It is World Alzheimer’s Day

September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day around the world. This is an international campaign aimed at raising awareness and challenging the common stigma that surrounds Alzheimer related dementia. At Elizz, we know the profound impact of caring for someone with dementia, and the stigma that surrounds this diagnosis makes something difficult, even more difficult.

The campaign

 #KnowDementia and #KnowAlzheimers are the themes of this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month. As part of this campaign, organizations from around the world that focus on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias – Canada included! – are pushing for action around diagnosis and knowledge of dementia. The campaign is shining a light on the warning signs of dementia and the importance of a timely diagnosis.

The World Alzheimer Report 2021 being released on September 21, will highlight key findings on the changing face of a diagnosis and the perspective of people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Did you know?

World Alzheimer’s Day also recognizes the impact of providing care for a person living with Alzheimer’s disease. According to World Health Organization (WHO), 35% of caregivers from across the world said they have hidden the diagnosis of dementia of a family and over 50% said their health has been impacted because of their caring responsibilities. Worldwide, the average amount of hours an unpaid caregiver (for example, family, friend, neighbour) provides is over 5 hours per day with caring responsibilities such as:

• assistance with basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL), such as eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, grooming, and getting around
• assistance with combined ADL and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), such as shopping, preparing food, using transport, and managing personal finances
• supervision to manage responsive symptoms or to prevent dangerous events.

At Elizz, we recognize the value of the family caregiver and the importance of caregiver wellness. On this day, we invite our caregiver readers to check out our wellness topics with special focus on self-care as well as our very popular and informative articles on dementia care.

For more information on World Alzheimer’s Day events, contact your local Alzheimer Society and learn more. Remember, if you or someone you know is concerned about having dementia, it’s important that you can identify the warning signs, know when to talk to your doctor and understand how dementia is diagnosed.

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Are you caring for someone with a dementia diagnosis? Interested or willing to share your story?  If yes, please contact Jane, our Caregiver Program Manager, at JaneVock@sehc.com.