Alzheimer's Association, Washington State Chapter

Every step counts. 👟💜 Be part of something bigger at this year’s . Together, we’re walking toward a future without Alzheimer’s. 🌼 Register for the Silverdale Walk happening TOMORROW: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2024/WA-WashingtonState?fr_id=18006&pg=entry

💜💜 Double your impact with Walk to End Alzheimer's! Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce that a generous and anonymous donor has pledged an incredible $20,000 donation to the Walk to End Alzheimer's—and they’re challenging YOU to help us make an even bigger impact! Every dollar you donate or raise For Walk to End Alzheimer's events in Washington, North Idaho, and Alaska from 9/16-9/20 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by this $20,000 gift, doubling the power of your contribution. 💜💜

This matching opportunity means that your donation will go twice as far in supporting critical Alzheimer's research, funding essential care programs, and raising awareness to bring us closer to a cure. Whether you give $25 or $100, your generosity will be matched dollar-for-dollar, helping us unlock the full potential of this amazing gift. Together, we can step up and make a difference for the millions affected by Alzheimer's disease.

Don’t miss this chance to amplify your impact—donate today and take advantage of this generous match to help create a world without Alzheimer’s!

*Matching donations will not appear on individual or team walk pages.*

Last weekend’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s events in Olympia and Moses Lake were amazing! 💜👟

Thank you to everyone who walked, cheered, and showed up in style to help make a difference. 🌟

Couldn’t make it to one of these walks? Don’t worry, the fun’s not over yet! You can still join us at an upcoming Walk near you!

💪 Let’s keep the momentum going—find your walk and help us take strides towards a world without Alzheimer’s. 🧠💜

•••••••••

Find your local walk at alzwa.org/walk

UPCOMING WALKS❗️

🗓️ September 21
📍Silverdale

🗓️ September 28
📍 Wenatchee
📍 Seattle
📍 Coeur D’Alene (ID)

🗓️ October 5
📍 Spokane
📍 Tacoma
📍 Everett
📍 Sequim
📍 Yakima

🗓️ October 19
📍Tri-Cities
📍Lewiston (ID)

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is making its movie debut! 🎬 💜 On World Alzheimer’s Day, Sept. 21, Hallmark Channel will premiere “Falling Together,” starring Celebrity Champion Ashley Williams.

The film showcases Walk to End Alzheimer’s in the storyline, illustrating that communities must step up to fight this disease together. Follow Ashley’s inspiring lead. Register today for Walk to End Alzheimer’s: alz.org/walk.

Moments of hope and community captured at one of our first Walk to End Alzheimer’s events of the season in Longview! In the serene beauty of Lake Sacajawea Park, we came together to raise awareness and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s. Together, we’re making strides towards a brighter future and a world without Alzheimer’s. 💜

••••••

Join us TOMORROW for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in

📍 Olympia

📍 Moses Lake

Learn more and register at alzwa.org/walk 👟💜

••••••

Many thanks to Sean Burnstead and Burnstead Construction for their generous $10,000 gift to the Seattle Walk to End Alzheimer's on September 28. Their team is walking in honor of Fred Burnstead, the founder of Burnstead Contruction.

Mark your calendars 📅 for Hallmark Channel’s “Falling Together,” premiering on World Alzheimer’s Day, Sept. 21! The film stars longtime Celebrity Champion Ashley Williams and includes Walk to End Alzheimer’s in the storyline.

Ashley says the film is her “love letter to the Alzheimer’s Association.” Take Ashley’s lead and register for Walk at alz.org/walk.

As a teenager, Samantha Strazanac would tell her grandmother, “you’re so weird,” to which she would reply “I know, and I want to be weird. Normal is boring. Don’t be normal - be weird.” Her grandmother, Eduly Ross, was more affectionately known as Vóduly, a combination of avó, which is Brazilian Portuguese for grandmother, and her first name. At the age of 78, Vóduly was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Despite living in Brazil, Vóduly was a very involved grandmother, often visiting in North Carolina and attending family beach trips. “She always loved using her hands and was an incredible seamstress. She took my college t-shirts and sewed two queen-sized blankets from them.” After her diagnosis, Vóduly was the same weird, loving, adventurous and social self that her 13 grandchildren had known her to be. “I remember Vóduly’s ever-flawless painted nails, her signature heels, and the infectious enthusiasm with which she embraced all life’s chapters.”

