About
Since its founding in 1980, the Alzheimer's Association has been the leader in making the fight against Alzheimer’s a national priority, a call that resonates during November, which is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
After designating a National Alzheimer’s Disease Week in 1982, President Ronald Reagan helped to launch a national campaign against Alzheimer’s disease in 1983, calling members of the Alzheimer's Association to the White House for the signing of a proclamation declaring National Alzheimer’s Disease Month.
Alzheimer’s Association founder Jerome Stone led a group of family caregivers, Association volunteers and staff in the effort to bring attention to the cause on Capitol Hill. That advocacyeffort continues even stronger today with Association public policy staff and volunteers leading the call for increased government funding for critical Alzheimer research and support programs.
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month
According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figuresreport, there are more than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and over 10 million family caregivers. This November, during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is providing insight and support to those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s with two new resources: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Notebook and Alzheimer's Association Comfort Zone™.
Caregiver Notebook Developed with input from caregivers, the Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Notebook is designed to be a resource for caregivers throughout every stage of the disease.
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Comfort ZoneAlzheimer's Association Comfort Zone™, powered by Omnilink, is a new Web-based GPS location management service that uses the Internet and a device to track the location of a person with dementia.
Facts you should know...
- Alzheimer's disease has jumped to the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Every 70 seconds someone develops Alzheimer's
- Unlike many other diseases, there is a 100% "no survival" rate
- 5.3 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease in the U.S.
- Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for more than 60% of all dementias
- African Americans are two times more likely to develop Alzheimer's
- 10.9 million unpaid caregivers
- 86% of caregivers are under the age of 64
- One in ten men is at risk of developing Alzheimer's
- One in six women is at risk of developing Alzheimers (Read about The Shriver™ Report:A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's - A study by Maria Shriver and the Alzheimer's Association)
- By mid-century, someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds
- Currently, the federal government invests - through the National Institutes of Health - only about $1.50 per American in Alzheimer research
- Alzheimer's disease threatens to bankrupt families, business and our health care system
- Alzheimer’s disease is our nation’s next major health epidemic
