Purple is my favorite color, and coincidentally, it is the Alzheimer’s movement
color too. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and an ideal time to deck
out in purple.
I signed the purple pledge and changed my Facebook profile
photo to the “END ALZ” logo. The pledge is to wear purple gear on June 21, the
Longest Day, and throughout the month of June.
The “Longest Day” ties well to Alzheimer’s. As any caregiver
can attest, some days are not just long—they are endless. Alzheimer’s is an
equal opportunity disease affecting people like you and me and creeping into
the ranks of the famous.
It was interesting to see that the cast of “The Big Bang Theory” have joined the fight
against Alzheimer’s. Along with other well-known celebrities, they performed at
“A Night at Sardi’s” to benefit Alzheimer’s. They were joined by Joey McIntyre,
singer/songwriter and a member of New Kids on the Block. The fight is personal
to Joey since his mother recently lost her battle with Alzheimer’s. He said, “Mourning
is a process, and I have to take my time with it.”
Alzheimer’s can bring families together, and it can tear
them apart. Or both. When Glen Campbell announced he had Alzheimer’s, his
family was admired for the way they rallied around him. Due to his family’s support,
Glen was able to perform well after he had the disease. Eventually, he wound up
in long-term care. Now the family is at odds with his fourth and present wife,
Kim. His children from previous marriages claim Kim Campbell has barred them
from seeing their father, failing to provide Glenn with basic personal care
items, and being financially irresponsible. Some of his children are trying to
get a judge to appoint a guardian to protect his interests.
Often family members disagree on how to provide excellent care
for the individual with Alzheimer’s. They fuss and fight, and before you know
it, they become more focused on having their own way than what is really and truly
the best resolution to their quandary.
The more you learn about the disease, the more likely you
are to make good decisions. The primary care partner will experience a different
level of stress and angst than the occasional visitor. Until you walk in their
shoes, be very, very careful about criticizing. This isn’t to say that everyone
is cut out to be a caregiver. Some aren’t. Unless you are willing and able to
step in full-time, proceed with caution. As long as your loved one is not in
danger or neglected, be supportive. Be a part of the solution instead of adding
to the problems.
Share your stories, your experiences, and show your support
for caregivers and people with the disease. Create awareness with the color
purple!
My goal is to wear purple every day in June. This is an easy goal for me since I have a wardrobe rich in purple, even without
considering all the purple walk shirts I’ve accumulated over the years. Just in
case I get up and forget to don my Alzheimer’s gear, my fingernails and toenails are
both polished purple. My toenails have the addition of a layer of sparkle.
Sparkle on the nails makes them look darned cool, but it is
a real chore to remove it. That’s when I have to drag out the super-duper
polish remover pads and sometimes finish with a bottle of remover. If only we
could remove Alzheimer’s from the face of the earth as if it were a thin layer of polish!
We want to turn the world purple in support of the 47
million people worldwide who are living with dementia. By being an advocate, a
supporter, and raising awareness, the brain you save may be your own. GoPurple
and #ENDALZ—not just for June, but for a lifetime.
Copyright © June 2015
by L.S. Fisher
Take the pledge at www.alz.org!
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