Alzheimer's music festival raises money for seniors who need medical equipment

Credit: Alzheimer's Music Festival via Facebook

The 11th annual Alzheimer’s Music Festival, organized by advocates Vince Zangaro and Charissa Rumsey, will raise money for caregivers to buy the things they will need, like wheelchairs and hospital beds that aren’t always covered by insurance. 

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 130,000 Georgians have dementia, and those numbers are expected to climb in the next decade as the population ages.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the diseases of dementia. A diagnosis usually means the person will slowly deteriorate over many years, especially with early onset versions that can affect people in their 40s or 50s.

Proceeds from the show Saturday will support the Cherokee County nonprofit Stand Up For Seniors.  

"So, working with Cherokee senior services and other senior services throughout the country is kind of the direction that Charrisa and I are going there," Zangaro said. "Let's work straight with them. They have the infrastructure, let's raise the money, create all these programs just like we have in the past: respite care, free medical equipment, education, support groups."

Zangaro said the music festival takes place Saturday, Feb. 22, at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta and they plan to expand it to Savannah, Athens and other Georgia cities in the future.