AlzheimerSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s Disease is one of the most devastating ailments anyone human being can contract.
There is no cure, no treatment to reverse its progression and a study published by the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. estimates that treating AlzheimerSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s around the world costs in the neighbourhood of $1 trillion annually.
With January being AlzheimerSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s Awareness Month in Canada, the AlzheimerSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s Society has announced a campaign to bring awareness to its First Link initiative, designed to offer approved services and information to those living with AlzheimerSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s or other dementias, and caregivers.
The society estimates that the number of people living with dementia is expected to reach 1 million in the next 10 years and the goal of First Link, according to the society, is to make sure anyone who uses the services has the right support and information, from the time of an initial diagnosis and throughout the progression of the disease.
The society has come up with several ways to help bring more awareness to both First Link and to the disease itself:Spreading the world on social media by downloading a First Link community toolkit from the societySA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s website and tagging the society on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Connecting with a local society, such as the AlzheimerSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s Society of Alberta and the NWT
Visiting alzheimer.ca/FirstLink to get more information on the program and supports available
Donating to a local society
Learning more about dementia through the society, such as warning signs and an early diagnosis
Listening to stories of people who are living with dementia or those who are caregivers/researchers
Becoming a member of the society in the NWT
Support for the rights of people living with dementia
Joining the societySA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s advisory group of people living with dementia
The society also said that the work doesnSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™t stop when January ends and that people can continue to promote awareness year-round.