Join Our Team and Learn How to Protect Loved Ones With Dementia
On Sunday, September 27, 2026, thousands of people from across Metro Detroit will gather at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Our team will be there, and we would like you to walk with us.
Why This Walk Matters to Us
Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes place every year in more than 600 communities across the country. It is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Every dollar raised helps the Alzheimer’s Association provide 24/7 support to families and advance research toward prevention, treatment, and a cure.
More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Many families in Metro Detroit and across Oakland County eventually turn to a nursing home, assisted living community, or memory care unit when care at home is no longer possible. As nursing home lawyers, we see what happens when those facilities fall short.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Location: Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Check-in: 7:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony: 9:45 a.m., with the Walk to follow
Route: 1.5 miles around the Zoo, with shorter options available
There is no finish line. Walk at your own pace and enjoy the day at the Zoo with friends, family, and coworkers. Full event information is on the official Detroit Walk page.
How to Join Our Team
- Registration is free. Join our team here and invite others to walk with you.
- Fundraise and share. There is no fundraising minimum, but every dollar makes a difference. If you cannot walk, you can still donate to our team.
- Show up on Walk day. Join us at the Zoo for a morning that honors those affected by Alzheimer’s and supports the fight to end it.
What to Know Before You Go
Everyone age 2 and older must be registered to enter the Zoo. This includes children. Parents or guardians sign the waiver on a child’s behalf. Register ahead of time to avoid delays on Walk day. If you are bringing someone who is not registered, visit the Walk-In Registration tent when you arrive.
Zoo memberships do not work on Walk morning. Memberships are not honored until after the Walk begins and the event ends.
Parking is free at both the 10 Mile and Woodward entrances. More than 5,000 people attend each year, so plan extra time for traffic.
The route is wheelchair and stroller friendly. Wheelchairs and scooters can be rented through the Zoo at the Chrysler Main Train Station and the Africa Train Station.
Arrive early for pre-Walk activities. From 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., visitors can enjoy the Promise Garden, the Mission Tent, a Kids Zone with face painting and temporary tattoos, team photos, and music near the main stage. All activities end when the Opening Ceremony begins.
Food and water: Complimentary water and light refreshments are available before the Walk. Bring a refillable water bottle. Coolers, strollers, and wagons are welcome.
What to leave at home: Pets are not permitted anywhere on Zoo grounds, including the parking lots. Bicycles, skateboards, inline skates, wheelie shoes, Segways, balloons, and Styrofoam products are also not allowed.
The Walk is held rain or shine. Severe weather updates will be posted on the Walk homepage and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Metro Detroit Facebook page.
The Promise Garden
Every registered participant receives a Promise Garden flower. Each color represents a personal connection to Alzheimer’s. At the Promise Garden tent, participants write a loved one’s name on two flowers, plant one in the garden, and keep the other. Together, the flowers form a display of hope and remembrance.
Official Walk T-Shirts
Participants who raise $100 or more receive an official Walk T-shirt by mail. Shirts are not handed out on Walk day. Make sure your size and mailing address are current in your Participant Center.
Why People With Alzheimer’s Face Greater Risk of Nursing Home Neglect
A person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia depends on staff for nearly everything. They may not be able to call for help, describe pain, or tell family what happened. That makes them more vulnerable to neglect and harder to protect.
Common harms we see in dementia and memory care residents include:
- Falls and fractures, especially broken hips and head injuries, when a resident is not properly supervised
- Wandering, when a resident leaves the building or a locked unit without staff noticing
- Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers, when a resident is not turned and repositioned
- Dehydration and weight loss, when a resident is not helped with eating and drinking
- Medication errors, including overmedication used to keep residents quiet
- Unexplained bruises or injuries that staff cannot or will not explain
Warning Signs Families Should Watch For
Because a loved one with dementia may not be able to tell you something is wrong, pay attention to changes you can see. Sudden weight loss, new bruises, a strong odor, soiled clothing or bedding, unusual sleepiness, or a staff member who cannot answer basic questions about your loved one’s care can all be signs of a problem. Ask to see the care plan. Ask who is assigned to your loved one on each shift. Write down what you see and when.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Detroit?
Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and the Opening Ceremony starts at 9:45 a.m.
Does it cost anything to register?
No. Registration is free, but everyone age 2 and older must register to enter the Zoo.
Can a nursing home be held responsible if a resident with dementia is hurt?
Yes. Michigan nursing homes and memory care facilities must provide supervision and care that fits each resident’s needs. When a facility fails to do that and a resident is injured or dies, the family may have a claim.
What should I do if I think my loved one with Alzheimer’s was neglected?
Report your concerns to the facility administrator and to the state. Keep notes and photographs. Then talk with a nursing home lawyer who can review what happened.
Questions About the Walk
For event questions, contact the Detroit Walk team at detroitwalk@alz.org or 248.289.7411.
When a Loved One With Dementia Is Harmed in a Nursing Home
If someone you love with Alzheimer’s or dementia suffered a serious injury, fall, bedsore, or unexplained decline in a nursing home, memory care unit, or assisted living facility, you have the right to answers. Olsman MacKenzie Peacock has represented Michigan families in nursing home neglect and wrongful death cases for decades. Contact us for a free consultation.
We hope to see you at the Zoo on September 27.