A very important walk. Especially for Maria (5 photos)

For Maria Ianni-Lucio, this past Sunday’s Alzheimer Society Walk For Memories at White Pines was a very personal experience.

SooToday.com found her enjoying the 17th annual event with her daughters Annelise Iacoe and Triesta DelMonte, and granddaughter Emilie Iacoe.

Maria has struggled with dementia for the past three years and it’s been up to family members to console her through moments of confusion, forgetfulness and panic.

It’s not easy caring for a loved one as their cognitive abilities deteriorate, and simply accepting the original diagnosis was a struggle, Annelise told us.

“I have to remember to be patient even thought it can be a challenge,” she said. “I have to walk her through things, tell her to be strong and to move forward. Sometimes it’s painful because she doesn’t remember.”

“As a case manager with the Community Care Access Centre, I see this on a daily basis,” Triesta said. “Coming home from work and dealing with it as a caregiver, I have to remember that at that point I’m a daughter versus a caregiver. Because of our own stressers and work commitments, sometimes as siblings we forget that it’s important to work together. Sometimes we fail to see that, but we must be gentle with ourselves and each other.”

“There have been times when my sister and I struggle because we both have very challenging jobs, and some of the things we have to say to each other are difficult. But focus and open communication is vital,” explained Annelise.

Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie Resource Development Coordinator, Bea Fioramanti, told us that the 2015 Walk For Memories exceeded the privious year’s tally in terms of both participants and funds raised.

“Events like this are important because they raise awareness of the disease itself and the services that the local office provides to local residents,” she told us. “It’s really important for people to know about the disease so they have the tools should the need arise in the future. They don’t have to go it alone and they know where to go for help.”

More than $34,000 was raised during the event which goes directly to support approximately 2,600 individuals living with Alzheimer’s in the Algoma District through support services, recreational therapy and education.

To find out more about the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District, please click here

(PHOTO: Alzheimer patient Maria Ianni-Lucio pictured with daughters Annelise Iacoe and Triesta DelMonte, and granddaughter Emilie Iacoe during the Alzheimer Society Walk For Memories at White Pines on Sunday, January 25, 2015. Donna Hopper/SooToday)