Milkfloat has a new neighbor in Delano

Milkfloat has a new neighbor in Delano.

The Alzheimer’s Association – Central and Western Kansas Chapter has opened at 535 W. Douglas just east of the clock tower at the roundabout in Delano.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us . . . to be more a part of a community,” said Juliette Bradley, the association’s state director of communications.

Previously, the association owned its own building at 1820 E. Douglas just east of Hydraulic, but Bradley said it didn’t make sense to be a landlord.

“That was not the business we needed to be focusing on.“

She said the association wants to know its neighbors and also help businesses, not only individuals, because a lot businesses have employees who have loved ones with the disease and are going through a lot with their care.

“Sometimes it’s not easy to recognize that.”

The office will serve as something of a home base for the association.

The association serves 69 counties in Kansas and has program and education volunteers all over. Bradley said those volunteers are fully trained, and the new office will be a place for them to come for education.

Though there is an Alzheimer’s Association 24-7 help line at (800) 272-3900, Bradley said the new office “does give people a place to come into if they want to” after scheduling an appointment.

There’s an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 8, with a ribbon cutting for the new office at 4:15 p.m. Bradley said everyone is welcome.

“We know that Alzheimer’s is increasing,” she said.

Bradley said the more the association can talk to individuals and businesses and reduce stigma around the disease, “the better off people are going to be throughout their Alzheimer’s journey.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 12:40 PM.