The Walk to Fight Alzheimer’s is our largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Registration is open for Walk to Fight Alzheimer’s® 2026

The Walk Dates are:

South Mountain Reservation, West Orange – Sunday, May 17th

Duke Island Park, Bridgewater – Saturday, September 26th

Bergen Community College, Paramus – Sunday, October 11th

Point Pleasant Beach – Saturday, October 3rdWhy Walk?

Over 600,000 people in New Jersey are affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia, including 180,000 individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Funds raised through our campaign support our programs and services such as Helpline, Care Consultations, the Respite Care and Wellness program, Family Support Groups, Always Safe®, and Clinical Trial Connections®. New Jersey residents rely on Alzheimer’s New Jersey® for personal and confidential assistance, guidance, relief from caregiving, emotional support and education, safety awareness, and clinical trial opportunities as they face the emotional and financial challenges of Alzheimer’s disease that can often be overwhelming. We need your support.

REGISTER HERE

100% of funds raised support New Jersey families

Some of the most common feelings families and caregivers experience are guilt, grief, loss, and anger. Rest assured that you are not alone if you find yourself feeling these too.

Guilt:

It is quite common to feel guilty—guilty for the way the person with dementia was treated in the past, guilty at feeling embarrassed by their odd behavior, guilty for lost tempers or guilty for not wanting the responsibility of caring for a person with dementia.

If the person with dementia goes into hospital or residential care you may feel guilty that you have not kept him at home for longer, even though everything that could be done has been done. It is common to feel guilty about past promises such as “I’ll always look after you,” when this cannot be met.

Grief and loss:

Grief is a response to loss. If someone close develops dementia, we are faced with the loss of the person we used to know and the loss of a relationship. People caring for partners may experience grief at the loss of the future that they had planned to share together.

Grief is a very individual feeling and people will feel grief differently at different times. It will not always become easier with the passing of time.

Anger:

It is natural to feel frustrated and angry—angry at having to be a caregiver, angry with others who do not seem to be helping out, angry at the person with dementia for her difficult behaviors and angry at support services.

Sometimes you may even feel like shaking, pushing or hitting the person with dementia. Feelings of distress, frustration, guilt, exhaustion and annoyance are quite normal. However, if you feel like this, or worry that you could lose control, it is important to discuss your feelings with someone such as your doctor or a staff person from the Alzheimer Society.

Don’t forget the children and teens:

With so much focus on the person who has dementia, sometimes younger family members don’t get the attention they need, or the illness is not explained in a way they can understand.

Children often experience a wide range of emotions when a parent or grandparent has Alzheimer’s disease. Younger children may be fearful that they will get the disease or that they did something to cause it. Teenagers may become resentful if they must take on more responsibilities or feel embarrassed that their parent or grandparent is “different.” College-bound children may be reluctant to leave home.

Reassure young children that they cannot “catch” the disease. Be straightforward about personality and behavior changes. For example, the person with Alzheimer’s may forget things, such as their names, and say and do things that may embarrass them. Assure them that this is not their fault or intentional, but a result of the disease.

Find out what their emotional needs are and find ways to support them, such as meeting with a counselor who specializes in children with a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. School social workers and teachers can be notified about what the children may be experiencing and be given information about the disease. Encourage children and teens to attend support group meetings, and include them in counseling sessions.

Have the person with Alzheimer’s disease record his thoughts, feelings and wisdom to “be with them” as they experience important events in their lives (graduations, dating, marriage, births and deaths).

There is a lot to think about when caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. But there are ways you can help yourself or get others to help you.

Here are some examples that might help you cope with role changes within the family:

Ask for help:

Sit down with the members of your family and ask what they are willing to do to help. Give them ideas and suggestions. Don’t just assume that they know what you need. They can’t read your mind, and they may already be doing what they think is helpful. Assume that most people are doing the best they can under the circumstances. While this is not always the case, most often it is.

Recognize that you are dealing with a stressful situation.

Some people overlook the problems they are experiencing because they slowly take on more and more responsibility. Recognize all that you have taken on and congratulate yourself on what you have been able to do. Then see about getting any help you might need.

Keep family members informed:

This can be done in different ways. You can call and talk to people individually or you can write a family newsletter. Copy the letter and send it to different members of the family so you don’t have to rewrite the same information to each one. Just remember, if you keep the lines of communication with your family and friends open, they will be able to understand more easily what you and your family members are going through. The better they understand, the more willing they’ll be to pitch in and help.