Vóduly lost her life to Alzheimer’s at age 88. Her legacy lives on through the lessons she taught and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met. Samantha honors her grandmother by participating in Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “My heart will forever be heavy, but it is also full – brimming with the love she gave me, the lessons she taught, and the unending belief that to be different is to be extraordinary,” said Samantha. Join Samantha in participating in Walk to End Alzheimer’s at alz.org/Walk.

In a recent set of interviews on the Answers for Elders Podcast, Alzheimer's Association Board Chair, Kay Lehmann, shares information about the Alzheimer's Association, The Walk to End Alzheimer's, optimism for the future, and more!

Watch the first episode of the series here:

Walk to End Alzheimer's: Introduction ✅Walk to End Alzheimer's: Introduction🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡💠The Walk to End Alzheimer's in September a...

Read a heartfelt story of love, loss, and the fight against Alzheimer’s. 💜

In our latest blog, Cheri shares her and her husband's powerful journey and why she walks to honor her husband and support the search for a cure. Every step in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s brings us closer to a future without this disease. Read more in our latest blog: https://alzwa.wpcomstaging.com/2024/09/04/why-i-walk-love-loss-and-the-fight-against-alzheimers/

Find your local Walk at alzwa.org/walk.

We're changing the way we navigate Alzheimer's, as a community 💜🧭

"Starting this summer Medicare patients in Washington and three other states with parts A and B can talk to a dementia expert for regular video or phone chats at no cost. The consults are designed to include family caregivers, often spouses or adult children," states a new article in the The Spokesman-Review, "At any dementia stage, Rippl Dementia Care provides a care navigator who teams with a social worker and nurse practitioner to respond to issues ranging from medication changes to aggressive or confused behaviors."

We are thrilled about this new partnership and the support it will offer to caregivers in our communities. Read more about this new program in the latest article from The Spokesman-Review:

Pilot launches dementia navigator service for Medicare A and B patients in Washington In Washington and three other states since July 1, Medicare patients with both parts A and B can talk to a dementia expert for regular video or phone chats at no cost. It includes family caregivers, often spouses or adult children of Alzheimer's patients, under a partnership of the Alzheimer's Assoc...

During the long weekend, and always, know we’re here for you if you need us. Call our free 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's season is kicking off in just one week! 📅

We're thrilled to start this journey in Longview and Burlington. Whether you're walking in honor of a loved one, to support a friend, or to help end Alzheimer's for good, your steps make a difference. Lace-up your shoes, gather your team, and let’s make every mile matter. Together, we can turn the tide against Alzheimer’s. See you at the starting line! 👟 💜

Still need to register? It's never too late! Visit alzwa.org/walk to find your local walk today 💻

Are you traveling over weekend? Here are a few tips to keep your loved one with dementia safe:

✅ Plan ahead
👀 Learn to recognize signs of anxiety and agitation and how to reduce them
🗺 Try not to overload the person with a lot of directions

For more tips visit https://bit.ly/3hXbeUp.

Join us on Thursday, Aug 29 at 8 a.m. PST for a free, live webinar on the importance of participating in clinical trials, why diversity is critical to dementia research, and what trial participation can mean for you or your loved one. Register at bit.ly/3SRsn4O. This webinar is supported by Procter & Gamble.

Our friends at Kin On are hosting a Seniors' Day to celebrate the Golden Age on Mid-Autumn Festival! Join us at this FREE family event on Saturday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Evangelical Chinese Church in Redmond! Learnmore at kinon.org/seniors-day.

Many thanks to Pip Pop Post and the Lucero Family for raising awarness about Alzheimer's disease and supporting Seattle's Walk to End Alzheimer's, September 28 at the Seattle Center.
https://bit.ly/46S0v6b

Pip Pop Post makes hypoallergenic jewelry for kids - New Day NW Co-owner Janelle Lucero talks about what inspired her and her sister-in-law to start selling earrings made specifically for sensitive skin.

