Nationally, November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, a time to heighten awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and show support for the more than 6.2 million Americans living with it.
President Reagan first made this designation in 1983 after recognizing the need for heightened awareness of the disease. He was diagnosed with the disease, himself. While there were less than two million Americans living with Alzheimer’s at that time, the number has since increased to nearly six million. It is more important than ever to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure.*
Alzheimer’s Awareness at Dakota Home Care
Dakota Home Care is committed to supporting Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness. We respectfully provide specialized care for clients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We work with the local Alzheimer’s Association for education and training and facilitate home consults with their specialists. We provide in-house, online, and hands-on training for caregivers. Through our blog, we also raise awareness about dementia and caring for those who have it. You can learn more about 12 related topics by clicking on these blog links:
- Eating and Nutrition Difficulties with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
- Managing Anger and Aggression in Loved Ones with Dementia
- Activities for Loved Ones or Clients who Have Alzheimer’s
- In-Home Dementia Care: Is It Time to Find Help for a Loved One? (dakotahomecare.com)
- Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey
- Can Lifestyle Changes Affect the Onset or Progress of Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Driving with Dementia: When Is It Time to Stop?
- Living with Alzheimer’s: How to Maintain Relationships
- Alzheimer’s Progression: Is It Possible to Predict?
- Tests for Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease: New Advancements (dakotahomecare.com)
- Tips for Communicating with Mid to Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Sufferers (dakotahomecare.com)
- An Alzheimer’s Breakthrough That May Slow Disease Progression (dakotahomecare.com)
World Alzheimer’s Day is Sept. 21st.
In Sept. 2022, my granddaughter, Kyra, asked me to join her in a local “Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®.” One of Kyra’s fellow employees had recently lost her husband to Alzheimer’s, and the company was sponsoring a “Team” of walkers. Having lost her grandpa (my husband, Dennis) to the disease in May of 2021, she wanted to honor him, too, by walking to create awareness and by contributing to find a cure. I joined her in doing both. It was a touching experience that I won’t soon forget.
The walk held in Bismarck, ND, on Sept. 10 drew 283 participants and raised $74,360, 130% of the goal!
In North Dakota, more than 14,000 are living with Alzheimer’s, and more than 30,000 family and friends are providing care. See Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter | Alzheimer’s Association
Walks are held annually all over the country in more than 600 communities. It is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Participants committed to ending the disease carry flowers, “Because like flowers, our participants don’t stop when something’s in their way. They keep raising funds and awareness for a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”
- Blue represents someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
- Purple is for those who have lost a someone to the disease (carried by Kyra & me)
- Yellow represents someone who is currently caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s
- Orange means you support the Alzheimer’s Association*
If you or a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Dakota Home Care can help. We assign an experienced case manager and registered nurse to visit the home, evaluate and assess the person’s needs and work with the client, family and home care staff to draft and implement an individualized plan of care, either part-time or around-the-clock. To inquire about in home care from Dakota Home Care for yourself or a loved one, call (877) 691-0095.
By Marti Lythgoe, Freelance Writer
*The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.