World Alzheimer’s Month is the international campaign every September to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and to challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia. Two out of every three people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia in their countries. The impact of World Alzheimer’s Month is growing, but the stigmatization and misinformation that surrounds dementia remains a global problem that requires global action (WorldAlzheimersMonth.Org, 2017).
LGBT elders face added stigma when anticipating an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Many fear that in-home care providers may not be accepting of their relationships with loved ones, and that care providers and doctors may not understand their support networks and chosen caregivers. This fear and apprehension often makes care decisions more difficult. Instead of fearing and delaying diagnosis, planning ahead for quality care is even more crucial for this population (Adelman, 2016).
For more information, please visit the following links:
The World Alzheimer’s Month website provides a brief history of World Alzheimer’s Month, as well as access to materials to help raise awareness all over the world.
This brochure from Alzheimer’s Disease International emphasizes the need for early disease detection. Information is given about how to recognize symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, as well as resources that offer assistance to both individuals suffering from these diseases, and their caregivers.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides information specifically for LGBT caregivers concerning care for individuals with dementia. The link discusses the use of various legal documents concerning end-of-life care, as well as tips for accessing quality healthcare, finding support or disclosing sexuality to others.
This article titled “Overcoming Barriers to Care for LGBT Elders with Alzheimer’s” by Marcy Adelman addresses challenges faced specifically by LGBT elders when dealing with dementia. The source includes 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as ways in which healthcare can be improved to better serve the LGBT aging population.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides further information for anyone wanting to become involved as an advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, research and fundraising.