Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As we begin 2017, we look back on all that has happened during the past year and look forward to all that is to come in the next. We have had the great pleasure to serve those with dementia and their families and look forward to a day when our services are no longer needed. Until that day, we are here for you. We hope to see you at upcoming events and programs the Association holds during the next year. Have a wonderful 2017!

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Man finds joy during his first Christmas living with Alzheimer’s disease

Man finds joy during his first Christmas living with Alzheimer’s disease

Jeff Borghoff, a member of the Alzheimer’s Association 2016 National Early-Stage Advisory Group, experienced his first Christmas since receiving his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. While he previously found joy during the season in festive decorations, music, meals and parties, he says spending time with his family, making new memories and remembering past holidays are the activities that now bring him the most contentment.

The holidays have long been known as the season of joy, but how do you truly define joy? As someone living with Alzheimer’s disease and approaching my first Christmas since receiving the diagnosis, I’m beginning to define joy differently than I have in previous years.

While I previously found joy during the holidays in festive decorations, music, meals and parties, I’ve come to realize these are fleeting. This year, spending time with my family, making new memories and remembering past holidays are the activities that bring me the most contentment.

In fact, joy has become less of a feeling and more of an action for me. I actively rejoice for the blessings I have in my family and friends. I show joy through acts of love and have let go of the small stresses that would’ve stolen my happiness during previous holidays.

Some will read this and wonder how I could possibly rejoice given the circumstances of my disease and its prognosis. Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease that has no cure. It worsens over time – slowly causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior, and it will eventually rob me of my ability to respond to the world around me. The disease will ultimately take my life, typically in eight years from now.

It’s not easy to cope with the reality of Alzheimer’s, but my faith has helped me rejoice this holiday season. Alzheimer’s is part of me now, but it does not define who I am. Alzheimer’s may have changed my brain’s biology, my personality and my expressions, but I tell my family that the essence of who I am in my heart remains the same.

Further, Alzheimer’s disease has added greater purpose to my life. For example, I put my joy into action by joining an advisory group of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s through the Alzheimer’s Association. Working with this group to raise awareness, reduce stigma and help others living with this disease has provided a great sense of resolve and happiness in every season since my diagnosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to never deny the disease. While it can be painful to accept, it’s important to know that you are not alone – help and support services are available through the Alzheimer’s Association.

Until there is a cure, I am determined to continue living my life with Alzheimer’s to the fullest and helping others experience joy as we navigate the challenges and changes brought about by this disease. As I look toward my first Christmas with Alzheimer’s, relishing in the love of my family, my faith and kindness from others are the pillars of my season of joy.

May you, too, find joy in every circumstance.

About the Author: Jeff Borghoff is raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association 2016 National Early-Stage Advisory Group (ESAG).

Limited-time chance to DOUBLE your support – Alzheimer’s disease

Limited-time chance to DOUBLE your support – Alzheimer’s disease

I’m excited to share another incredible opportunity when you can double your support in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease before the year comes to a close.
An anonymous donor who previously supported the Alzheimer’s Association has generously pledged to match every donation we receive by December 31 up to a total of $200,000. That means you can provide twice the funding to enhance care and support services and advance innovative research with the potential to discover methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
During these final days of 2016, your gift of $35 can become $70, $60 can become $120 or $120 can become $240.
We only have three days to meet this goal and take advantage of this extraordinary challenge, so please show your support with a tax-deductible gift right away. Together, we can get one step closer to realizing our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

Help double our efforts in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Help double our efforts in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

I’m thrilled to announce another very special online-only giving opportunity — today, you can have twice the impact in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Association supporter Tim Haynes has generously stepped forward with a $15,000 year-end matching gift challenge. That means if you give right now, your gift can go twice as far.
If we can raise $15,000 by December 31, Tim will donate that same amount to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his father, Jim, who died with Alzheimer’s. Your year-end donation of $35 can become $70, $60 can become $120, or your generous $120 can become $240.
Tim is very close with his family, but it wasn’t until he moved his aging parents into his own home that he realized the extent of his father’s mental decline.
“Some days he was very confused about where he was, and other days he was crystal clear,” recalls Tim. “At the time of his diagnosis, I found out about the Alzheimer’s Association. I did a lot of online research — you try to convince yourself it’s something else, something treatable. But he continued his slow decline.
“He was a very humble man,” says Tim. “And I think it’s an honorable thing to do, to make this matching gift in his memory. I think he would be very pleased.”
Tim invites you to join his commitment to the cause by making a tax-deductible gift today. Any amount you donate will support our mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Please give today.

Join a special family and pay it forward this holiday season. – Alzheimer’s disease

Join a special family and pay it forward this holiday season. – Alzheimer’s disease

Your donation today can help us reach our goal.

Celebrate the spirit of the holidays with a gift that can go twice as far today.
$35 ? $70
$60 ? $120
$120 ? $240
DONATE NOW
Thanks to generous supporters like you, we just met our $10,000 matching gift challenge. Thank you for helping us advance cutting-edge research and provide critical resources for people impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Today, I have another inspiring opportunity for you to make twice the impact in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease — can we count on you to help us take advantage of it?
Thanks to the generosity of the Pao family, every gift we receive before December 31 — up to a total of $20,000 — can be worth twice as much in our efforts to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease. This is the fourth year in a row that the Pao family has sponsored a matching gift challenge in honor of their father, Yunni, and his fight against Alzheimer’s. Their wish is to give families in their local area the same care and support resources that helped them. I hope you’ll show as much commitment to our cause as they have by making your most generous donation today.
When you give before the end of the year, your gift of $35 can become $70, your $60 can become $120 or your $120 can become $240.
The Pao family’s gift will help provide care and support to people affected by this cruel disease and their families through their local Alzheimer’s Association chapter. They invite you to join them by making a tax-deductible gift of your own that can fund much-needed care and support services as well as research efforts with the potential to discover methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
I hope the Pao family inspires you to keep the generous spirit of the holidays alive with a gift today. Your contribution before December 31 can provide twice as much help and hope for the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and their over 15 million caregivers — so please give generously.