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Creating an Awareness: National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

© Brenda S. Parris

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. The Alzheimer's Association Web site tells the history:

"In November 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating the first National Alzheimer's Awareness Week. That historic event marked the beginning of a revolution in advocacy for, and greater awareness and understanding of, Alzheimer's disease. Since that time, the Alzheimer's Association has used this occasion to further its mission of advocacy, research, care, and support."

The Alzheimer's Association Web site lists some of the amazing progress made since that historic 1982 proclamation. Included are increased financial support, knowledge about the disease and its diagnosis, risk factors, number of scientist researching the disease, scholarly articles written, caregiver support through the Alzheimer's Association, and the Safe Return program for wanderers.

Alzheimer's Association Chapters all over the country are sponsoring events in recognition of Alzheimer's Awareness Month. The MidSouth Chapter in Nashville is having a Caregiver Conference. The Desert Southwest Chapter is sponsoring a Field of Memories event. A Fall Lecture Series is lined up for the Northern California Chapter. The Orange County in California is having a Memories in the Making Art Auction, featuring the works of Alzheimer's patients. The Central Coast California Chapter is having its Annual Education Conference. Various events are also planned by the Rocky Mountain Chapter, the Connecticut Chapter, the Delaware Valley Chapter, and the Central & North Florida Chapter.

These are just a few of the events to be held across the country. You can out find more by visiting the Web site of your local chapter.

Not only did former President Reagan sign that historic proclamation, he also later shared through a letter his own diagnosis of Alzheimer's, thus creating a greater awareness of this disease. I was with my mother as her caregiver when we received a copy of that letter. I read it to her, and she cried when she heard that President Reagan had the same disease she had. She soon forgot about it, and even that she had Alzheimer's herself, but I still think it was a meaningful and moving experience for her at the time.

As the Alzheimer's Association site shows, in the past twenty years we have progressed from helplessness to hope. There is more and more hope all the time, as researchers continue to discover more about Alzheimer's, its causes, diagnosis, prevention, medication, and ultimately, a cure. All of this has been made possible as we have become more aware - through the efforts of many during National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month each November.

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