The Longest Day to Support Awareness of Alzheimer's Disease

The Longest Day to Support Awareness of Alzheimer's Disease

Midland, Mich. — June 19, 2017 — The planning committee of the upcoming Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Midland encourages community members to honor their loved ones who have been affected by the disease by celebrating The Longest Day on Wednesday, June 21, 2017.

“The Longest Day is a fantastic opportunity for people to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease by doing something they love,” said Jim Gall, owner of Right at Home of Northern Michigan. “This can be anything from having a family cookout to attending a baseball game or even doing something as simple as wearing purple clothing that day. We want to inspire people to take action and share their stories — not only to help support education and advocacy programs but also to show others that they are not alone.”

“We’re fortunate to have several resources and programs available locally to support those impacted, whether they’re living with the disease, providing care, or have a friend or family member who was recently diagnosed,” he added.

Some of the events planned locally in support of The Longest Day include:

Educational Symposium: Laura J. Ruhle, CT, of the Alzheimer’s Association, will present a free seminar on Dementia Conversations: Driving, Doctor Visits, Legal & Financial Planning. Participants will learn more about hands-on tools and resources to assist with planning for the future. The symposium will take place Tuesday, June 20, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Candlestone Assisted Living, 4124 Waldo Ave, and is hosted by The Care Team, Right at Home and Candlestone Assisted Living.
Open House: Seasons Adult Day Health Services, located at 4812 Dublin Ave, will host an open house on June 21 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Open to the public, the event will allow attendees to tour the facility and learn more about how Seasons can assist both the individual and the caregiver by offering therapeutic and engaging programs for the person with their peers, along with respite for the caregiver. Refreshments will be provided.
BrainFit and More: Associates at Brookdale Senior Living Solutions will wear purple on Wednesday, June 21, followed by themed attire days on Fridays throughout the remainder of the summer. A “BrainFit” seminar will also be hosted on Monday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m., with more information on the building blocks to keep adults’ brains healthy, and take place at Brookdale Midland, 4004 Waldo Ave.

According to reports issued by the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 5 million individuals are living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States today, including 180,000 in Michigan. “This number is expected to rise to 220,000 by 2025, which is just eight years from now,” said Monica Bissett, case manager and community outreach manager with Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices. “Currently, there is no cure or treatment for Alzheimer's, which impacts not only a person’s physical and mental health, but also their relationships, legal matters, finances, living arrangements, and so on.”

Bissett and Gall, who serve as co-chairs for this year’s walk, agree that events like The Longest Day and the Walk to End Alzheimer's are critical to advancing understanding of the disease and raising funds to support research programs that will help identify new treatment strategies, improve care options, and explore disease prevention. The Midland walk will take place on Saturday, September 23 at Dow Diamond. To learn more about the event, join a team or explore other ways to get involved, visit alz.org/walk.

For more information:

Jim Gall
Right at Home of Northern Michigan
jimgall@rah-northernmichigan.net

Monica Bissett
Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices, PLLC
bissett@mielderlaw.com

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