“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.”
Robert F. Kennedy
Lucky are the people in life who have found a way to marry their own personal passions with their professional pursuits. Bruce McReynolds, owner and director of Griswold Homecare of Greensboro and Burlington has managed to find himself in one of those fortunate roles.
For several years, Bruce’s company, Griswold Homecare, has been strongly aligned with the fight to end Alzheimer’s. Their mission is closely intertwined with the Alzheimer’s Association, and they have a dedicated focus on supporting family members, caregivers and those impacted by dementia.
“I see first-hand how Alzheimer’s impacts a large part of our population,” shares Bruce. “Seventy-five to eighty percent of the clients we serve are directly impacted with Alzheimer’s or are caring for someone who is impacted. It really does represent a significant part of our client base.”
Bruce exudes great enthusiasm over the recent FDA approval of a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, the first traditionally approved treatment that changes the underlying course of Alzheimer’s disease. He believes this speaks directly to the impact that our local Alzheimer’s Association chapters have with supporting and funding research — contributing to advancements such as this.
But in addition the synergy of missions, Bruce also shares how he and his family have been personally affected by his father’s signs of early memory loss. “I do see the emotional impact that it has on my mother and other family members that are close to him.” Millions of families, like Bruce’s, are impacted every day. It is the reason the Alzheimer’s Association offers free in-person and virtual support groups for caregivers and families across the state. (Check out their groups in eastern and western North Carolina.)
Griswold Homecare has been inspiring employees to join their Walk to End Alzheimer’s team by serving as examples and being part of the community, as sponsors of the Walks in Alamance County (Sept. 30) and Guilford County (Oct. 7). “At a basic level, folks like to be a part of a team and support a great cause like the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Bruce explains. “Our organization challenges folks with a matching fund, and my favorite part of Walk Day is definitely talking with folks who may need our services or are looking for some information about our dementia programs.”
Last October, the Griswold Homecare had a fantastic time supporting the cause. The team members each carried the iconic Alzheimer’s Promise Garden Flowers on their Walk: each color representing their personal connection to the disease. Their splendid array of lively colors defined the devotion of their team and company. Without a doubt, Griswold Homecare knows how to kick it up with style by adding some lively interactive connection to their participating at the Alamance and Guilford County Walks. As the photo booth sponsor, they provided a fun, dedicated spot for participants to capture and commemorate moments during their Walk Day experience!
Bruce would love to spread the word and encourage people with personal connections or professional networks to start a fundraiser or participate in Walk to End Alzheimer’s in their local area. Bruce sends encouragement to those out there who may be interested in getting involved in the Walk. “It’s a very simple process. They have made it fun and interactive to sign up. Easy tools are provided to reach out to your contacts, friends and neighbors to be part of your team or contribute to your goal. The Alzheimer’s Association provides great, supportive services at a local level, specifically education and support groups. This probably touches all of us in a significant way.”
LIKE BRUCE AND GRISWOLD HOMECARE, WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO FIGHT FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Join your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s today as an individual, team, or sponsor.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
| Alamance County | 9/30/2023 |
| Asheville | 10/14/2023 |
| Charlotte | 10/21/2023 |
| Fayetteville | 10/28/2023 |
| Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln | 10/14/2023 |
| Guilford County | 10/7/2023 |
| Henderson County | 9/30/2023 |
| Iredell County | 9/23/2023 |
| Jacksonville | 10/14/2023 |
| Moore County | 9/30/2023 |
| Mount Airy | 9/9/2023 |
| New Bern | 10/21/2023 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus | 10/28/2023 |
| Unifour (formerly Hickory) | 10/28/2023 |
| Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) | 10/7/2023 |
| Wilmington | 11/4/2023 |
| Winston-Salem | 11/4/2023 |
Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping and neither are we.
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Julie Ogilvie
Julie is a registered nurse specializing in hospice and palliative care for several years. She has a passion for working with dementia patients and providing education and caregiver support.
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 