Caregiving isn’t easy, and it’s important to make sure your aging family member does not take up all your energy. Make sure you find ways to pull together as a family and work together for everyone’s benefit.

Outside Help

Remember there are resources out there to get help.  Such as a Home Care Agency, Senior Centers, or the Office of Aging in your area.  Reach out for help when you need it. Remember, caregivers need a break too!

https://www.alznj.org/

Wrestling the kids (or yourself) away from screens, devices, even the television can be a nearly impossible task, but it’s vital to our mental and even physical health. A jigsaw puzzle requires your full attention and therein lies the magic. Everyone from tweens and teens to millennials and overworked parents to seniors are returning to this quiet pastime of childhood. Call it a retro revolution.

Here are some benefits of puzzling that might surprise you.

Jigsaw puzzles exercise the left and right sides of your brain at once

Your left brain is logical and works in a linear fashion, while your right brain is creative and intuitive. When you’re doing a jigsaw puzzle, both sides are engaged, according to Sanesco Health, an industry leader in neurotransmitter testing. Think of it as a mental workout that improves your problem-solving skills and attention span. It’s no surprise that Bill Gates admits to being an avid puzzler.

Jigsaw puzzles improve your short-term memory

Can’t remember what you had for lunch yesterday? Jigsaw puzzles can help with that. Doing a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an especially effective way to improve short-term memory.

Jigsaw puzzles improve your visual-spatial reasoning

When you do a jigsaw puzzle, you need to look at individual pieces and figure out where they’ll fit into the big picture. If you do it regularly, you’ll improve visual-spatial reasoning, which helps with driving a car, packing, using a map, learning and following dance moves, and a whole host of other things.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great meditation tool and stress reliever

Focusing on one image for a long period of time, without extraneous thoughts entering your mind, is in itself meditation. By doing a jigsaw puzzle, you’re getting the same benefits as if you meditated. The stress of everyday life evaporates and is replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility that lowers your blood pressure and heart rate.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to connect with family

Starting a jigsaw puzzle and keeping it on a table in your living room or kitchen is an invitation for the whole family to participate, whenever they have a few minutes to sit down and focus. It’s a tactic that parents of teens can use for starting a conversation while working toward a shared goal.

Conversely, jigsaw puzzles are great for some needed alone time

Puzzling is perfect for people who want a quiet, solo break from the bustle and unrelenting stimulus of today’s digital lifestyle.

You’ll live longer, better if you puzzle regularly

Studies show that people who do jigsaw and crossword puzzles have longer life spans with less chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss or dementia. Puzzling stimulates the brain and actually wards off the plaque that is the marker of Alzheimer’s, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Neurology. The study compared brain scans of 75-year-olds to 25-year-olds. The elderly people who did puzzles regularly had brain scans comparable to the 25-year-olds.

Doing jigsaw puzzles is good for your mind, body and spirit. So, on your next lazy Sunday (or better yet – crazed Monday), unplug, put your phone on “Do Not Disturb,” and get swept away by a puzzle.

If you don’t have a Mandolin for cutting fruits and veggies, I highly recommend picking one up. Readily available wherever cooking supplies are sold but beware! Extremely sharp-USE the handguard! Using the blade for thin slicing, you can start a few slices by hand, turn the apple over and run a few more slices so that there are now two flat sides. Use the handguard for the rest, slicing over a large bowl.

Ingredients:                                                                                                                                     Apples

 Cinnamon *(can use nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice mix)                                        

Splenda sugar substitute

Parchment paper

Directions:

Place a sheet of parchment paper over a cookie sheet pan.

Spread sliced apples onto parchment paper and sprinkle with cinnamon and Splenda.

Turn slices over and repeat.                                                                                                                    

Bake at 250-275 until crisp. 45 minutes give or take.

When all are dry and crisp remove from oven and allow to cool. Store in a Ziplock bag or an airtight cookie tin. Enjoy!

What Do I Plant in a Fall Garden?

There are a number of plants and flowers for fall gardening. Most autumn gardens are planted from September through October.

You should always check your growing zone in order to choose the best plants for a fall garden in your area before planting anything. Many cool-season annuals work well in autumn gardens. In addition, various bulbs make ideal cold-temperature plants. Many fall-blooming perennials can also provide interest throughout winter. Like trees, ornamental grasses reach their peak in fall, which can further accentuate the fall garden with dramatic foliage color.

