Alzheimer’s Association outlines free care, support and local programs to Orange Village Council

Mary Ertle, program director for the Cleveland-area chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, told the Orange Village Council on Feb. 5 that the group provides free care and support services to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias across five counties in northeast Ohio.

Ertle said the local chapter operates a 24/7 helpline and provides master’s-level care coaches who help families develop action plans and connect to resources. “We literally never close,” she said of the helpline. The chapter also runs caregiver support groups, early-stage social programming and partnerships with cultural venues for dementia-friendly events.

Ertle described recent clinical advances: “Two years ago, we got the first traditionally approved FDA medication for Alzheimer’s disease,” she said, adding that available treatments to slow progression so far apply mainly to people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia. She also cited research linking heart-healthy lifestyles — diet, exercise and social engagement — to reduced dementia risk, and said roughly 40% of dementia cases could be delayed or prevented through lifestyle changes.

Council members asked about arts and music programs and funding. Ertle said music often remains accessible to people with memory loss and noted local partnerships, including a Cleveland Museum of Art program and a dementia-friendly movie screening at the Cedar Lee Theater. She said most local funding comes from the Ohio Department of Aging and the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, supplemented by individual donations and the association’s fundraising activities.

Councilman Ryan Belski introduced Ertle as part of an Active Orange wellness initiative and encouraged residents to use the association’s resources. Ertle left printed information and offered to connect residents to local services through board members, including Belski.