Show your love on The Longest Day – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers
The Longest Day is a team event to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Held annually on the summer solstice, the duration of this sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with the disease and their caregivers. In this article, we feature one of our Longest Day participants, Ernessa Moore.
Show your love on The Longest Day
Ernessa Moore is no stranger to strong women. Whether it was her mother or three older sisters, Ernessa was constantly surrounded by fiercely independent women who mentored her through life’s toughest challenges.
But then one day, Ernessa’s mother was diagnosed with dementia.
“I became her caregiver,” Ernessa said. “And I was her caregiver throughout the entire journey.”
In many of these cases, the child and parent roles are often reversed. The child claims all the parental responsibilities, ultimately shifting the family dynamics.
“Caring for someone with a terminal illness is very hard especially if you have no knowledge of the disease or experience as a caregiver,” Ernessa said. “There were many times when I didn’t even know where to turn.”
So Ernessa began doing her research.
“While caring for my mom, I became very interested in the what, when and why of Alzheimer’s disease. I started researching online and found the Alzheimer’s Association,” Ernessa said. “The Association absolutely changed my life for the better by providing resources to assist in understanding and caring for my mom, in addition to personally assisting me as a caregiver. I have also became a Alzheimer’s Association Community Representative.”
In addition to her involvement with the association, Ernessa also serves as a manager in the Disability branch of the federal government. She is also a licensed hairstylist, make-up artist and motivational speaker.
“I genuinely love caring for others and giving back to the community,” Ernessa said. “My sole purpose professionally is to serve and empower others.”
Keeping true to her volunteering stance, Ernessa started her participation in The Longest Day as a caregiver.
“I began participating while my mom was sick,” Ernessa said. “Every Longest Day, we would participate in a sunrise prayer-which is essentially a celebration of life. I thought it would be something worthwhile for my mom and me to do together.”
While The Longest Day has always been close to her heart, one year changed her motivation for participating forever.
“On June 21, 2015 on the Longest Day, two hours after the sunrise prayer, my mom lost her battle to dementia. It is a day I will never forget.”
Invoking her mother’s spirit, Ernessa’s began working on a proposal for The Longest Day, motivated by her treasured memories of her mother and desire to create an event she would have loved.
“I am currently planning sunrise prayer, yoga in the park, and bicycle riding. At the conclusion of the day (sunset) there will be a celebration of life,” Ernessa said. “At the celebration there will be food and live entertainment provided by a local blues band, my mom’s absolute favorite!”
Although Ernessa has already recruited a group for her Longest Day festivities, she always encourages others to join in, participate and spread awareness.
“We must promote the cause and distribute this information to the masses,” Ernessa said. “This disease affects the entire world. We must be educated and prepared to identify with the signs in an effort to understand, sustain and find a cure. We must continue to fight until there is a cure and this disease is eliminated.”
Join The Longest Day
Team up with the Alzheimer’s Association, select an activity you love, and plan your event on or around The Longest Day. Sign up today!