According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are more than 6 million Americans today living with Alzheimer’s disease; that number is expected to rise to nearly 13 million people by the year 2050. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia which is a general term for memory loss and the loss of other cognitive abilities. Today, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for up to 80% of all dementia cases.
While Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, age is the greatest risk factor for the disease. In fact, the majority of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are age 65 and older. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are many organizations and care communities dedicated to researching, understanding, treating and caring for those with the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is one of the primary organizations leading research efforts, through fundraising support. One of the most popular fundraising activities is the Walk to End Alzheimer’s another popular and important fundraising effort is called The Longest Day.
What Is The Longest Day?
The longest day of the year – also called the summer solstice – is the day of the year with the most hours of light. On this day each year, thousands of people around the world take part in The Longest Day activities to raise money to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease. These efforts raise funds for research, raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and support the care for people with Alzheimer’s. This year, The Longest Day fundraising activities took place on June 21st.
What Are The Longest Day Activities?
Families, Alzheimer’s patients and memory care communities around the world celebrated The Longest Day with a variety of activities and fundraisers. Individuals could send donations online, friends could come together to host contests to raise funds, while many families created challenges and contests that required buy-ins to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. On a larger scale, companies asked employees to spend a few dollars to wear purple (the signature color of the Alzheimer’s movement), while others held raffles, drawings and contests to support the efforts.
At Anthology Senior Living communities, the activities focused on raising awareness, supporting residents and their families, and raising funding for Alzheimer’s research. At Anthology of Farmington Hills and Anthology of Denton, residents and their families wore purple to raise awareness, and Anthology of Mason community members, residents and family members enjoyed live music, crafts and appetizers to mark the occasion. Anthology of Blue Ash held two fundraising events, including Smoothies & Selfies and BBQ & Donations. Both events required participants to pay a fee, and the money raised went toward Alzheimer’s research. A hugely successful Cornhole Tournament at Anthology of McCandless, along with tasty food from community food trucks and a live jazz band performance, helped to raise funds and bring the fun for neighbors, friends, residents and families! Anthology of Town and Country customized items and offered simple ways for friends and family to make donations to Alzheimer’s research, while the Motown Magic Longest Day Fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association at Anthology of Troy sold beautiful creations, including jewelry and paintings, to raise money.
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Memory Care at Anthology Senior Living
At Anthology Senior Living’s memory care communities, we understand that no one should go through dementia or Alzheimer’s disease alone. Our compassion, personal respect for residents and expertise in memory care all create the ideal environment to navigate this difficult journey. Our dedicated caregivers are certified and trained in the latest techniques to support memory care residents, while our culture and our environment supports independence, activity and a sense of family.
The Virtue Memory Care Neighborhoods at Anthology Senior Living are designed to help each resident find happiness, support and success. At each community, curated artwork features local landmarks and nostalgic images to evoke feelings of home. Families and residents create memory displays outside each personal suite that provide familiarity through the use of personal photos and memorabilia. Even the dining experience at Anthology Senior Living is designed for familiarity by featuring favorite foods served with an appealing flair.
Interested in learning more about our memory care communities? Try our community finder to identify locations near you! You can also contact us any time with questions and to learn more about our care, our communities and our values!