November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness and National Long-Term Care Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is a time to learn more about and openly discuss Alzheimer’s disease and show support for the more than 6.2 million Americans living with it. National Long-Term Care Awareness Month spreads the word about nursing home abuse and neglect so residents of long-term care facilities stay safe. It also encourages adults to put a care plan in place for their future.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking and language skills, and the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is also the most common cause of dementia. Dementia itself is not a disease, but a term used to describe symptoms such as loss of memory, loss of judgment and other intellectual functions.
Long-Term Care Awareness Month was started in November 2001 to raise awareness about planning for elder care before it’s needed. It is an opportunity to check in with loved ones who live in nursing homes and ensure the care plans in place are effective. And it is a great reminder to make a plan that can save you and your loved ones from unnecessary stress as you age.
As an organization committed to helping protect you, your assets, and your family from the high costs of aging, we fully support both of these initiatives. Putting a plan in place before Alzheimer’s sets in or long-term care is needed is key. For decades, we’ve seen what happens when seniors don’t account for the high costs of aging. The wealth they’ve worked so hard to accumulate over a lifetime can all but vanish due to long-term care expenses. If you have questions, give us a call. We’re here to give you peace of mind.