Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THIS PHOTO taken Thursday afternoon shows the bridge along the Iron Belle Trail between Ironwood and Hurley.
By CHARITY SMITH
Hurley - The Aging and Disability Resource Center of the North will host the third annual "Across the Borders" Senior Information and Awareness Walk on the Iron Belle Trail from Hurley to Ironwood Depot Park from 5 to 7 p.m.
The event will feature booths spread out across that segment of the trail, from more than 20 local organizations which handle the care of seniors in various locations across both Michigan and Wisconsin. These include human service departments from both Gogebic County and Iron County, Wisconsin, nursing homes, home care services, lawyers, pharmacies, clinics, UPCA and Aspirus. There will also be refreshments at both ends, along with a kids table, a selfie station, and classic cars will be parked at the Ironwood Train Depot. The agency booths will be located on their respective side of the border along the trail.
"It's open for the public to kind of come and gather some resources and talk with local agencies and businesses about their services," said Mindy Smee, information and assistance specialist for the ADRC. "It's a wide variety of local businesses that can provide services to our community."
She said the event is geared to all members of the community because dementia and Alzheimer's "kind of hit home for everybody." Smee said the goal of the event is to raise awareness for World Elder Abuse, along with Alzheimer's. Smee said that the ARDC will have their dementia care specialist there and an adult protective services worker will have a chart showing how many elder abuse cases the agency handled in 2021 on the bridge. She said the dementia care specialist will be able to provide information on what it is like to live with dementia and what it is like to be a care giver.
The event is self paced and there is no start time or location. Participants can start the walk on either side of the border.
"It's pretty informal where you go at your own pace and gather the information you need and enjoy some fresh air," said Smee.
The walk was founded by Trista Olsen, ADRC supervisor, in 2018. However, the agency has not been able to hold the event since 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Smee said that on average, they have seen at least 100 people attend the event in past years.
The event is on June 21, the summer solstice and longest day of the year. Smee said this is the day when caregivers have the most amount of daylight with their clients and-or loved one. The Alzheimer's Association chosen June 21 to encourage people across the world to connect and to outshine the darkness of Alzheimer's, said Smee.
Transportation will be provided for those who are unable to drive themselves to the event.
For more information or to arrange transportation contact the ADRC at 715-561-2108
