Over 5.7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s. Left unchecked that number is expected to rise to 14 million by 2050. These staggering numbers certainly warrant all of us taking the time to raise Alzheimer’s Awareness this November.
November was designated to Alzheimer’s by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 (later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s) and reaffirmed by President Barack Obama in 2013, as a time to support those that suffer the disease and the families that care for them. This month is also a great time to educate ourselves on current research, advocate for a cure, and promote awareness around its symptoms so that it can be detected and managed early.
To this end, we encourage everyone to take a few simple steps to contribute to Alzheimer’s awareness this November.
Wear Purple
Wear your purple ribbon, tie, scarf, pin, or even better a shirt that brings awareness to Alzheimer’s and how to get involved with your favorite advocacy or research organization. Encourage others at work or in groups that you gather with to do the same during November. Possibly even turn it into a game or fundraiser.
This simple little step will get the conversation started. It will also lift the spirit of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the families that are starting or in the painful journey with their loved ones.
Get More Educated About Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Spend time educating yourself so that you can be a better ambassador for the fighting this disease. Did you know that Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease that seems to be rapidly increasing? Take a look at the forecasted progression of this disease by State.
Eerily, it’s an epidemic that is projected to attack some states more aggressively than others.
Get Involved in Your Local Community
Nowhere is it more important to get involved than in your local community. It’s crucial for you to advocate care and awareness close to home. After all, this is where the people you love are probably already being directly affected by this disease.
Take your conversations and campaigns for awareness into your local businesses, schools, and places of worship to get the message in front of as many people as possible.
These activities could be as simple as distributing Alzheimer’s Awareness ribbons or as ambitious as speaking at assemblies or leading a fundraiser.
Take Alzheimer’s Awareness to Social Media
Social media is a great way to have an immediate impact on the cause. Chance are that you have a lot of friends and family following you on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Now it’s your turn to grab their attention for something that’s important.
Here are just a few quick ways to leverage your audience to raise awareness:
- Go Purple – Change your profile picture to include a purple ribbon or add an Alzheimer’s Awareness filter to your profile. Here’s how.
- Share Alzheimer’s Awareness Articles – Share articles on social media, like this one and others like it that you find as you spend extra time in November educating yourself about the fight against Alzheimer’s
- Support Those Fighting – Reach out and message and share those who are caring for or fighting alongside someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Join your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s event. These are awareness events located all over the country. There is an excellent chance that there is one in your local community. If there isn’t one, then take the initiative to get one started.
Getting your community behind a charity walk is a great way to get your local friends and neighbors into the fight for a cure and begin fundraising for Alzheimer’s research.
Join a Clinical Trial
Often overlooked is the ability to get directly involved in the research for an Alzheimer’s cure. Whether you’re a healthy adult or know someone recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, all are encouraged to get involved in a clinical trial to support the search for a cure.
Call, Tweet, or Email Your Elected Officials
You’ve heard the adage, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease?” Well, when it comes to getting government dollars and attention for disease research this is especially true.
Take just a few moments to contact your Senator or Congressional Representative to urge them to allocate increased funding for Alzheimer’s research and FDA approval of a promising drug to impede the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s
Donate to or volunteer with one or more of your favorite Alzheimer’s organizations.
Here are a few to check out:
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
- Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
- Research even more options on Charity Navigator
These are just a few ideas on how you can jump into the fight against Alzheimer’s by raising awareness. We encourage you to take one or more of these steps to join The Kensington in fighting back against this disease and compassionately supporting the ones that have been diagnosed or are caring for a loved one that has been.
The Kensington Difference
At The Kensington, we are committed to meeting the changing needs of our residents and their families both now and in the future, while providing a superior quality of life experience that is engaging, enriching, and enjoyable for each of our residents.
Our memory care communities are exceptional and may be precisely the assistance your loved one needs if they’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
If you have questions about the care our team at The Kensington can provide, please don’t wait to get in touch with us.
Our team would love to get to know you and your loved one. We understand that each situation is different, and we have a breadth of resources and in-house expertise we would love to share with you along the journey of deciding the best care for your loved one and family.
Photo by Esther Town on Unsplash
Further Reading:
Memory loss is life changing for all involved. At Kensington Place, we provide a state-of-the-art memory care program, a higher staff-to-resident ratio than industry standards, and more advanced care services. Our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
For additional resources regarding your loved one’s condition, please read on about our Memory Care, Alzheimer’s Care and Dementia Care.