The summer solstice marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. On June 21, 2023, the day with the most amount of light, communities come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease through a fundraising event called The Longest Day®.
This day also marks the longest day for many who are caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Even during the best of times, caregiving can be an extremely isolating experience and each day can feel like an eternity. That’s why the Alzheimer’s Association uses The Longest Day as a metaphor to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and all those it affects, both directly and indirectly.
As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s and other dementia are progressive brain diseases that begin with mild memory loss that can potentially lead to the inability to carry on a conversation and react to the environment. As the brain changes, so does memory, thinking and processing for at least 5.8 million Americans.
The Longest Day allows the community to create a fundraiser around an activity of their choice such as:
- Having a cookout – set a minimum donation to attend
- Music fundraiser – charge an admission fee
- Chess tournament – include an entry fee or raise money per game played
- Book club fundraiser – ask for a donation for every chapter or page read
At times, caregiving can feel like the longest day and UofL Health – Peace Hospital has an upcoming event to provide social support. Peace Hospital will be hosting “Conversations with Caregivers” from 6-7 p.m. on June 27 at 4915 Charlestown Road, New Albany, Ind. This is an opportunity to learn more about accepting the diagnosis of dementia while gaining social support. To register, contact Sameera Jackson at Sameera.Jackson@UofLHealth.org.
Peace Hospital offers inpatient psychiatric, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization services to older adults. For more information, please visit our website at https://UofLHealth.org/Locations/Peace-Hospital/ or call 502-451-3333.
If you suspect you or a loved one may have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, UofL Physicians – Neurology can help. You can call 502-588-4800 to schedule an evaluation.
