INCREASING AWARENESS OF LEWY BODY DEMENTIA

Bill & Barbara Hutchinson

Bill and Barbara Hutchinson are driving across America to increase awareness of Lewy Body Dementia. Bill has Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), a disease that causes loss of executive thinking, confusion, and hallucinations. LBD also decreases a person’s mobility and ability to function. They lose the ability to do the normal Acts of Daily Living (ADL’s) such as bathing, dressing, and caring for themselves. There is no cure for Lewy Body Dementia.

Lewy Body Dementia is the second leading cause of degenerating dementia, second only to Alzheimer’s Disease. LBD affects approximately 800,000 people in the United States. As many as 70 % of those with LBD are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.

We started this Lewy Body Dementia Drive Across America in Valdez, Alaska April 2006. I spoke at the First Baptist Church and presented Lewy Body Dementia information at the Valdez Health Fair.

I drive a Motor Home and tow a Saturn Vue. Bill is unable to drive. We took the Alaska Ferry from Whittier, Alaska to Bellevue, Washington. We have driven across America touching and talking in 19 states. We have moved to Kissimmee, Florida.