Getting Involved with Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

This month is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month. It’s an opportunity for anyone and everyone to learn and raise awareness about the disease. There are many ways to get involved in joining the fight against Alzheimer’s and to come alongside all those who have been affected by the disease.

Alzheimer’s can be a difficult disease to understand, especially when a loved one has been diagnosed. This may be a good opportunity for your children to learn more about the disease with you and how they can help family or friends who are affected by it.

June 21st, the longest day of the year, has become a day for people to honor loved ones who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The Longest Day is an event that begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. There are many opportunities on this day from attending or hosting an event, to setting up your own fundraiser.

– Host a Fundraising Party

Have a party or event centered on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and provide an opportunity for guests to donate money to organizations dedicated to researching Alzheimer’s and brain health.

Additionally, a growing trend is to donate your birthday to a cause you believe in. You can help raise money for Alzheimer’s and brain awareness by hosting a birthday party and asking your guests to donate instead of bringing gifts.

– Get Active

A sports event or race can be another great opportunity to raise money.  Many people host a tournament, mile run, or kickball game as a way to bring people together for a cause.

– Tell Your Story
The most powerful thing you can do is to tell your own story about how Alzheimer’s has affected you personally – whether you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or have walked with a family member or friend who has. You can share your story online, at a fundraising event, or just with the people closest to you.

There are plenty of ways that members of your whole family can get involved in Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month – even the little ones!

– Learn Together

There are several great resources for teaching kids about Alzheimer’s such as children’s books, coloring pages, and activities that can all be found online. These can make learning about the disease more interesting and kid-friendly.
– Donate
Teach your children the importance of saving their money and about how rewarding it can feel to donate some of it to a deserving cause. The best way to teach this is to lead by example; explain to your child why donating to Alzheimer’s research is important to you, and then show them what opportunities they have to do the same.
– Use Social Media
Your teens are probably already familiar with how to fundraise on social media platforms. Talk to them about how they can use their voices on social media to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s this month.
– Volunteer Together
Find out what Alzheimer’s awareness events are happening around your community, and contact them about what volunteer opportunities are available. There are often volunteer positions that people of all ages can participate in.