June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, a time for people of all ages to get involved in the fight against the disease. Whether you are 5 or 95, there’s a way to pledge your support for the nearly 47 million people who have been diagnosed.
Changing your Facebook page to purple, ordering a coloring book for the children to increase Alzheimer’s awareness or simply wearing purple, are just a few of the ways for the family to get involved.
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness: How to Get Involved on the Longest Day
On June 21, the longest day of the year and the summer solstice, thousands of people will get together to celebrate Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month by honoring a person they love with the disease. “The Longest Day” is a sunrise to sunset event signifying the challenging journey for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, family members and friends. Consider hosting a fundraising event or joining an existing event on the day.
To learn more about The Longest Day, or how to start a fundraising team, contact: 800-272-3900.
Ideas for Getting Involved: All Ages
- Maintain 67 seconds of silence, recognizing the fact that every 67 seconds someone is newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
- Wear purple! You can purchase purple gear here as part of the proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure.
Ideas for Getting Involved: Children
- Explore the Ellie Memory Helper Elephant pack, which includes a book and other guides to help children understand more about Alzheimer’s.
- Order the “Color Your Mind” coloring book and encourage the kids to spend time coloring with their loved one with the disease. The book was designed by award-winning journalist and Alzheimer’s prevention advocate, Maria Shriver.
- Read a 5-star rated book explaining to children what it means to have Alzheimer’s. The book is titled, “Grandma and Me: a Kid’s Guide to Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” by Beatrice Tauber Prior Psy.D., a specialist in child development and neuropsychology.
Ideas for Getting Involved: Students and Teens
- College students can throw their own “Hilarity for Charity” event (the non-profit movement led by Seth Rogen and his wife, Laura Miller) at their local campus, to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s. The institution that raises the most money gets a personal visit from Seth Rogen! More info here.
- Donate to the Alzheimer’s Association or to another organization that supports the cause.
- Post your purple here, using the hashtags #ENDALZ and #GOPURPLE and tag @fightalzwv in your posts.
- Turn your Facebook page purple, in honor of the Longest Day.
- Volunteer to help out at a local Alzheimer’s Association office, join a team for the Longest Day or sign up for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Find out about more local volunteer opportunities here.
Ideas for Getting Involved: Adults
- Go “Casual for a Cause” at work, order Casual for the Cause stickers and sell them for donation contributions. Call: 800-272-3900 to purchase your stickers.
- Host your own event, hold a dinner party and ask the guests to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association (the amount they would usually pay for a dinner out). Make sure you serve your guests a brain-healthy meal.
- Host your own sports event fundraiser. Challenge others with a bowling tournament, golf scramble, kickball game or more. Start planning your fundraising event here.
- Schedule a workshop at your local community center: call 800-272-3900 for information.
- Volunteer to share your story with others online or join the movement to advocate for public policy to fund more research to end Alzheimer’s. Find out how to sign up here.
What other ideas do you have for getting involved during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month? We’d like to hear your suggestions in the comments below.
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