Salisbury to host Walk to End Alzheimer’s this weekend

SALISBURY, Md. — The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place in Salisbury this weekend, with local families sharing the personal impact of the disease.

Teresa Peters, an Alzheimer’s patient who has been battling the illness for eight years, described the difficulty of adjusting to the disease’s progression. “I’m so used to being able to do everything I do, you know? And it’s… yeah. So it’s kind of tough for me, and I kind of go, where do I go? Where can I go and do something to get myself to be able to do something besides sitting with her or watching television?” she said.

Peters’ family, including her primary caregiver, Daniel Peters, has been at her side throughout the journey. Daniel said, “I think I was kind of expecting it. So, you know, everybody called it the long goodbye.” Despite the challenges, he added, “Taking care of my sister can be fun. She’s energetic and optimistic, and I think that when people ask me how Teresa is doing, I say she’s happy and it’s fun to hang out with happy people.”

Jeanie Langellotto, development manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, said the walk helps families like the Peters connect with others. “When you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, every day is different because you don’t know what that day is going to be. It could be a good day or a bad day for that person. But most of these families are stuck.”

The event will begin with a ceremony honoring the 127,000 Marylanders diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Langellotto added that the walk features a variety of activities, including a canine corner, a kids’ corner, and information booths from vendors. “We just try to make it a fun, really family-focused event,” she said.

Support groups and experts will also be available to help attendees understand the challenges faced by those living with Alzheimer’s.

Teresa Peters noted that many people struggle to understand what it’s like living with Alzheimer’s. “A lot of people don’t understand what’s going on. I try to keep myself from talking about it anyway, so they don’t think about it because that makes it harder for other people.”