HENDRY/GLADES COUNTIES — In Florida alone, 690,000 residents are estimated to live in non-metro areas. However, with rural life comes challenges when accessing important resources, especially for families facing Alzheiemer’s and other dementia.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that impacts thinking, memory and behavior. In the later stages, it requires dedicated caregivers and round-the-clock care. Nearly 13% of adults age 65 and up in Glades County are living with Alzheimer’s with thousands more serving as caregivers. The nature of the disease means families must have access to support resources through healthcare professionals, support groups and local and statewide agencies.

Early diagnosis is one of the top challenges facing families. Oftentimes, an individual might not know they have Alzheimer’s until they are in later stages. This leaves little time to plan, improve quality of life and access treatments to help with symptoms. A visit to a primary care provider is a first line of diagnosis, however for rural families, challenges remain.

In Glades County in 2019, 72.4% of adults had a medical checkup in comparison to 78.8% statewide and 72.7% in Hendry County. Those disparities create an imbalance in residents potentially not taking proper care of their health and most importantly getting an early diagnosis.

The lack of resources in rural areas can also mean a lack of specialists. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2022 alone, primary care providers in rural areas reported a 71% lack of Alzheimer’s and dementia specialists in comparison to 44% in large cities.

To better address these needs directly in the most impacted communities, the Brain Bus, supported by the Alzheimer’s Association Florida chapters and funded through the state legislator, will make a stop in Glades and Hendry County on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The stop will commemorate Rural Health day, celebrated on the third Thursday of every November and focused on the state of health of those who live in rural areas.

The Glades County stop will take place at Florida Community Health Centers at 1021 Health Park Dr., Moore Haven from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Hendry County stop will take place at Florida Community Health Centers, 315 South WC Owen Ave., Clewiston from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

For more information, go to alz.org/flgc.