The Dementia and Alzheimer’s Association of St. Clair County receives $25,000 grant

McKenna Golat, Port Huron Times Herald
·2 min read
Although there currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it can be prevented in many instances.
Although there currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it can be prevented in many instances.

The Dementia and Alzheimer’s Association of St. Clair County has received a $25,000 grant from The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Fund for Caregivers from the Southeast Community Foundation of Michigan.

The organization aims to support to caregivers, raises awareness for both dementia and Alzheimer's and is an overall resource to caregivers.

The grant money will be used to provide respite and relief programs for primary caregivers of people with dementia and Alzheimer's throughout St. Clair County.

Deb Johnson, the president of the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Association of St. Clair County, said the association is happy to be able to support caregivers with the grant.

"The number of (diagnoses) are going to keep going up, so we need to continue to look for a cure and continue to support people who have been diagnosed and their families," she said.

People interested in applying for the respite care grant program can find an application on the Dementia and Alzheimer's Association of St. Clair County's website. For more information, people can also call the organization at (810) 990-9558.

Johnson said the Dementia and Alzheimer's Association of St. Clair County was started by Marcia Haynes in 2014 because when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she felt there were not a lot of resources in the area. Johnson said Haynes felt the need to provide people with this information.

"She was a pillar of the community and a great advocate," Johnson said.

Haynes died in May 2022 at the age of 90.

Johnson said the association is proud to continue a part of Haynes' legacy.

"We're proud to continue the work she started because it is ever so important," she said.

In addition to expanding the respite care program, the Dementia and Alzheimer's Association of St. Clair County is working to offer more educational opportunities and resources by offering webinars and in-person events throughout the county. The association is also expanding its relationship with the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center to provide more professional educational presentations for the area that will focus on Alzheimer’s and dementia related topics.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Dementia, Alzheimer’s Association of St. Clair County gets grant money