Anyone interested in helping more can sign up for the Annual Kearney Alzheimer’s Walk on Sept. 19.
“Part of the money raised in our area will go to education and to help fund support groups for people with loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementia,” Bigg said.
When it comes to dealing with memory issues, Bigg understands that talking helps with understanding.
“Having a conversation helps break down the fear of talking about Alzheimer’s in a positive way,” she said. “It’s a very stressful disease to cope with — and for those people suffering from Alzheimer’s for dementia, it’s ever changing.”
Bigg always encourages a proper diagnosis.
“Dementia can come from many different causes,” she said. “It’s quite easy to identify Alzheimer’s compared to other dementia problems. There are some dementia problems that can be taken care of medically, simply because it’s caused by blockage of blood to the brain and things like that. We want people to be aware and not be afraid to talk about it.”
More than 6 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s, including 5,000 in Nebraska. Bigg’s husband, Stan Bigg, died from Alzheimer’s in October 2019. Across the nation, at least 11 million Americans care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. In Nebraska, 82,000 people assist some with memory issues on a daily basis.
