Marquette County YMCA partners with Alzheimer’s Association for LiveWise program

MARQUETTE — Beginning this month, the Marquette County YMCA is partnering with the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for a program for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.

The program is called LiveWise. Participants will meet for eight weeks every Tuesday from January 14 to March 3 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The program will begin with a 45–minute exercise session, guided by YMCA staff. LiveWise isn’t just about the participants’ physical wellbeing though. The second part of the afternoon will consist of an education course on a variety of important topics, such as communication strategies and safety.

“It’s what we would call an early–stage engagement program,” said Jake Bilodeau, Regional Director for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter. “So the focus is getting people active, but also having an educational component. It’s important because, for one thing, this time of year a lot of people aren’t really out and getting active. But we know that when people are socially engaged, especially if they’re living with dementia, that there can be some real benefits to that. And then for caregivers, it’s really important for them to learn more about what they could be facing down the road, and also for them to connect with other caregivers.”

LiveWise has become a state–wide initiative, helping those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers with their current needs and helping them to plan for the future.

There are still openings available, and if you would like to speak with someone about signing up for the LiveWise program, you can call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900. You can also contact the main office at (906) 228-3910.