Anyone who has provided care for a forgetful person has truly lived the longest day. Most caregivers don’t even realize they are caregivers until they have been caregivers for a long time.
Anyone who has provided care for a forgetful person has truly lived the longest day. Most caregivers don’t even realize they are caregivers until they have been caregivers for a long time.
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter stated and has been quoted worldwide, “You have either been a caregiver, you are a caregiver, you will be a caregiver or someone will care for you.”
The Alzheimer’s Association acknowledges and honors caregivers in June, which has the longest day, the first day of summer. Association branches nationwide are hosting Longest Day Events. Many organizations such as bike, bridge, chess, running and sewing clubs, and dance, music, soccer and Zumba groups participate in the Longest Day by hosting an event in June and donating the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Longest Day Event also helps increase the public awareness of dementia.
One special event will require some dance moves. Andrea Gill of the Hilo Hep Cats introduced the Dance-abration that made its debut in June 2015. Gill is organizing a second Dance-abration on June 18 at the Hilo Elks Club. All dancers and nondancers are invited to come and register the day of the event or preregister online at http://act.alz.org/site/TR/LongestDay/TheLongestDay?team_id=324413&pg=team&fr_id=8480.
For more information, call Chris Ridley, Hawaii Island Alzheimer’s Association program specialist, at 443-7360.