November is Alzheimer’s Awareness and Family Caregivers Appreciation Month

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Looking at my calendar and at the very top, it reminded me that November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month too. First off, anytime our local Abilene Alzheimer's Association is doing anything I am there to support them because our family has not been immune to Alzheimer's or dementia.

Before I go on any further as to what's going on this month, I will tell you that we must find a way to stop Alzheimer's and dementia once and for all. It is the most horrible disease for anyone to have. It's even harder to sit and watch someone you love who can't even remember who you are.

Both the National and local Alzheimer’s Association mark this month by honoring and recognizing millions of family members, loved ones, and friends across America that are right this very minute caring for someone that has Alzheimer’s or dementia. To support the 1.1 million of our Texas family members and friends, the Alzheimer’s Association reminds us that Texas caregivers can seek help and we MUST let these heroic caregivers know they are NOT alone.

Some of the latest findings and statistics released by the Alzheimer’s Association clearly state that  Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. In Texas, there are more than 400,000 people living with Alzheimer’s, and last year alone, 1,085,000 Texas caregivers provided a total of 1,769,000,000 hours of unpaid care, which would have cost over $25,874,000,000.

I heard this saying a couple of years ago at the local Alzheimers Walk and it has stuck with me ever since it goes like this, "It has been said that everyone knows a cancer survivor, but no one has met an Alzheimer's survivor, yet we must keep working to end Alzheimer's forever."

That said, there will be an online event that you can participate in and never leave the comfort of your home or office. It's titled as "Understanding the Impact of Dementia in Rural Communities" and one can sign up online here.