ST. GEORGE — The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to more than triple in the next few decades – from 5 million today to more than 16 million by 2050, unless a cure is found, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. As the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia grows, so, too, will the need for communities to adapt and become more accessible to those living with dementia-related diseases.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and the Home Instead Senior Care network is on a mission to educate Americans about Alzheimer’s by encouraging individuals to pledge to learn more about the disease and how to respectfully and compassionately interact with those who live with it.
On Alzheimer’s Learning Day, Sept. 21, Home Instead Senior Care invites people from Southern Utah to participate in two free, live training webinars featuring experts in Alzheimer’s and dementia care to better respond to the needs of individuals living with the condition. For details about the webinar and to take the Alzheimer’s Learning Day pledge, click here.
“With our increasing aging population, it is likely that every American will be touched by Alzheimer’s at some point, whether it’s through a family member, neighbor, friend or customer,” Craig King, of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Southern Utah, said.
“It’s critical that we learn how to interact effectively and considerately with those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in order to create an environment that is as supportive as possible.”
Home Instead’s Alzheimer’s Learning Day hopes to help improve the quality of life for those living with the disease and their caregivers. The ACT on Alzheimer’s webpage says more than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for those living with the disease and nearly 60 percent of individuals with dementia-related diseases live at home with support from family, friends and other members of the community.
“Many people caring for someone with dementia feel alone and isolated from their communities,” C. Grace Whiting, Chief Operating Officer of the National Alliance for Caregiving, said. “Caregivers need allies who understand the disease and who have knowledge and resources to help those living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
“By educating the community, we are fostering a global movement to build dementia-friendly neighborhoods that will reduce the stigma and isolation of caregiving and bring caregivers back into the fold.”
For more on Alzheimer’s and other dementias, watch and share the “I Will Remember You” video or take an online class.
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