As most people who follow this blog will know it is now World Alzheimer's Month 2017 #WAM2017. Each September we make our efforts more focused than usual on raising awareness and supporting people with dementia and their families, and many organisations are hosting activities that you can get involved with.
Many of DAI's members would prefer it was called World Dementia Month, as for those who do not have Alzheimer's Disease, it can feel exclusive rather than inclusive of everyone with a diagnosis of dementia.
World Alzheimer's Month was launched by ADI in September 2012. The decision to introduce the full month, to contain the existing World Alzheimer's Day which is September 21, was made to enable national and local Alzheimer associations worldwide to extend the reach of their awareness programmes over a longer period of time.
For the last three years, DAI published a blog for every day of the month, but decided not to this year, as some people felt overwhelmd from receiving too many emails. Instead we are more focused behind the scenes on working towards intiatives that will last longer than a month, including human rights activities and fundraising so that we can continue to do our work.
Currently, our work is at the global, national and grass roots level, and where possible, and we aim to support local groups of people with dementia and their families who are workign in their local communities. At the grass roots level, our online peer-to-oeer support groups, cafes and "A Meeting Of The Minds" Webinars continue to be well attended.
As mentioned in last weeks blog, we are co-hosting our first live event which is also being run as an online Webinar. Register here for "Voices of Dementia". We only have a few spaces left if you wish to attend in person.