Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Take Action!

Let’s celebrate Alzheimer’s Awareness Month by learning what it is, how it impacts the lives of those it affects, and what we can do to make our community more accessible to those with Alzheimer’s.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s Disease is a chronic and progressive disease that destroys a person’s brain cells affecting their memory, thinking, and behavior. It is not a normal part of aging and is, unfortunately, an irreversible disease. The progression of Alzheimer’s moves through stages, beginning with mild symptoms like struggling to remember events, names, or people and ending with dependence on 24-hour care and eventually death.

The disease impacts every area of a person’s life-changing how they think, feel, and act. It also impacts everyone differently, some may experience a rapid onset of symptoms and quick progression of the disease, while others may live a long life with only mild symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Who is at risk?

As of now, there is no single known cause of Alzheimer’s disease but experts have identified some risk factors;

Age: The majority of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are over 65.

Family History: If someone in your immediate family has developed the condition, you are at a greater risk.

Genetics: Certain genes have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, but genetics remain a rare cause of the disease.

Sex: Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Unfortunately, we cannot change our age or genetic composition but there are some modifiable risk factors we can manage to help reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This includes;

• Getting Active
• Caring for Your Mental Health
• Eating Right
• Staying Socially Active

Get Involved

Alzheimer’s Disease impacts all areas of a person’s life and the lives of those who care for them. Fortunately, there are ways we can help improve the lives of those affected and support the experts searching for a cure.

• Educate yourself on the experiences of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease
• Donate to reputable organizations who care for, research, or advocate for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease
• Volunteer with your local organizations
• Be an advocate-wear purple, share information, attend a workshop or get involved in makingmeaningful policy change

What is South Essex Community Council Doing to Help?

As a leader in our community, SECC is committed to helping those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia live meaningful and productive lives. We do this by:

Advocating: Through sharing information and getting involved with leaders in Alzheimer’s care, we advocate for those who have difficulty advocating for themselves and work to reduce the stigma of living with a disability.

Educating: We provide educational workshops and materials for health care providers, the community, and caregivers. To learn more contact, Emily Bechard, at ebechard@secc.on.ca or 519-326-8629.

Providing: Through the Adult Day Away Program, we provide direct care for persons with dementia or other disabilities including Alzheimer’s disease. Recreational programming helps to slow the progression of the disease by meeting a person’s need for cognitive stimulation, socialization, psychological, physical, and emotional well-being while providing essential breaks for caregivers.

But that’s not all! The Community Services Department within SECC provides services for all adults over 55+ and those who identify with a disability in our community, not just those with dementia. We offer Meals on Wheels, Local Transit Services, Security Check and Friendly Visitation, as well as Fitness Classes and Virtual Programming just for seniors. Be sure to like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with our latest events!

For a full list of services, to learn more, get started, or to give back visit us at www.secc.on.ca, call 519-326-8629, or email ebechard@secc.on.ca.