More than six million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s. Approximately 6.2 million Americans over the age of 65 currently live with Alzheimer’s, with 72% being age 75 or older. As the population continues to age, the need for compassionate Alzheimer’s care for seniors and their loved ones continues to grow. June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Alzheimer’s and actions you can take to support the cause.
1. Raise Awareness for Alzheimer’s Care
There are a variety of ways you can help raise awareness during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Purple is the official color of the movement. You can wear purple clothing, change your Facebook profile picture, use the hashtag #ENDALZ on your social media accounts and share your personal experience about loved ones who have had Alzheimer’s or the activism you have done.
2. Join the Fight
June 20th, which is also the summer solstice, is the day people around the world will be coordinating fundraising efforts for Alzheimer’s research and treatment. You can participate in the $500,000 Match Challenge to make your donations go twice as far. The Alzheimer’s Association website provides a variety of fundraising and virtual activity ideas ranging from gaming to exercise, hobbies, sports, parties and arts. You can also find volunteer opportunities and online tools to help you organize your fundraising efforts.
3. Make a Donation
If fundraising isn’t your thing or you want to get your own fundraiser off to a good start, one of the most helpful things you can do is donate. Any amount helps. You can choose to make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly payment. You have the option to make your donation as a tribute to a loved one with Alzheimer’s and your contribution may be tax-deductible.
4. Educate Yourself About Alzheimer’s
One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The cost of Alzheimer’s and other dementias is expected to reach $355 billion by 2050 and could increase to as much as $1.1 trillion. More than 11 million people in the United States provided 15.3 billion hours of unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in 2020. One in nine people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s with almost two-thirds of them being women. Black Americans are twice as likely and Hispanics are one and half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as White Americans.
5. Research How Memory Care Facilities Can Help
Alzheimer’s disease disrupts the communication between neurons, which results in the loss of function and death of cells. The disease usually begins in the part of the brain that involves memory. Memory care facilities use past experiences and long-term memories to stimulate the cognitive abilities of residents with Alzheimer’s.
Olivenhain Guest Home has been providing comprehensive memory care and assisted living programs for over 50 years. If you would like to find out more about how Olivenhain Guest Home can assist you or a loved one with Alzheimer’s care or another dementia, contact us by phone at (760) 209-8742 or online.
