Tanesha Blackshire said it was a no-brainer to move back to her hometown and help her mother take care of her grandmother, who has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for about 10 years.
“It means a lot to me to be able to be here and to help out,” she said.
Blackshire recently moved back to Greenwood after residing in Southern California for the past two years.
Before living on the West Coast, Blackshire resided in Tennessee and could easily commute to Greenwood to help her mother with all the responsibilities of the primary caregiver of someone who has Alzheimer’s.
“It’s a job,” said Blackshire. “I had moved away, so it had become really stressful for my mom, so I decided to come back and help her.”
Blackshire’s grandmother is bedridden and recently had to get a feeding tube.
Even while living in California, Blackshire would still come back to help — sometimes twice in one month.
“I could see it in her face when I was coming in and out that she needed the help,” said Blackshire. “She didn’t just come out and tell me.”
When her mother is not taking care of Blackshire’s grandmother, she is an administrator at a local Head Start.
“As an administrator at the school, her job can get pretty stressful, too,” said Blackshire. “So when she comes home and she’s tired, I kind of pick up whatever she has to do.”
An assistant is in the home during the day while Blackshire and her mother are both at work. Then, “whatever’s left we do, like a feeding before bed and getting her cleaned up,” Blackshire said.
Blackshire, who said she’s happy to be back in her hometown, works as the wrap-around facilitator at Life Help. That’s how she found out about the upcoming Mississippi Delta Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
“I saw the signs about the walk in the building,” she said. “I think it’s a great thing. ... Everyone needs to get out and support this cause. I’m going to get all my family members and my friends involved.”
The walk will be held Saturday, and this year’s theme is “Peace Out Alzheimer’s.”
Shirley Garrett, activity director at Garden Park Adult Day Center, is the 2016 chair of the walk. Garden Park started the walk and each year organizes the event’s committee and rounds up local sponsors.
This year, the main sponsors are RC Construction, Cannon Motors, Life Help Region VI and North Sunflower Medical Center.
Garrett said that while most people her age are enjoying retirement, she is still enjoying working at Garden Park, which is a service for the elderly offered by Life Help Region VI that caters to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
“People ask me if this is a depressing job. No, it isn’t, because Garden Park is a family environment that offers meaningful activities and quality care that enhances the lives of our participants and their caregivers,” said Garrett. “Many of my family members have suffered with this dreadful disease, so I am very sympathetic to caregivers who often just need support.”
Garrett said that she is excited to chair the event, which raises money for improved treatment of Alzheimer’s and finding a cure.
“Memories are precious,” she said. “A cure to dissolve the plaques and tangles or even prevent Alzheimer’s could be soon.”
This year, funds raised from the event will go to Alzheimer’s Mississippi, which was organized in 1990 as a part of the national Alzheimer’s Association. The organization became an independent Mississippi-based nonprofit in March to ensure that 100 percent of funds raised stay in Mississippi for research, caregiver support and information.
The Mississippi Delta Walk to End Alzheimer’s will feature an opening ceremony, a walk and the “Paddling for the Purple” duck race.
Festivities will start at 9 a.m. at the boat landing between the Veterans and Keesler bridges on East Claiborne Avenue.
There is no fee to register a team for the walk and no minimum amount of team members or money to raise.
During the “Paddling for the Purple” duck race, the Greenwood Fire and Rescue team will dump the weighted ducks off the Veterans Bridge. The ducks will travel down the Yazoo River toward Keesler Bridge. Prizes will be awarded to the first ducks to cross the finish line.
Ducks can be adopted at Garden Park Adult Day Center. A duck costs $5, a family of six ducks costs $25 and a flock of 12 ducks is $50.
The committee is also continuing its “flocking” fundraiser. Those who find a flock of purple flamingos in their yards can move them to another yard of their choice with a small donation.
For more information about the walk or its fundraising events, call Garden Park at 451-9058.
To join or start a team for the Mississippi Delta Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit www.alzms.org.
For those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s or have loved ones who are, Greenwood Leflore Hospital offers an Alzheimer’s support group every second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the hospital’s boardroom near the cafeteria. For more information, call Latonya Thomas with New Beginnings at 459-2688.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
