Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia?

The Alzheimer’s Association says that more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years.

Rather than let these numbers frighten, upset, or overwhelm you, use them as motivation to do something about this. If you’re inspired to take action, join in commemorating The Longest Day.

What is The Longest Day?

The longest day of the year is the summer solstice. This year it falls on June 21. On that day, the Alzheimer’s Association and those who support it will use the additional hours of sunlight to fight the disease close to so much darkness.

The extra hours of daylight on June 21 will keep many of us awake a little longer than we usually are. Similarly, Alzheimer’s patients, their loved ones, and caregivers have little rest when it comes to the disease and the challenges that come along with it.

How Can You Get Involved?

For The Longest Day, the Alzheimer’s Association typically asks people to form teams who commit to 16 hours of consecutive activity. This is a fundraising activity where you can ask for pledges from companies and other community members. All money raised goes to Alzheimer’s care and research. 

When you form a team with your family and friends, you can choose whatever activities you’d like to do. Some people like charity walks, others like dance marathons, and still others prefer a bowling competition. Anything is fair game as long as you and your team commit to it from sunrise to sunset on the year's longest day. You could even sit in silence the whole day if that’s what you choose. 

Once the sun sets, you can end your chosen activity and reflect on your day. While it’s certainly not the same as living with Alzheimer’s, you can take this time to think about how the disease affects so many people, as well as their caregivers and loved ones.

Ideas for Commemorating this Year

If someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, then The Longest Day hits very close to home. One of the most important things you can do is spend time with your loved one and cherish every moment you have together. A great way to do this naturally is by creating a scrapbook — although this hobby has plenty of benefits beyond quality time. 

Make it Easier to Communicate with a Person in Dementia Care.

Read our blog – Dementia communication tips: reducing the frustration

You could have a cookie decorating contest where everyone gets to vote on whose cookie is their favorite. Or, if you’d like a bigger challenge in the kitchen, create a Chopped-style competition where you and your team are challenged to make a delicious dish using four or five seemingly unrelated ingredients. Then, try to describe your dish in the most appetizing way possible! For inspiration, watch our Great Gala Cook-off and see how much fun it is to cook together with a dash of competition!

Will You Help Us Raise Awareness?

Here at Marjorie P. Lee, Alzheimer’s and dementia care is incredibly important to us. Professionals at our memory care center work diligently to provide the best, most compassionate support to our residents. Our memory care households are designed specifically to provide a safe, empowering living space for our seniors. We’re committed to making Cincinnati a dementia-friendly city, and that begins by encouraging people to join us in celebrating The Longest Day. Will you be celebrating with us?

Dementia is not a specific disease. Rather, it is a term used to describe a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in cognitive abilities, such as remembering, thinking, or reasoning, that are significant enough to impact an individual's daily functioning.

Dementia is complicated, but we can help make sense of it. Download our free guide to learn about:

• Dementia Vs. Normal Aging
• Therapy Options
• How to Evaluate Memory Care Centers