Alzheimer’s—“A Fight To Remember”

By Bob Gregory

As an advocate for helping our elderly, I am introduced to many charities that provide funding to help fight diseases associated with aging.  There are quite a few diseases that affect the elderly such as Arthritis, Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, COPD, Depression, Parkinson’s and of course, Alzheimer’s. The treatment and eventual cure of all of these diseases mean a longer, healthier and happier life for our seniors.  It is important to support the charities dedicated to fighting these diseases as well as others I haven’t mentioned.  I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss a new charity that is just now joining the fight against Alzheimer’s and I was impressed with their approach.  It’s different than many charities that currently provide funds for support of caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s or pharmaceutical research to develop drugs to help with symptoms.  Instead, the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation is dedicated to funding the discovery of a cure—a bold a daunting task!  Here is their story:

“A Fight to Remember”

 Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 5 million Americans. Discovered over 100 years ago by Doctor Alois Alzheimer, it is a progressive neurological disease that causes memory loss, confusion, and a decline in functioning. While the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are age 65 and older, up to 5 percent of people with Alzheimer’s are in their 40’s and 50’s. Alzheimer’s can be a devastating disease both for the people who suffer from it, and for friends and family members who have to deal with the fact that their loved one no longer remembers them. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s…but thanks to organizations like Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, we’re getting closer.

Unlike other Alzheimer’s organizations that promote education and caregiver support, Alzheimer’s Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 that is dedicated to finding a cure for a disease that affects so many lives in so many different ways.

In the past, the majority of money spent on Alzheimer’s research went to fund pharmaceutical research that treated symptoms of the disease. While treating the symptoms and slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s are noble deeds, we here at Alzheimer’s Research Foundation work with motivated researchers whose progress can be measured in quantifiable terms because we truly believe that a cure is possible.  

Helping people with an urgent need often causes an organization’s funding that would otherwise go directly to research to be used for programs that help people who are in crisis right now, pushing a cure off further into the future. That is not the case with Alzheimer’s Research Foundation 501(c)3. We will not lose focus on finding the cure. We are the research people and our goal is simple, “we fund measurable projects that are focused on identifying a cure for Alzheimer’s disease”.

We would like to remind you that there are other organizations with similar names but we are the one and only Alzheimer’s Research Foundation 501(c)3, 100% focused on funding research for the cure of Alzheimer’s.

We seek to measure, to learn, and to improve at every step along the way.  We are disciplined, because we want to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts, and learn from the results of our partners and grantees.  The collection and analysis of data and experience are critical first steps toward informed action and decision making. But these alone are not sufficient for action. Measuring progress and impact is only useful if you’re willing to act on the results. Our philosophy and approach emphasize measurement for a specific purpose or action. We recognize that the most elegant evaluation is only meaningful if its findings are used to inform decisions and strengthen our work to improve people’s lives.

As we continue to strengthen the foundation’s approach to measurement and evaluation, we will share this evaluation policy with our grantees and partners in a spirit of transparency and partnership.

There are many charities supporting a healthier and happier life for our seniors but I am particularly excited about the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and their bold mission to find a cure for Alzheimer’s!  This disease is so prominent in today’s elder care that the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation has aligned itself with the Florida Assisted Living Association as one of its title sponsors.  All of us at Senior Facility Finder will also support and help in our way so look for special announcements on upcoming events through our social network!  Finally, if you can help Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, whether through donations or volunteer work, please do so and for more information, visit http://www.alzheimersresearchfoundation.com/.

If you would like a list Independent Living Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. 

           

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com