MOULTRIE, Ga. — June is Alzheimer’s Awareness month as it is the month used to spread awareness of Alzheimer’s disease however that is only one month out the year. Colquitt County is taking steps to continue to spread awareness and help people deal with this disease.

Alzheimer’s and dementia are things that can take a toll on everyone, whether you are diagnosed with it or if you are taking care of someone who suffers from it. However, there are people in the Colquitt County area that are willing to help.

The Alzheimer’s Support Group in Moultrie meets on the third Thursday of every month from 1-2 p.m. at the Colquitt Regional Medical Center Marketing and Foundation Boardroom, 3131 S. Main St.

Begun in April 2018, the support group is the brainchild of the Alzheimer’s Association. Buffy Hankinson, program director of the Georgia Chapter, said she’s thankful for being able to provide a service to the community.

“We often hear in the community that the Alzheimer’s Association is a life line to those who use our services and we certainly want to help as many people as we can,” Hankinson said. “Alzheimer’s and dementia is not a disease that you can handle alone. Many people feel isolated, both the person with the disease and their families. Our hope is that if you are going through this journey, to please reach out to us for help.”

The support group currently has an attendance of five to eight caregivers and it continues to grow each session, Hankinson said.

Things that are talked about during sessions include stages of Alzheimer’s, home care advice, and different guest speakers who have expertise in specific fields of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In addition to support groups, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a 24/7 helpline, education classes, care consulting as well as other resources. Alzheimer’s Association is the largest non-profit funder of research in the world. For more on the Alzheimer’s Association, you can visit www.alz.org.