Health
THE VISION : A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER ’ S
A
lzheimer ’ s disease has become one of the costliest medical conditions in America due to the need for long-term care for those stricken , yet the dollars devoted to research for a cure are far short of what is needed . As our population ages and life expectancy reaches new records , more of us are affected by the disease in one way or another , either as a person with dementia , or caregiver , or loved one concerned with the well-being of someone afflicted .
Currently 690,000 Californians aged 65 and over are living with Alzheimer ’ s , with more than 1.6 million unpaid caregivers providing $ 24 billion-worth of unpaid care
The Alzheimer ’ s Association is leading the way to end Alzheimer ’ s and all other dementia - by accelerating global research , driving risk reduction and early detection , and maximizing quality care and support . To help the Association reach its goals , volunteers and donors join the staff to provide support with time and money . Volunteer-led classes and support groups augment those offered by a staff of professionals dedicated to achieving its vision of a world without Alzheimer ’ s and all other dementia .
Gene Wilder ’ s wife Karen , and Ed Cox at the Alzheimer ’ s Association ’ s Imagination Ball . Wilder received the Association ’ s first annual Hope Award .
When Covid-19 changed the way most of the world lived and worked starting in 2020 , Alzheimer ’ s Association in-person classes and support groups shifted to webinars and virtual meetings . The 24 / 7
20 GBSAN . COM | JULY 2022