Walk to end Alzheimer’s Saturday, Sept. 24

“It was worth every onion.” 

That’s what Justin Gangl said during his grandpa’s funeral in March 2015. 

His grandpa, Randall “Randy” Baird had Alzheimer’s disease. Justin was referring to the time when his grandpa was supposed to be helping plant onions at The Farm on St. Mathias, owned by his parents, Dr. Robert and Arlene Jones. As fast as the onions could be planted, Randy followed and pulled them out. 

When this was reported to Arlene, she said “I don’t care, just let him do it.” When Justin spoke at the funeral about caring for his grandpa during his journey with Alzheimer’s, he recounted that experience stating, “Remember what you said Mom? It was worth every onion.”

Arlene Jones is the Honorary Chair of the 2016 Brainerd Lakes Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s. It is an important and very personal cause for her. One of Arlene’s goals is to increase awareness and education so that providers can direct families to the support systems available much earlier. 

The average family waits two years before becoming engaged with services such as the peer and grief support offered by the Alzheimer’s Association. She is also working so that her children and grandchildren will have the tools they need to combat this heartbreaking disease. 

Randy Baird, Arlene Jones’ dad, was no stranger to hard work, having grown up on a farm, though Randy and his wife Jerilyn raised their family in the city of Grand Rapids, Mich. Following his retirement from over-the-road trucking in 2007, he had the opportunity to get back to his roots, so to speak. Randy loved to come to the Lakes Area with his wife, to work at The Farm every summer. He was adept at gardening and handling the farm machinery.

The Alzheimer’s diagnosis was made in 2010 when He was 67 years old. At first, there were very few signs or symptoms. His family tended to blame any mistakes or lapses in judgment on his poor hearing. They just kept adjusting the farm jobs they would entrust to him. 

By 2012, Randy’s personality was changing significantly. At this time his favorite task was weeding, but he became increasingly frustrated because he could no longer do it. He took to wandering the farm, but couldn’t get too far on foot. 

When spending the night at the Jones’ Nisswa home, he would wander too, mostly down to the mailbox and back, sometimes sitting in the car for a while. Then one evening he went out wandering and wound up 4.7 miles away, at Zorbaz. Both Jerilyn and the owner of Zorbaz had called the police and so Randy was brought home. By then he could recognize faces, but remembered few names. 

In August 2014, Randy fell and broke his hip, requiring surgery. When he was discharged, Arlene moved him to her home. Soon after, Randy developed pneumonia. Arlene found it increasingly difficult to juggle her caregiving responsibilities and her work. With heavy hearts, it was decided in September of 2014 to move Randy and Jerilyn back home to Grand Rapids, Mich., to be closer to family, old friends and other resources. 

In February 2015, Randy again developed pneumonia and was hospitalized, sent home, but readmitted within three days. He had suffered a heart attack and his swallow reflex was gone. Randall Baird died 16 days later on Mar. 10, 2015, at the age of 72.

Arlene first got involved with The Walk to End Alzheimer’s by forming a team in 2014. She was very frustrated that she couldn’t help her dad more and needed something to make her feel like she was in control. 

Beginning with the 2015 Walk, Arlene joined the Brainerd Lakes Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s Planning Committee. She has made use of her considerable personal and professional network to shift her focus to obtaining sponsorships for The Walk.

This is the eighth year for the Lakes Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s. It will be held at Forestview Middle School on Saturday, Sept. 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event raises awareness and funds for local Alzheimer’s resources and research. To find out more, visit www.alz.org or call 218-733-2560. 

 

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