14 Best Alzheimer's Videos of 2012 (Part 1 of 3)

The follow information was provided by Healthline:

See the truth about Alzheimer’s disease—a heartbreaking condition—firsthand through these incredible and poignant videos.

Losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s can be the cruelest sort of goodbye. Drawing out the pain of loss over many years, this frightening condition can rob families of the ability to connect and cope.

This collection of videos portrays the often sad yet inspiring tales of everyday families taking on the challenge of Alzheimer’s. The number of individuals faced with this diagnosis continues to grow, and these clips offer a glimmer of heartfelt insight into the experiences many millions of people will soon face.

When the Mind Says Goodbye
Marco Cuevas has a remarkable appreciation for the love between his parents. He has woven a stunning tale of affection, commitment, and grace in this touching portrait of his mother’s final years.

Let this dedicated son take you on a wonderful journey through the romantic past of his parents’ love story. Find out the true meaning of marriage vows, and see in this family the bond that connects the very lucky among us; experience the many blessings this lovely video has to offer. You won’t be sorry.


An Urgent Epidemic
Most educational videos are dry and spiritless. Not so with this creative, compassionate clip on Alzheimer’s disease. Written by David Shenk and distributed as a freebie “pocket” film to promote awareness and advocacy for Alzheimer’s disease, this simple but effective video reminds viewers of this condition’s impact.

By addressing this illness from a societal perspective, the clip offers viewers the chance to understand and appreciate the nature of Alzheimer’s—and its potential to change their own lives in many ways. This is a brief and meaningful informational tool that really connects.


My Sweetheart and Me: an Alzheimer’s Story
Despite the nightly focus on destruction and crime, the news occasionally captures a story worth remembering: a love story. This touching piece follows a loving couple through the wife’s slow decline from Alzheimer’s.

From singing a strong duet to shuffling in silence, the change in loved ones over the course of this illness can break even the hardest hearts. Follow the tale of love and dedication in this stirring news clip on the sweetest of sweethearts.


My Mother and Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is truly a worldwide phenomenon, and Ans Tummer’s story of her mother’s illness is proof of that fact. Listen as Ans, a board member of the Netherlands’ affiliate of theAlzheimer’s Disease Research program of the American Health Assistance Foundation, tells the sad but sweet story of her mother.

Everyone affected by a loved one’s Alzheimer’s can relate to the tragedy of lost relationships, talents, and traits. Ans shares a classic but unique tale, offering viewers an inspiring glimpse into the misfortune behind her personal motivation to end Alzheimer’s.


Remember When: Alzheimer’s Story
The startling recognition of Alzheimer’s disease in a loved one is perhaps never so upsetting as when it occurs decades before such a diagnosis may be expected. Early onset Alzheimer’s has been diagnosed in individuals as young as 29, and this poignant clip covers the emotion and pain entangled in such a difficult experience.

Follow this young couple in a touching reenactment of the heartbreaking but precious time spent post-diagnosis. This brief but noteworthy video brings a wonderful credibility and consequence to Ramsjet Films.

Stay Active - Mentally and Physically

I wanted to send out another shout out to all the continued support we've been getting from individuals and businesses throughout the golf industry and beyond.  It really is amazing to see communities pull together in support of charities like Cure Alzheimer's Fund.  We're very happy with the progress we've made over the past few weeks and are even more excited for what the future holds.

This past week I attended the 'Roadmap to Therapies' live conference put on by Cure Alzheimer's Fund where several keynote speakers discussed the focus and progress of their Alzheimer's research.  I personally found it very informative and encouraging to hear this information first hand from the experts.  It further reinforced the notion that Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that needs to be stopped.  As such, I'm even more ambitious to continue our DriveHard fundraising project to help raise awareness and funds for this cause.

One of the more basic topics that was covered in the conference was the importance of maintaining a healthy and active mental and physical lifestyle.  The benefits of doing this are countless especially as our bodies and mind start to age.  Staying mentally active with things like crossword puzzles, card games, chess etc, will provide your mind with the stimulation that it requires.  And physical health is equally as important as body and mind continue to work hand in hand.  This again can be simple activities like stretching, going for a walk or even playing a round of golf.

Golf is an amazing way to accomplish both mental and physical requirements.  Walking the course can be a good source for getting outside and getting some exerciser.  And the challenges on your mental capacity don't need to be explained to anyone who's played the game.  

World Alzheimer's Day - September 21, 2012

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day; a date set aside by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994 to bring attention to a devastating disease that has affected the entire world and has become a major global health issue.

The theme of this year's World Alzheimer's Day 2012 is 'Dementia: Living Together'. The focus will be on reducing the stigma associated with dementia and encouraging a better understanding of dementia in our communities. Misconceptions are common, greater education and positive messages are hugely important. We need a World Alzheimer's Day partly because attitudes and approaches still vary enormously, often to the detriment of those afflicted. This day is intended to sensitize the general public to the facts associated with the disease.

Awareness about this degenerative and irreversible disorder is very important. By helping people better understand the disease, the symptoms, and the extent to which the disease can progress, we not only help the patients, we help the family members and caregivers better cope with the ordeal of watching their loved ones slip into dementia.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and although a great deal of excellent research continues to advance our knowledge of the disease, Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and it cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Today there are over 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, and a new case emerges every 68 seconds. Because the population of the U.S. is aging, the number of people with Alzheimer's will continue to rise unless something can be done to stem the disease. At current rates, experts believe that as many as 16 million Americans will have the disease by the year 2050.

Staying Safe: Wandering and The Alzheimer's Patient

One of the most dangerous symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease is the life threatening behavior of wandering or elopement. An Alzheimer's patient who wanders away can easily become lost and confused and every minute delayed in recovering them increases the risk of a tragic outcome. It is imperative that caregivers take steps to minimize the potential of wandering and in the event their loved one goes missing have a plan or program in place to quickly locate them.

Governments should "spend now to save later" because early diagnosis, safety, and security steps could yield huge savings.

World Alzheimer's day tells the caregivers of Alzheimer's patients that they are not alone and it helps in educating the general public about this devastating disease. Awareness will one day lead to effective treatments and eventually a cure. Until then our mission, at Project Lifesaver, will remain protecting the at risk populations and improving the quality of life for their caregivers by delivering the tools and training to public safety agencies that are responding to individuals with cognitive disorders that elope.

To contact Gene Saunders, CEO/ Founder Project Lifesaver International or for more information visit us at: http://www.projectlifesaver.org/ 1-877-580-LIFE (5433)

SOURCE Project Lifesaver International