Alzheimer’s disease affects the lives of more than 5 million Americans and it is the nation’s fifth leading cause of death among adults age 65 or older. September is World Alzheimer’s Month and September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. Treat these observances as opportunities to educate your community about this disease and how your agency can help.
- Mental engagement can help keep aging minds sharp and stave off mental decline. Distribute puzzle books personalized with your agency’s name and contact information to visitors of your local senior centers. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/puzzlebook.php.
- Place informative brochures about Alzheimer’s disease and how your agency can help in the waiting rooms of your community’s geriatricians. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/disease-information-brochures.php.
- Demonstrate to referral sources that your services include a concrete plan to help their patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Patient education guides not only empower patients and their families to take an active role in the patient’s care, but help improve compliance and outcomes. Get the patient education guide for Alzheimer’s disease at www.tagwebstore.com/patient-education-guides.php.
National Women’s Health and Fitness Day is right around the corner (always held on the last Wednesday in September), and it’s a great time to highlight women’s health issues while calling attention to your agency’s efforts and services.
- Volunteer your agency to participate in a community event organized in celebration of the day. Have free blood pressure screenings and a variety of personalized rack cards for visitors to pick up. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/rack-cards.php.
- Host a ladies’ day at a local senior center or assisted living facility. This can include an event such as a craft project (decorating plain cards with embellishments and stamps is a fun one) and an educational class on an issue such as diet and nutrition or senior exercise. Find ready-made classes at www.tagwebstore.com/healthmatters-education-series.php.
- Partner with your local parks department and host a seniors walk or tai chi orientation class at a local park. Remind attendees about the importance of good hydration and distribute water bottles personalized with your agency’s logo and contact information. Get them at http://theadamgrp.espwebsite.com/.
September is Healthy Aging Month, which presents an incredible opportunity to connect with seniors in your community and promote ways you can help them age more healthfully at home.
- Host a Healthy Aging Month open house. Have many agency representatives available to speak about the different aspects of home care and describe the services available to your community’s residents. Emphasize the ways your agency promotes independence and healthy aging, and be sure to distribute plenty of FAQ brochures and personalized disease information brochures. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/faq-brochures.php and www.tagwebstore.com/disease-information-brochures.php.
- Participate in community health fairs this month and have a nurse available to field questions at a special ask-a-nurse table. Have tons of agency collateral available and distribute pocket-sized hand sanitizer spray personalized with your agency’s name and logo. Get it at www.tagwebstore.com/mistagerm.php.
- One of the most important things an older adult can do to continue living independently is take precautions to prevent falls. Host a free educational class on fall prevention at a local house of worship. Distribute agency brochures at the event and promote your agency’s free fall prevention in-home assessments. Find a ready-made class at www.tagwebstore.com/healthmatters-education-series.php.