely because we have a cure for this disease. That’s why we’re inviting you to join the Alzheimer’s Association fundraising efforts this yearso we can continue to pave the way for a cure. When we walk together, each of us carrying an experience with the disease, we are part of something much bigger.”

    More than 600 communities nationwide participate in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®—the world's largest fundraiser for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. Find a walk near you here, and join us as we Walk to End Alzheimer’s, together.

    Wherever you are on this journey, thank you for being a part of our community as we unite around this cause.