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Marissa Salvesen

By: Marissa Salvesen on March 13th, 2015

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5 Ways You Can Help End Alzheimer's

assisted living  |  caregiver tips  |  lifestyle transitions  |  Aging & Caregiving

shutterstock_204943552Do you know or care for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia?

Looking for ways to help join the fight against this debilitating illness? Here are five ways you can step up and make a difference.

1. Wear

Many people living with Alzheimer’s disease feel isolated and alone, as do their caregivers. Take the opportunity to show your support by going purple, the official color of the movement to end Alzheimer’s. 

In addition to wearing purple, you can also watch and post the Share the Facts http://www.alz.org/abam/#AlzShareTheFacts video to your Facebook profile to raise awareness.

Additionally, this is a great opportunity to encourage friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers to join in. The result? Unprecedented visibility for this escalating epidemic.

2. Walk

More than 600 “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” events are held around the country every year. Last year, more than 450,000 people participated in these coast to coast events. Walk alone or organize a team of your own to walk in support of a loved one or community member. If you can’t attend a walk, consider donating to a walker or team instead.

3. Give

Someday there will be a cure for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Wouldn't you like to help that happen sooner than later? You can play an important role by making a tax-deductible donation toward Alzheimer’s disease research and programs. Not only can you help improve the lives of patients, their loved ones, and caregivers, you also get the benefit of knowing you’ve made a difference...not to mention a tax deduction.

4. Volunteer

35,000 volunteers lend their time and effort to the Alzheimer's Association every year. Even a few hours a month can make a big difference. Whether you help plan an event or offer patient care and support to families in need, your unique talents are needed every day in the fight against Alzheimer's.

5. Share

More than 44 million people around the globe are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This number is predicted to skyrocket to 76 million people by the year 2030. But we can put our brains together to reverse this troubling trend and stop the epidemic. Share this message within your social network to start making a difference today.

Key Takeaways

  • The Alzheimer's epidemic is expected to reach staggering levels in the years ahead.
  • A cure is within reach, but only through increased awareness and engagement.
  • From wearing purple and walking in a fundraising event to donating your time or money, there are plenty of ways you can personally make a difference.
  • The more this message is shared, the closer we get to achieving a world without Alzheimer’s.

If you're interested in learning more about Lifestyle Transitions Specialized Assisted Living and Memory Support community, visit https://www.umh.org/wesley-village/lifestyle-transitions or contact us here.

About Marissa Salvesen

My journey into the world of senior living began when I started working for United Methodist Homes in 2010. Starting as an Activities Director at one of our-winning assisted and independent living communities and then transitioning to Marketing and Promotions Manager for UMH, I now work as the Manager of Mission Development, fostering the Mission and Values of our organization. I love sharing stories about the many ways we build meaningful relationships and enrich the lives of those we serve, and am proud to be part of building UMH’s 140-year legacy of caring. Wondering what makes our communities such special places to live and work? Connect with me and find out!

Our Blog is a 2016 Platinum Generations Award Winner! The Generations Award is an annual international competition for excellence in senior marketing recognizing professionals who have communicated to the 50+ Mature Markets.