September 14, 2006

Going for the gold

Leland senior hopes to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease with final Girl Scout project

By Margo Consul
Times Intern

When someone hears the words “Girl Scout,” they probably think of cookies or young girls in brown or green uniforms. Most girls in Almaden were Girl Scouts once and sold those cookies throughout their neighborhoods. But few girls continue their scouting experience past elementary school.

Sara O’Brien, engaged life director at the Alzheimers Unit, Melissa Erickson and Jolie Higgins, executive director, pose outside the Madrone building of Atria Willow Glen. Photo by Margo Consul

Melissa Erickson continued her scouting career and the Leland senior is now a senior cadet Girl Scout. Having gone the limit in Girl Scouts, she now has the chance to receive the highest award within the organization—the coveted Gold Award, similar to the Boy Scouts’ Eagle Scout honor.

Jennifer Logan, Erickson’s project advisor, said the award is not given out lightly. “It takes about two years of pre-requisite work including badge work and career-type activities where they have to learn about different careers and learn about leadership skills. Then they do something that is more project management oriented,” Logan said.

Although it is a lot of work, the project also has to have “a long-term effect on the community,” Logan explained.

Not only does the project have to follow all of the requirements listed, the girl also has to have some personal connection to her project. In Erickson’s case, she chose to work with Alzheimer’s patients because her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2004. Edward Erickson died from complications of Alzheimer’s at the age of 88 a year later.

Erickson chose to make shadow boxes for the Alzheimers Unit at the Atria Willow Glen retirement community as her Gold Award Project because that is where her grandfather lived before he died.

Erickson talked about how hard it was to see her grandfather during his illness, “Visiting my grandfather was always emotional and he had very little short-term memory.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects one out of every 10 people over the age of 65. Most people know a family member or friend who has had this disease and understands the toll it takes on the patients and their families. Not only does it destroy the memory, it also can eventually affect a person’s ability to care for themselves, walk, talk, eat and swallow. The Alzheimer’s Association and National Institute on Aging estimated that caring for Alzheimers patients costs at least $100 billion annually.

Although there are drugs available that may offset the symptoms of early onset Alzheimer’s, there is no cure for the disease. The risk of developing the disease can be related to family history, or simply getting older. The risk doubles every five years after the age of 65. Which means by 85 the risk reaches almost 50 percent.

Erickson said she picked this project because “During the height of his illness we became very close to the staff. They were so loving and supportive of both my grandfather and my family during such a difficult time. I want to use this project as a way to give back to this excellent group of people by improving the place that they care so much about.”

Jolie Higgins, executive director of Atria at Willow Glen, said she supported Melissa’s project because “it is an opportunity for residents to find out about other residents which creates opportunities for conversation, and it is also something the resident him or herself can appreciate looking back on their lives.”

Erickson said she remembered how “the residents loved to reminisce and were always proud to talk about their past experiences and accomplishments.”

Alzheimers affects short-term memory and because of that, most patients diagnosed with the disease won’t be able to remember simple things like if they had breakfast, but they do have long-term memory, so they can remember what they did during their childhood.

She noticed that their memories were always stimulated by photographs and mementos. Erickson said. “Hopefully, when the patients use the boxes to display treasured tokens and pictures from their younger years, it will spark similar conversation and enjoyment.”

Erickson said she plans to create “a total of 26 shadow boxes. There will be a shelf in each shadow box allotted for each resident.”

Another part of the Gold Award is delegating work to volunteers to complete the project. So Erickson has to gather a work force, supplies, raise money, and complete the project within a budget. So far, Erickson has received support from Leland’s Key Club and TAP Plastics for the plexi-glass and materials for the boxes. The entire project is going to cost close to $1,000.

Erickson hopes to raise awareness of this disease and support within the community. To involve the community in the project, Erickson is looking for people to sponsor boxes. Boxes can be sponsored in honor or memory of a loved one or just out of kindness. Each box will cost $23. Partial sponsorships are also available at $12.

When the project is complete, there will be an unveiling of the boxes at Atria Willow Glen. Erickson is also asking for support through time and any other donations that might help with this day or any other part of the project.

“Alzheimers is one of our nation’s largest medical, social, and economic challenges. Approximately 4.5 million American’s suffer from Alzheimer’s. I cannot cure Alzheimers or relieve our government of the high costs of treatment simply through this project, but I do hope to raise awareness and support in our community for this devastating and fatal illness,” Erickson said.

If you would like to sponsor a shadowbox or donate to the project, contact Melissa Erickson at missyindenmark@hotmail.com. If you would like more information about Alzheimer’s disease, go to www.alz.org.