Local program challenges community to participate in Alzheimer’s Learning Day

CHARLOTTE — The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to more than triple in the next few decades — from five million today to more than 16 million by 2050, unless a cure is found. As the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia grows, so, too, will the need for communities to adapt and become more accessible to those living with dementia-related diseases.

This month, as part of World Alzheimer’s Month, the Home Instead Senior Care network is on a mission to educate Americans about Alzheimer’s by encouraging individuals to pledge to learn more about the disease and how to respectfully and compassionately interact with those who live with it.

On Alzheimer’s Learning Day — Sept. 21 — Home Instead Senior Care invites members of the community to participate in two free live training webinars featuring leading experts in Alzheimer’s and dementia care to better respond to the needs of individuals living with the condition. Details about the webinars can be found on the program website, www.alzlearn.com.

“With our increasing aging population, it is likely that every American will be touched by Alzheimer’s at some point, whether it’s through a family member, neighbor, friend or customer,” said Jim Lonon, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Union and Stanly counties. “It’s critical that we learn how to interact effectively and considerately with those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in order to create an environment that is as supportive as possible.”

Home Instead’s Alzheimer’s Learning Day hopes to help improve the quality of life for those living with the disease and their caregivers. Currently, more than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for those living with the disease and nearly 60 percent of individuals with dementia-related diseases live at home with support from family, friends and other members of the community.

Here are five steps to learn more about Alzheimer’s and other dementias:

1. Learn the symptoms. Visit http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/alzheimers-dementia-dealing/symptoms-and-stages/ to learn more about the symptoms and signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
2. Read an article about Alzheimer’s. Articles about Alzheimer’s can be found at http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/alzheimers-dementia-dealing/guide/.
3. Watch and share the “I Will Remember You” video at http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/alzheimers-dementia-dealing/capturing-memories/video/.
4. Take an E-Learning Class. Visit http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/alzheimers-dementia-education/ to find an online Alzheimer’s and dementia class that interests you.
5. Spread the word. Take the Home Instead Alzheimer’s Learning Day pledge and share on your social media channels why you are participating.

“Many people caring for someone with dementia feel alone and isolated from their communities,” said C. Grace Whiting, chief operating officer of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “Caregivers need allies who understand the disease and who have knowledge and resources to help those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. By educating the community, we are fostering a global movement to build dementia-friendly neighborhoods that will reduce the stigma and isolation of caregiving and bring caregivers back into the fold.”

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care’s Alzheimer’s Learning Day and tips for respectfully interacting with someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, go to AlzLearn.com.

Carolina Farm Credit board of directors member Kim Starnes honored

STATESVILLE – Vance Dalton, Carolina Farm Credit CEO, recently honored board of directors member Kim Starnes for his years of service.

Mr. Starnes, who is from Rowan County, has been a Carolina Farm Credit Board member for 10 years. In addition to his duties as director, he is a full-time poultry, row crop and beef cattle farmer.

Starnes was recognized at Carolina Farm Credit’s annual planning session in Dobson.

“Being a service organization, our people are our greatest asset,” Dalton said. “We are thankful for all of our directors and are especially grateful for the dedicated years of service provided to agriculture and rural America, by those who have achieved these career milestones.”

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full- and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses. It also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 32 branch offices.

Food Lion Feeds launches specially-marked bagged apples to provide one million meals to families in need

SALISBURY – Food Lion is partnering with its customers to help end hunger by launching specially-marked Food Lion Feeds bagged apples for sale in its stores today. In its fourth year, the bagged apple campaign will help provide more than one million meals to families facing hunger in local communities across the grocer’s 10-state footprint.

With the sale of each bag through Oct. 3, or while supplies last, Food Lion Feeds will donate six meals to local food banks in partnership with Feeding America.

The bags will maintain an MVP sale price of $2.99 throughout the campaign.

“Through Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion is working to create a better tomorrow by uniting with customers and partners to help eliminate the difficult choices many families are forced to make when they are struggling with hunger,” a Food Lion news release said.

The specially-marked bagged apples are the second of three in-store Food Lion Feeds campaigns in 2017.

Through the sale of special Food Lion Feeds reusable bags earlier this year, Food Lion Feeds helped provide one million meals to local food banks in partnership with its customers. The specially marked apples are anticipated to provide over one million meals.

Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has made a commitment to provide 500 million meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2020. Since the launch of Food Lion Feeds in 2014, the grocer has donated more than 319 million meals through in-store campaigns, in-store food rescue programs and associate volunteerism.

For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds. 

Food Lion pilots “To-Go” grocery pick-up service at Salisbury store

SALISBURY — Food Lion has announced that, beginning Monday, it will pilot its “Food Lion To-Go” grocery pick-up service at its store located at 525 Jake Alexander Blvd.

This new service, powered by Instacart, will allow customers to order and pick up their groceries in as little as an hour.

“At Food Lion, our goal is to provide access to fresh, quality and affordable groceries, how you want them and when you want them, whether it’s in your store or bringing the store to you digitally,” said Neil Norman, director of customer loyalty at Food Lion. “‘Food Lion To-Go’ is the next step in offering ease and convenience to our thousands of customers.”

Shoppers eligible for “Food Lion To-Go” at Store 10 — which include the zip codes 28147, 28144, 27013, 27054, 28145, 28146, 28159, 28138 and 27299 —can shop using Food Lion’s website at www.foodlion.com/togo.

Additionally, Food Lion customers can continue to take advantage of weekly savings specials, including MVP discounts while using the service.

For customers using “Food Lion To-Go” for the first time, there is no charge for the service.

Customers can visit www.foodlion.com/togo, enter one of the participating zip codes and select the Jake Alexander Boulevard store.

Next, they may add items to a virtual cart and choose a one hour pick-up window, or some scheduled time in the future, and check out.

A trained Food Lion associate will then accept the order and prepare it at the store for the customer’s designated pick-up timeframe. Upon arrival, To-Go shoppers may park in the designated parking area, where a dedicated Food Lion associate will deliver their order directly to their car.

Food Lion To-Go is available seven days per week from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.