A discussion of Alzheimer’s disease was profoundly personal for many of the 100 people from across the diocese attending Saturday’s Pastoral Care Assembly Day in Peoria.

The day, sponsored by the Office of Family Life, is an annual gathering to support and educate those who regularly share Christ’s love by visiting the homebound, and those in hospitals and nursing homes.

But evidence that the topic of Alzheimer’s hit close to home was heard in repeated comments from attendees who cited examples from family as often as from their ministry experiences.

“My father has Alzheimer’s,” said Carol Mills, a parish nurse from Holy Family Parish in Lincoln whose parents live in the Rockford area. She told how difficult it is to see how her father’s seven-year struggle with the disease affects her mother.

“When you’re living with someone with Alzheimer’s, it can be like you’re living alone,” said Mills, noting the disease of the brain erases memories and breaks many of the common bonds between a couple or their families.

The fact that Alzheimer’s victims and their caregivers are not alone was repeatedly stressed during the day-long event, held at Barack’s Cater Inn.

Featured speaker Marsha Ray described and promoted the many resources of the Central Illinois Alzheimer’s Association, which she serves as development director.

“Knowledge is power” in facing Alzheimer’s, said Ray, in explaining the disease, its symptoms, alarming growth rate and the impact it has on families and society. More than 5.1 million U.S. residents now have Alzheimer’s — one form of dementia — including 50 percent of the population over age 85.

“The more a caregiver knows and understands about the disease, the better caregiver they’ll be,” she said, stressing the importance of early diagnosis. “There is no reason to go it on your own.”