The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2014 is “Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?,” focusing on ways we may be able to help reduce our risk of developing dementia with brain-healthy lifestyles.
Our friends at national-awareness-days.com have a sweet explanation for the September awareness campaign:
“The third World Alzheimer’s Month will take place during September 2014 with awareness-raising events taking place worldwide.
Every year since 1994, Alzheimer organizations have observed World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September and the day will continue to play an important and key role during the month’s events.
Named after neurologist Alois Alzheimer, the disease causes progressive damage in the brain. Activities will focus on reducing the stigma that is associated with dementia and making communities more dementia-friendly.
‘My local hospital [this is Christine, from national-awareness-days.com in the United Kingdom, speaking] has recently been doing a lot of work to make their wards and departments more dementia-friendly, including changing color schemes to make areas that patients don’t need to access–for example, cleaning cupboards–blend in with the walls. Toilets and bathrooms have bright signs that are easily visible in ward areas.’
World Alzheimer’s Month 2014
Activities during the month will include educational seminars, workshops and social events for people with dementia and their carers.
You can visit the official website for details of events taking place on a country by country basis, so they should give you lots of inspiration and ideas about how you can get involved this year.
Of particular interest is the Memory Walk an initiative organized by the U.K.-based Alzheimer’s Society to show their commitment to remembering those who they have lost. All sponsorship funds raised at each Alzheimer’s walk will go towards the work of the Alzheimer’s Society in that specific area.
As part of World Alzheimer’s Month, Alzheimer’s Disease International will also launch a report detailing the effects dementia has on the global economy and the true impact dementia has on our societies and health care systems.”
Thank you, Christine!
In the United States, there will be also be an outpouring of awareness events under way, during the month of September. Contact your local chapter of the Alz.org, or see list below.
To read more about Alzheimer’s Disease International: The Global Voice on Dementia, click here: alz.co.uk/world-alzheimers-month
To read more about awareness days, both the fun ones and the seriously-minded ones, click here: national-awareness-days.com
Lissandra Melo / Shutterstock.com
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Fort Smith, Arizona
September 6, 2014
Route Length: 2.5 miles
121 Riverfront Drive,
Ft. Smith, AR
72901
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
St. Louis, Missouri
September 6, 2014
Route Length: 1-Mile and 3-Mile Walk Options
1401 Clark Ave,
St. Louis, MO
63103
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Honolulu, Hawaii
September 6, 2014
Route Length: 3 miles
1201 Ala Moana Blvd.,
Honolulu, HI
96814
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Roswell, New Mexico
September 6, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
400 N Virginia Ave.,
Roswell, NM
88201
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Modesto, California
September 6, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
401 Needham Ave,
Modesto, CA
95354
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Lubbock, Texas
September 6, 2014
Route Length: 1 mile, 2 miles
413 E. Broadway,
Lubbock, TX
79403
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Portland, Oregon
September 7, 2014
Route Length: 2.99 miles
1940 N Victory Blvd.,
Portland, OR
97217
Register here
Walk to end Alzheimer’s
Grand Rapids, Michigan
September 13, 2014
Route length: 2.5 miles
1415 Maynard Ave. SW,
Walker, MI
49534
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Santa Fe, New Mexico
September 13, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
740 Cerrillos Rd,
Santa Fe, NM
87505
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Denver, Colorado
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 5km
Denver City Park
17th Ave. and Colorado Blvd.,
Denver, CO
80205
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Highland, New York
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
Walkway Over the Hudson,
Highland, NY
12524
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
September 20, 2014
Seattle, Washington
Route Length: 2 miles
860 Terry Ave N,
Seattle, WA
98109
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
September 20, 2014
Columbus, Ohio
Route Length: 5km
330 Huntington Park Lane,
Columbus, OH
43215
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Colorado Springs, Colorado
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 5km
126 Cimino Drive,
Colorado Springs,
CO 80903
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
San Francisco, California
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 3 miles
290 Channel Street,
San Francisco, CA
94158
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Amarillo, Texas
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
4101 Line Ave,
Amarillo, TX
79106
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Des Moines, Iowa
September 20, 2014
Route Length: TBD
Des Moines, IA
50319
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
San Antonio, Texas
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
San Antonio, TX
78219
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Buffalo, New York
September 20, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
Buffalo, NY
14214
Register here
Alzheimer’s Benefit Car and Truck Show
Frederick, Maryland
September 21, 2014
1601 Bowmans Farm Road
Frederick ,MD,
21701
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Lincoln, Nebraska
September 21, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
Lincoln, NE
68506
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 1 mile, 3 miles
1 Twins Way,
Minneapolis, MN
55403
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Atlanta, Georgia
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 3.1 miles
18th Street NW,
Atlanta, GA
30363
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
1 Civic Plaza NW,
Albuquerque, NM
87102
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Sacramento, California
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
N St & 11th St,
Sacramento, CA
95814
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Edwardsville, Illinois
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 1 mile, 3 miles
1 Hairpin Dr,
Edwardsville, IL
62026
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
New Milford, Connecticut
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
64 Lanesville Rd,
New Milford, CT
06776
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Fresno, California
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 2 miles
1301 East Via Roma (Friant Rd. and Copper Ave.),
Fresno, CA
93730
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
El Paso, Texas
September 27, 2014
Route Length: 1 mile
4201 S. Highway 28,
El Paso, TX
79912
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Chicago, Illinois
September 28, 2014
Route Length: 5km
Montrose Avenue & Simonds Drive,
Chicago, IL
60613
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Westchester County, New York
September 28, 2014
Route Length: 3 miles
550 North Street (Bryant Ave. Entrance Side),
White Plains, NY
10601
Register here
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Boston, Massachusetts
September 28, 2014
Route Length: TBD
Constitution Road,
Boston, MA
02129
Register here