Cold Temperature Plants for Autumn Gardens

While there are numerous plants and flowers for fall gardening, here are some of the most common plants for autumn gardens to get you started:

Fall Annuals: Snapdragon -Pot marigold – Pansy -Nasturtium -Larkspur – Sweet pea – Sweet alyssum

Fall Bulbs: Autumn crocus- Saffron crocus – Autumn daffodil- Cyclamen

Fall Perennials: Aster-Delphinium -Sweet William – Mistflower -Goldenrod- Chrysanthemum

Many cool-season crops can also be grown in the fall garden, whether for the crops themselves or strictly for ornamental purposes.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Autumn Gardens – Plants And Flowers For Fall Gardening https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/plants-fall-garden.htm

• • Fluke (Summer Flounder): The 2026 fluke season is in its final countdown and official closes on September 25. Anglers are currently pulling in massive “doormat” fluke by fishing deep ocean wrecks, reefs, and inlets.
  • Striped Bass & Bluefish: The highly anticipated fall run is just starting. Smaller resident striped bass and hungry bluefish are active in the surf and back bays, especially during early-morning “first light.” 
  • Exotic & Speed Species: Warm water temperatures have brought fun, fast-moving fish close to the beaches. You can target Bonito, Spanish Mackerel, and False Albacore right from the inlets or inshore boats. 
  • Crabs & Bottom Fish: Back bays are full of action for Blowfish, Sheepshead, and Tautog (Tog) around bridges and sod banks. 

• • Inlets: Manasquan Inlet, Barnegat Inlet, and Shark River Inlet act as “highways” for migrating fish moving in and out of the bays.
  • The Surf: Beaches in Lavallette, Seaside Park, and Long Beach Island offer plenty of room for surf casting without swimmers in the way.
  • Ocean Reefs: For keeper fluke, head out on a charter or party boat from Belmar or Point Pleasant to hit the structural wrecks. 

• Beat the clock for fluke: If you want summer flounder, you must get out before the season ends on September 25th. Use heavy bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp or live minnows. 
• Fish early or late: Hit the water during sunrise or sunset when predatory fish like stripers and bluefish push bait up against the sod banks and jetties.

Here are three reasons for you and your family to go fishing for your next day trip:

1. It’s a fun way to spend time together.

Fishing is a fun activity that gets kids outdoors and engaged, and it’s easy for anyone to participate, regardless of their age. Fishing allows friends and families to enjoy a relaxing day together and helps keep their focus on each other, nature and the activity at hand. For kids interested in fishing on a regular basis, organized youth fishing programs are becoming increasingly popular nationwide.

Many people live near lakes or other bodies of water, allowing easy access to the sport. For others, water may be just a short drive away, making for a perfect one-day escape or weekend getaway.

2. Fishing isn’t complicated to learn and doesn’t require a ton of expensive equipment.

Whether you own or rent a boat, or fish from a dock or shoreline, learning the basics with an affordable rod and reel is something anyone can do. Also, there are plenty of lure options that make fishing a quick and fun pursuit for any skill level.

3. It’s good for you.

Spending time outdoors offers significant health benefits. One huge advantage of fishing together is that it allows families to get away from screens. Everyone can set their phones and gadgets aside to enjoy time in nature and relish each other’s company without distractions.

If a child is spending too much time with electronics, breaking up their routine with an outdoor activity like fishing can expose them to the benefits of in-person interaction, engaging with the real world and experiencing the beauty of nature.

Here are additional health benefits that come with fishing outdoors:

Vitamin D. Just 10-15 minutes of midday sun provides a healthy dose of vitamin D, which helps bodies absorb calcium. This boosts bone growth and health and fights disease. Vitamin D also elevates mood, helping with depression.

Relaxation. Being outdoors, breathing fresh air and spending time on a body of water relieves stress and lowers blood pressure. For people constantly on the go, it’s a great way to take a much-needed break.

Exercise. Walking and boating help burn calories and increase heart rate. And even though the participants may not notice, fishing helps stretch and flex some of the body’s underused muscles.

With its widespread accessibility, health benefits and ease of participation, fishing is a great way to get outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather ahead. You just might catch some fish – and have a great time doing it.

Discover the birds of Sandy Hook!