Alzheimer’s Action Day on September 21st provides a chance for early stage patients, caregivers, and others to share stories that help to increase awareness and end the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease. It can also be a turning point for people who choose to become a community advocate.
Advocating for Adults with Alzheimer’s
Why should I advocate for the disease that I dislike and prefer not to think about?
A number of benefits can result from advocating for Alzheimer’s disease—whether you’re an early stage patient, a family member or friend.
- Establishing connections with other people, resources, and support systems
- Reducing the loneliness factor that is so common with the disease
- Providing opportunities to share your insights, experience and hope
- Enabling you to contribute to medical research
How can I fit community advocacy into my schedule?
- Start simple and set small goals. Caring for a loved one can take a huge amount of time and emotional energy, so set small goals. Even one hour a week might help you feel as if you are contributing.
- Reframe your viewpoint. Change your it’s-a-drain attitude to it’s-a-gain Your support and advocacy may actually recharge your batteries because you will be having meaningful conversations with other adults who have similar concerns and problems.
How can I start advocating in my community?
There are several steps you can take to become an advocate.
- Begin by talking about Alzheimer’s with coworkers, friends, church members, and others. That may provide a sense of satisfaction and social purpose.
- Read the facts and statistics about the disease. This will help you speak comfortably and knowledgably about the issues.
- Get involved with the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. You’ll meet people, find camaraderie, be inspired, and have an opportunity to participate in activities that increase empathy, self-esteem and self-care. All of this may help to heal some of the emotional wounds caused by Alzheimer’s.
- Use social media to connect with people from the comfort of your home.
- Brainstorm ways to increase attention about Alzheimer’s and other memory problems. Consider arranging a presentation at the local library or organizing regular meetings at a coffee shop.
- Connect with local politicians and learn about their position on medical research funding for Alzheimer’s. Encourage them to back bills and laws that increase financial support for the disease.
- Invite health care providers who specialize in Alzheimer’s to speak at local events and chamber meetings. Broaden the topic of the meeting to include other memory disorders and provide tip sheets, brain-healthy menus, and resource lists.
- Create newsworthy articles for your local media. Include your personal story along with seasonal topics, such as holiday planning or Alzheimer’s-friendly activities.
- Engage the help of business faculty members at a local college or SCORE counselors to solidify or strengthen your community action plans.
- Identify assets and financial resources for your advocacy work.
At Heritage Senior Communities, our staff members receive specialty training to help them provide the best possible care for residents with Alzheimer’s. Each team member in our memory care is an expert and an advocate.
Ask about having one of our dementia care experts speak at your local advocacy meeting or for resources that you can share with the other families.