Chances are good that you know someone who is living or has lived with Alzheimer’s disease. At the very least, you know at least one person with a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It’s a disease that impacts the memory and thinking skills of an estimated 5.5 million Americans, most of them age 65 or older. And that’s not even counting the number of caregivers and family members who are also affected when their loved one is diagnosed.
Because the reach of Alzheimer’s stretches so far, Friendship Village of South Hills is committed to raising awareness for the disease and inviting our residents to take part in The Longest Day.
What is The Longest Day?
Twice a year, the Sun travels the longest path through the sky. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, that day this year is Sunday, June 20. On that day, which is known as the summer solstice, you’ll see more daylight than you will any other day of the year. It’s referred to as The Longest Day, and it was chosen by the Alzheimer’s Association to serve as a launching point for their efforts to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
The idea is to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s by bringing together people across the globe on the day with the most light. As part of The Longest Day, participants are encouraged to use their creativity and passion to help the Alzheimer’s Association in their mission to end Alzheimer’s.
Getting Involved
At Friendship Village of South Hills, residents of our community from all levels of care will be invited to participate in our Longest Day activities. Our goal is to take this opportunity to bring people together after such a challenging year and unite to support a common cause.
We take great pride in supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, and that is reflected in the fundraisers we host throughout the year to support their efforts to end Alzheimer’s.
Raising Awareness for Alzheimer’s
You don’t have to participate in a group activity to take part in The Longest Day. Raising awareness for Alzheimer’s is as easy as reaching out to those around you. If you have a story to tell about a friend or family member who has or has had Alzheimer’s, share that story on your social media accounts. If others are sharing their stories, share them from your own account. Social media is about building connections and there is no better way to build connections than with stories about real people and the impact Alzheimer’s has had on their lives.
You have a voice, both offline and online. Don’t be shy about using it!
Friendship Village of South Hills supports residents and families affected by Alzheimer’s
Individualized care is essential to supporting our residents at Friendship Village of South Hills. If a resident or a member of their family has questions or concerns about Alzheimer’s, we meet with them one-on-one to talk through it. Support groups and presentations that help educate residents and their families about the disease are both in the works at our community. We are committed to promoting health and wellness in aging.
If a resident in our independent living community is showing signs of Alzheimer’s, we have measures we can put in place to help them maintain their independence for as long as possible. From pill boxes with locks and reminders to electronic monitoring, there are a number of ways we can help them safely navigate the early stages of the disease. It can even be as simple as establishing routines and finding little ways to make their lives easier throughout the day.
If you’d like more information on our senior living community and the health and wellness services we provide, we’d love to chat! Fill out the form below or give us a call at 724-941-3100.
