HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — By 2025, $7 million people over the age of 65 will be living with Alzheimer's disease and that number could double by 2050. Those same statistics show 42% of Americans over 55 are eventually going to develop Dementia. Issues with the mind are what the expert s at Memory Matters in the Lowcountry deal with every day. "We serve over 5,000 people annually teaching about brain health and wellness, offering best IT programs to the community free memory screenings," said Development Outreach Manager for Memory Matters Stacy Floyd. "We support groups. We do a lot to help educate the community, but also to provide that, you know, hands on guidance and resources for families who are experiencing, you know, caring for a level with Alzheimer's." Program Director Michelle Frink said, "We have programs designated for those with early memory loss or mild cognitive impairment. And then we also have our Social Day program that provides respite for a caregiver and also giving our participants time to socialize and interact, which is really good for those that have dementia." Memory Matters does just that with a variety of programs to help stimulate their minds. "There's movement, there's mind, there's a little bit everything we do here," Floyd said. "You incorporate music therapy, cultural events. We do celebration. They do a lot of trivia. We have entertainers that come in and volunteer their time to play music that's so important and special to them." Frink said, "This is a failure free zone for them to be themselves, to engage and have a good time. So, coming here is their place. They don't feel, you know, threatened or overwhelmed. They know that they're coming here to have a good time, and we know that it's good for them." Floyd said, "We always say that earlier is a better or early intervention is best. That's why we always promote coming in and doing a baseline memory screening just to see. And it's free, so there's no reason not to do it. But we always say early intervention is key. I think the holistic approach is where you can come to Memory Matters, and you can learn about brain health and wellness. You can get your free memory screening that then may introduce you to the other things that are offered the programs and services, a comprehensive dementia care that maybe you don't need right then, but that you need to be aware of for your aging parents or for your family or for yourself." A 501-C-3, Memory Matters gets no federal funding and relies on some money coming in from participants to keep the programs running, but more is always needed. "A lot of our families and participants that are in the program, you know, receive assistance to be able to come in. Without that money, they would not be able to participate. So, we rely on events like the shop hop and the gala and the 5K and, you know, local grants and private donors to help us be able to provide those services." That's where the Gala co-chairs Julie Martin and Kathryn Mademann came in. They wanted to create another event where folks could participate and raise money for the charity. "Memory Matters operates on Hilton Head but they reach people in Bluffton. I thought Let's bridge the two communities. And so, what we did, we reached out to the retailers, and it was a quick yes," said Mademann. Martin added, "I have friends, but specifically Rob, my significant other, both his parents had Alzheimer's and they both were in assisted living memory care facilities here on the island. And I saw what it's like to tend to that, tend to the people you love and deal with it. And it just it gripped my heart. And it's an organization that I have passion for because they touch everybody in their community. Alzheimer's eventually will probably affect all of us in one way, shape or form." Mademann's reason for wanting to help was even more personal. "My mother had dementia," said Mademann. "You hear about Alzheimer's; you hear about dementia. But the one thing you don't realize is how it impacts one's life. I took care of her for six years before she passed away a year ago. It's a sad disease to have, but it really tells us about the importance of mental health or brain health, which is I think is equally as important as getting your blood pressure taken these days. There's something so important. This is what memory matters is also educating. But for me, you know, you just watch your mother who's been caring for you and you care for her. And it just it just gets very sad. And they you know, they go through all these different emotions without them having control of any of them." That's where the "Shop Hop" comes in. "The shop hop itself, it's just a variety of businesses and it's really an opportunity for people to sort of go and spend their money, which they would anyways," Martin said. "But it is local boutiques. They are located from Sea Pines, Shelter, Cove, Wexford and over here on Main Street for Hilton Head. Come join us, do a little shopping therapy, go to lunch with your girlfriends and 10% of the sales will go to Memory Matters and making a difference." Hilton Head Island Shop Hop is Thursday, March 27 from 1-6 p.m. at a variety of stores on the Island. Bluffton will then take part April 10 from 1-6 p.m. In both cases 10% of the sales that day will go directly to Memory Matters. If you can't shop those days, the agency will also be holding their Annual Gala May 22. Tickets are now on sale for that event as well. Click here for more information. ...read more read less