Alzheimer's Association®

Jessica Lewandowski, a citizen of Cherokee Nation, is a patient experience manager for the Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) and is on our HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples Leadership Committee. Her grandfather-in-law lived with Alzheimer’s, which had a great impact on her family. Through CNHS’s partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Jessica provides resources and guidance for Cherokee people living with the disease and their families. Help us thank Jessica and CNHS for helping us advance health equity! Learn more about our DEI national partnerships at bit.ly/4cZvHC4. 💜 #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. Join us in honoring the dedication of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers by sharing a personal tribute message. alz.org/honor

“I'm thankful for Craig, because since the very beginning of this he has never made me feel like this is not what he signed up for. He has been all in every step of the way.” Dona Denham first started noticing cognitive changes in 2019, including short-term memory problems and nighttime hallucinations. She sought medical help to determine the cause of these troubling symptoms. Initially, several of the physicians she saw dismissed her concerns or offered a diagnosis that would prove incorrect, including attention deficit disorder. Dona then visited a well-respected Memory Center about 90 minutes from her home, and after extensive testing, she received a Lewy Body dementia diagnosis. Dona’s husband Craig serves as her care partner and has stood by her side throughout her dementia journey, supporting her advocacy as a member of our Early-Stage Advisory Group. Join Donna in thanking a caregiver in your life by visiting alz.org/nadam.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can feel overwhelming, and it can be hard for caregivers to find the time to check items off their to-do list. You can help by tackling that list for them. Get more ways to support a caregiver at alz.org/honor. #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth

Dr. Neil Henderson, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, lost his grandmother to dementia. As a teenager, he worked in a nursing home as a certified nursing assistant. During that time, he saw individuals living with various types of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Since his college years, he has worked to better understand the causes of cognitive impairment and how we can best respond to the challenges it poses for those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. In recent years, he has worked to share knowledge with tribal members on ways to recognize and respond to the signs of dementia. Dr. Henderson says, “Indigenous people are more at risk of dementia and deserve to be well prepared so that caregiving and risk reduction can be optimized for the benefit of all involved.” He has worked to adapt public health programs to recognize the strengths of Indigenous communities and make more culturally centered resources available to American Indian and Alaska Native people living with dementia and their caregivers. Dr. Henderson serves on our HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Peoples Leadership Committee and helped launch the HBI Road Map for Indian Country, which acts as a guide for American Indian and Alaska Native leaders to learn about dementia and start discussions throughout their communities. Learn more at bit.ly/4feUrHY. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

When you donate to the Alzheimer’s Association today, your gift can be doubled in impact during our matching gift challenge! 🎁 Make a donation today while it can go 2X as far ➡️ https://bit.ly/3YTgRbk.

Join us and our national partner the Indian Health Service on Nov. 20 at 3pm CT for a free webinar to learn about the progress being made to address Alzheimer’s and other dementia in tribal communities. Register today at bit.ly/4ffhwe0. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #ENDALZ

Tamra Borchardt-Slayton, a citizen of the Paiute Indian Tribe, helped care for her grandparent who lived with the disease. She shares that “caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is an immense responsibility.” While Tamra recognizes the progression of the disease is undeniably heartbreaking, she also believes that it is in some ways rewarding, giving caregivers the opportunity to spend meaningful time with someone they deeply love and care for. For her, being able to provide direct care to her grandparent, supported by her family, was deeply fulfilling. Now, Tamra volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. As a volunteer, Tamra works to support advancements in research, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. By hosting events and partnering with the Alzheimer's Association, she is able to bring greater visibility to the disease and provide vital resources to her tribal community. Tamra wants “caregivers to know that in the most challenging moments, you are not alone - there are others who deeply understand and empathize with the challenges you face.” We are so grateful to Tamra and all those working to strengthen the health of their communities and to fight Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Take her lead and volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association: alz.org/volunteer. 💜 #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

On #WorldKindnessDay we want to extend a special THANK YOU to all of those who kindly dedicate their time and energy to moving the fight to #ENDALZ forward. 💜

No one should face Alzheimer's alone. Help empower a caregiver in your life. Learn about care and support resources available to all families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia at alz.org/care. #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth