T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Tate Blanchard, director of marketing and community outreach at IC Care, talks to the Belmont County commissioners Wednesday about the importance of Alzheimer’s awareness.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Commissioners hope to help raise awareness of a disease that affects more than 200,000 people in the state of Ohio alone by recognizing June as Alzeheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.

Tate Blanchard, director of marketing and community outreach at IC Care, spoke about the importance of spreading awareness during Wednesday’s meeting.

“Unfortunately, I think most of us know someone who is impacted by Alzeheimer’s or some form of dementia, so with IC Care we do provide home care services to senior citizens all over the Upper Ohio Valley, helping them to maintain their independence and dignity at home for as long as possible,” he said, adding that the majority of patients IC Care serves have some form of dementia.

“It’s important to us on a business front and to me, personally, because my life has been impacted by it as well.”

Blanchard said his grandmother developed dementia when she was in her 80s, and more recently his aunt was also diagnosed. He said there are currently 6.2 million people in America living with some form of dementia – 220,000 being in Ohio. The disease does not only affect seniors, he said, adding that a woman he knows was diagnosed with early onset dementia when she was just 44 years old.

When asked by Commissioner Jerry Echemann how she knew she had the disease, Blanchard explained that her family confronted her about their concerns regarding her forgetfulness and memory loss, which led her to the doctor where she received her diagnosis.

Echemann said his father suffered from vascular dementia.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton inquired as to what resources are available locally for a person who is in the beginning stages of dementia.

Blanchard said the most important thing, and the first step, is to find a support group.

“We have support groups all throughout the valley and the region … If you have a family member that is suffering, turn to a support group because all those individuals are dealing with a very similar situation to what you might be dealing with. Although Alzheimer’s and dementia is different for everyone, most situations are pretty similar,” he said.

Also, the Alzheimer’s Association – of which Blanchard is on the board of directors – offers community education and outreach programs to help families communicate with a person with the disease. Additional information can be found at ALZ.org.

Blanchard said the main goal is to find “our first survivor of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” The group will host the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 25 at Wheeling Park in an effort to raise awareness and inform Ohio Valley residents of the resources available in the community.

“It’s also a fundraiser effort for the Alzheimer’s Association, not only to fund the research and clinical studies and clinical trials and all those types of things, but it also allows us to provide resources to our patients right here in the Ohio Valley that are suffering,” he said, adding that all the money raised remains in the area to help local patients.

The walk is the only one in the area that represents the entire upper Ohio Valley, he said.

Blanchard said throughout the month, the Alzheimer’s Association will host a number of events to raise awareness.

Commissioner Josh Meyer read the proclamation declaring June Alzeheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. It was unanimously approved.

“It’s an awful disease but what I’ve gathered from these difficult situations, at least from your stories, is that you guys are very passionate about trying to find a way to combat this awful disease and to make things better for others. It’s appreciated, and out of that passion is compassion and you guys are very compassionate. Continue to do what you’re doing, and we’ll do our part today to spread the word,” Meyer said.

Blanchard thanked the commissioners for their support.