Go Purple for Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month

If my grandmother Emma had been a flower, she would have been one of those magnificent dinner plate dahlias like she grew in her garden.  She would have been her favorite color purple.  She would have taken first in show, a blue ribbon winner, at the state fair.

I thought of her when the Alzheimer’s Take the Purple Pledge challenge was announced. The goal is to GO PURPLE in the month of June, to support those facing Alzheimer’s.  Did you know that worldwide, 47 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia?  Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain. It is the most common form of dementia.  Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.  If you have a brain you’re at risk.  It’s the only cause of death in the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed.  One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia.  My Grandma Emma did not die from Alzheimer’s, she was one of every eight women who die from cancer.

For the one in three seniors who statistically will develop Alzheimer’s let’s pick up the pace and walk to #ENDALZ on June 21.  This day usually marks the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere,  the day of the year with the most hours of daylight in the northern hemisphere and the fewest hours of daylight in the southern hemisphere.   It’s been said that having some form of dementia is like having the lights fade from bright to dark…with no on switch to brighten the way.

To all the Touching Hearts at Home people…our color has always been purple…wear it proud for all we serve!

https://alz.org/abam/
Join the conversation #GOPURPLE #ENDALZ

Ramona Hunt, M.S.
Director of Leadership and Development
Touching Hearts, Inc.

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