June 20 is the first day of summer and the day of the year with the most sunlight. But that’s not all. It is also a day when countless people around the world band together to fight back against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The Longest Day® is an event created by the Alzheimer’s Association® to recognize more than 6 million Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s disease. 

“Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States today,” says Reshma Nair, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover, a Memory Care Assisted Living community in Andover, MA. “There is currently no cure for the disease, which is why it’s time for us to take a stand and make a difference – to do our part to honor those living with the disease and to help raise awareness so that, someday, we can find a cure.”

Officially, The Longest Day helps raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association®. At its heart, though, it is an opportunity for supporters to come together and honor their loved ones. “Raising money is all well and good, and definitely helps move the needle of Alzheimer’s awareness,” Reshma says. “However, you don’t have to raise money to participate in The Longest Day. This can be an opportunity for you to spend time with your loved one, honoring the person they are and creating meaningful memories that will nurture them and you.”

Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures 

The Alzheimer’s Association® has some pretty staggering facts about Alzheimer’s disease. 

Worldwide, 50 million people are living with some form of dementia.

The annual global cost of dementia is $818 million in U.S. dollars.

The number of people living with at least one form of dementia is expected to reach 82 million individuals by 2030. 

Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. 

One in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

More than 11 million friends and family members provide care to an individual living with Alzheimer’s disease. 

In 2020, family caregivers to people with dementia provided an estimated 15.3 billion hours of unpaid care, which translates to a value of $256.7 billion.

In 2021, Alzheimer’s disease is expected to cost the United States $355 billion. By 2050, that cost is expected to exceed $1.1 trillion. 

How You Can Join the Fight on The Longest Day

If you’re interested in doing your part and participating in The Longest Day, here’s some good news – it’s incredibly easy to get started. The official Longest Day website provides a wide variety of ideas that you can choose from, or that can inspire you to think of something of your own. 

Begin by selecting an activity that you enjoy – it can be anything from card games to baking to sports to crafts and more. You may want to choose an activity that is meaningful to your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. The activity can be done at home or online, or you can gather a group of friends together if you wish. Here are some suggestions of things you can do:

Exercise: Choose something you enjoy, whether that’s hiking, biking, swimming or anything else that works up a sweat.

Sports: Bowing, basketball, hockey, badminton … anything that’s good, clean competition is great. 

Games: Board games, video games, card games – the sky’s the limit. 

Hobbies: Pick a hobby to raise money, whether that’s gardening, reading, baking, crafting or another favorite activity. 

Arts: Dance, sing, paint or sculpt your way to your fundraising goals. 

Parties: Who doesn’t love a party or event? Throw a cookout, a gala, host a lemonade stand or car wash – just grab some friends and organize a blowout to enjoy. 

Next, gather your team (or go at it alone) and register on the official Longest Day website. Then, it’s time to plan and ask for donations. Depending on what you’re hosting, you may want to ask for donations in exchange for a service, or charge an entry fee to a certain event or ask for donations for every mile you run/cookie you bake/et cetera. 

If planning something yourself doesn’t strike your fancy, that’s okay – there are still plenty of ways to join in on The Longest Day. You can join someone else’s team, whether that’s someone you know in person or a team you’ve found via The Longest Day’s search tool. You can also simply donate – you don’t have to start or attend an event to make a difference. Use the donate search tool to find an event to donate to, or simply donate the money directly to the Alzheimer’s Association®. 

But as we mentioned, fundraising is only part of the importance of The Longest Day. Raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are just as – or perhaps even more – important. Here are some great ways for you to help raise awareness about these forms of disease:

Wear purple. Purple is The Longest Day’s official color, and is an excellent way to show your support. If you’d like to order officially designed #ENDALZ merchandise, visit this link. 

Visit a loved one with dementia. If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of cognitive decline, visiting them is a wonderful way to let them know you care and that you’re there. 

Participate in a Local Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is a national event that takes place around The Longest Day and is designed to raise funds and awareness to #ENDALZ. You can locate a walk on the Walk homepage, or you can create a team of your own. 

“We hope that you will consider joining us on The Longest Day to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and take steps towards ending this disease for good,” says Reshma. “Until the day we can cure Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, we at Bridges by EPOCH at Andover will continue to provide caring, compassionate assistance and therapies to our residents. We will continue to build bridges across the gaps that memory loss has left and provide fulfilling, enjoyable and meaningful lifestyles for those who call us home and their loved ones.”

Exceptional Care. Engaging Lifestyle.

Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover provides specialized memory care in an assisted living environment that is comfortable, positive and welcoming. Built solely to care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover creates a wellness-focused, engaging lifestyle that respects individual preferences, focuses on residents’ abilities and creates meaning in daily life.

Dedicated Memory Care.

Through every stage of memory loss, residents and their families have complete peace of mind. Our compassionate dementia care and unique programs are tailored to meet the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of each resident wherever they are on their own journey, allowing them to age in place safely, comfortably and with dignity.

Supportive, Purpose-Built Design.

Featuring a stunning residential design, Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover is much more than a beautiful place to live; it’s a community where residents’ lives are enriched and families enjoy meaningful moments together. Our research-based design features soft colors and lighting, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life-enrichment stations that empower residents to explore their homes with confidence.

Bridges® by EPOCH is New England’s largest stand-alone memory care assisted living provider.

Contact us today to learn more.