The Southwest Georgia Region of the Alzheimer’s Association still plans to relocate its office from Albany to Tifton to be more centrally located, but has yet to find a donated space here to set up shop.

According to Dan Phillips, development director for the organization, the recession has hit the agency that serves 35 counties just like it has everyone else.

“I’m a one-man show relying on volunteers,” Phillips said.

Phillips said the office once had a project director and an administrative assistant, but corporate and private donations aren’t coming in like they used to.

Phillips said he has met with Tifton Mayor Jamie Cater and Brad Day of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, but “everything is on hold” until they secure donated office space here. The organization decided in October to move its base from Albany to Tifton to be more centrally located in the district.

“We would like to be over there right now,” Phillips said. “We are definitely coming, without a doubt.”

The organization needs volunteers such as an administrative assistant, someone to advocate for the agency and attend health fairs, someone to organize special events, people to serve on a speakers’ bureau and someone to organize the annual Memory Walk, which surpassed its goal of $25,000 here in October. The organization receives no state or federal funding and relies on donations and grant funding.

Phillips said a Harvard study found that Alzheimer’s will be the first epidemic of the 21st century.

“The first thing I want to do when I get over there is get a support group set up,” Phillips said.

Alzheimer’s was once a disease that very few people felt comfortable discussing publicly, but times have changed, Phillips said.

“People aren’t afraid to talk about it anymore,” Phillips said. “That’s changing. Technology is getting better so people are getting diagnosed quicker.”

The chapter provides in-service training to caregivers, both professional and family and support materials for individuals and families coping with the disease.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or anyone with suggestions about a possible office location here can call Phillips at 229-888-7676.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.