An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming. The new Dementia Care Navigation Service, powered by Rippl and the Alzheimer’s Association, is here to help make the dementia care journey a little easier—guiding people and their caregivers, every step of the way. Learn more: ripplcare.com/alz.

From supporting ground-breaking research to enjoying a day outside with family and friends to support the cause, there are many reasons to join the Walk to End Alzheimer's! 👟 👏 Check out some of our favorite reasons to get involved in our latest blog: https://alzwa.wpcomstaging.com/2024/08/14/5-reasons-youll-want-to-join-the-walk-to-end-alzheimers/

Ready to make a difference? Find your local walk at alzwa.org/walk 💜

The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2024 in Philadelphia brought together leading minds to share the latest advancements in Alzheimer’s research. 🧠 🔬

From new blood tests that could revolutionize early diagnosis to insights on how wildfire smoke affects brain health, the discoveries made at this year’s conference are shaping the future of Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Let’s continue to drive progress toward a world without Alzheimer’s. 💜

Learn more about these findings in our latest blog 💻: https://alzwa.wpcomstaging.com/2024/08/11/the-latest-in-alzheimers-reserach-aaic-2024/

With a number of new developments in treatment over the past few years, come a number of new questions.

Curious to learn more about current FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer's? You can learn more about the current drug, how they work, and current clinical studies on our website: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/medications-for-memory

7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and more than 11 million provide their unpaid care. It's time to end this disease once and for all 💜 Register for your local Walk to End Alzheimer's to help us get one step closer to finding a cure: alzwa.org/walk.

We were lucky to meet Alan Jaffe when he became an office volunteer at our Lynnwood location, helping our staff and sharing his own experience with Alzheimer's to help fellow caregivers.

Alan was a caregiver for his wife, Gail, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In a recent article, Alan shares more about their journey with Alzheimer's and how shifting the way they communicated changed everything for the better and helped Gail regain some independence.

"I wasn't aware of the many mental steps she was going through to communicate what she had to do," says Alan.

Read more in the article from UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center

My Experience Caring for My Wife Gail and What I Learned About Communication and Alzheimer’s. - Memory and Brain Wellness Center I was the caregiver for my late wife Gail over the last five years of her life. I hope to share my experience with other caregivers and relate how changing my way of communicating helped us.

Exciting news! 💜💻

Our website now offers on-demand Alzheimer's education webinars! 💻 🧠 Whether you're a caregiver, family member, or healthcare professional, you can now access valuable insights and information anytime, anywhere. 💜

Let's empower ourselves with knowledge and make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer's. Check them out today at alzwa.org/education.

🐾 Bring your furry friends along! 🐾 The Walk to End Alzheimer's isn't just for people—it's a dog-friendly event! Whether they're helping raise awareness or just providing wagging tails and smiles, all pups are welcome to join in the fight against Alzheimer's. Let's make it a paw-some day for a great cause! 🧡🐶

As the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) comes to a close today in Philidelphia, we celebrate the amazing recent discoveries and advancements in research around brain health and Alzheimer's.🧠

"AAIC has been so inspiring, to see researchers and participants from all over the world come together for one cause. The focused energy, the deep knowledge, and the overwhelming hope for a dementia-free future is amazing!" says Alexis Bonoff, Region 1 Research Champion.

Catch up on all the breaking news Catch up on breaking news from , including new research on blood tests for detecting Alzheimer’s, wildfire smoke exposure & dementia risk, GLP-1 drug & brain protection, and processed red meat & dementia risk. Learn more at bit.ly/4d38GPC.

•••••••

Pictured from left to right: Nicholas Hart (Region 1 Research Champion), Alix Neva (Greater Idaho Chapter Executive Director), Tracy Morgan (Oregon and SW Washington Executive Director), Jim Wilgus (Pacific Northwest Regional Leader, Washington State and North Idaho Executive Director, and Alaska Chapter Executive Lead), and Alexis Bonoff (Region 1 Research Champion)