Beautiful weather and amazing support from the community helped Bay Aging raise over $900 for the Alzheimer’s Association at their September 21 bake sale at Urbanna Market. The fundraiser featured desserts made by Bay Aging employees, and was spearheaded by Mary Arthur, Dementia Focused Options Counselor; Sue Mayhue, Payroll Admin/Asst. HR Admin; and Austen Gaines, Care Coordinator. Sales exceeded expectations – Arthur, a Certified Dementia Practitioner who lost her grandmother to Alzheimer’s Disease, grew emotional as she remarked, “I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who contributed baked goods, purchased goodies, and made donations. My heart is overflowing.”

Arthur leads Bay Aging’s efforts to serve Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck residents who have Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She coordinates caregiver support groups, caregiver socials, educational presentations, and caregiver counseling. All of these services are available at no charge; call Bay Aging at 1-800-493-0238 for more information.

The Bay Aging team expressed special thanks to Urbanna Market for providing space in front of their store to conduct the bake sale. Bay Aging’s fundraising efforts for the Alzheimer’s Association continue Saturday, October 1, when employees will participate in Walk to End Alzheimer’s^® at Botetourt Elementary School in Gloucester. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. with a Promise Garden Ceremony, followed by the Walk at 10 a.m. Bay Aging invites everyone who has been impacted by Alzheimer’s or wishes to support the search for a cure to join their team, “Away with Alz.” Participants can register online at alz.org/walk, or onsite beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Later this fall, Bay Aging will sponsor a series of Caregiver Community Conversations in partnership with the Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health. The conversations are intended to give caregivers the opportunity to provide input on needs, gaps, and barriers to care and support. The first session will be 12:30-1:30 p.m. on October 20 at Gloucester Public Library. Subsequent sessions will be hosted in Kilmarnock, Glenns, Warsaw and Heathsville. Registration is encouraged – call 1-800-493-0238 or visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/caregiverconv2022. Participants may join in person or virtually. Light refreshments will be provided.