Millions of individuals and families worldwide are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. The need for community support, public awareness, research funding, and advocacy has never been greater. There are a variety of meaningful ways to make a difference: volunteering at a memory care community, public advocacy, providing respite for a caregiver in your family, among others.
Getting involved doesn’t always require a specific skill set. Passion for the cause and a willingness to act are the most important pieces to a successful advocate and volunteer.
Fundraising & Raising Awareness
Awareness walks (often paired with a fundraising opportunity), like the annual Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, can be incredibly fulfilling experiences for individuals who have been impacted by the disease.
The money raised by these types of events is used to provide funding for community education, support services, and vital research. It also creates an environment where people can find community while they come together around a shared cause.
Volunteering
There are nearly endless avenues for volunteering in support of the Alzheimer’s cause. Volunteering provides opportunities to support caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. At many local Alzheimer’s organizations and memory care communities, there are volunteer opportunities to provide companionship to residents, assist with administrative tasks and events, and help with scheduled activities.
Public Policy
There are many ways to advocate for Alzheimer’s-impacted families and individuals by influencing public funding and policy. Organizations like the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) provide training and resources for people who would like to become Alzheimer’s advocates. Advocates play a powerful role by sharing stories, increasing funding for research, meeting with legislative bodies, and helping to influence laws that protect the rights and improve care for Alzheimer’s-impacted individuals.
Community Outreach
Community outreach and hosting educational opportunities are other important forms of advocacy. Sharing evidence-based information on social media or in social settings, hosting community forums, garnering support for underserved populations, and talking openly about the disease are all ways to increase awareness, break down stigma, and create public compassion and understanding.
A small action, like wearing purple during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, may not seem like it’s doing much. However, Alzheimer’s-impacted families are grateful to be seen and supported in ways big and small.
Respite Care in San Diego
At RanchView, we offer respite care accommodations. The respite care program enables family caregivers to take time to rest, recover from stress, and restore much-needed balance in their lives. With this service, we open our doors to individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia for a limited stay in our memory care community. This provides family caregivers with the opportunity to have temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities, without requiring families to make an immediate decision about long-term care.
Creating a Supportive Environment for Alzheimer’s Impacted Individuals
When people think of Alzheimer’s disease, the first symptom that usually comes to mind is memory loss. However, Alzheimer’s affects much more than just memory. It is a progressive disease that impacts various aspects of cognitive and physical functioning, making daily tasks increasingly difficult.
For families and caregivers, understanding these diverse symptoms can provide greater insight into the challenges their loved ones face. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, educating ourselves about the full range of symptoms can help create a more supportive environment for those living with the disease.
Senior Care, Hospice Care, and Palliative Care Accommodations in San Diego
RanchView Senior Assisted Living is a family-owned and operated independent assisted living community in Encinitas, California. We offer progressively increasing levels of care according to our residents’ needs. Experience memory care in a relaxed, home-like environment.
