Alzheimer’s Association’s R.I. chapter honored
PROVIDENCE — November is recognized as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month (NADAM) and National Family Caregivers Month. President Bill Clinton named the week of Thanksgiving as a time to honor caregivers in 1997, and that has since expanded to National Family Caregivers Month. November is also National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month (NADAM). Signed into proclamation by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, NADAM remains a great opportunity to raise public concern of the disease and is a good time for seniors and their caregivers to learn about the condition. Whether you have the diagnosis, know or take care of someone who suffers from the disease, understanding Alzheimer's and other related dementias is critical to maintaining your health or that of your loved one.
To kick off the awareness month, The Family Caregiver Alliance of Rhode Island hosted its sixth annual award ceremony at the Statehouse on Nov. 2. The award ceremony is held to honor a sampling of exceptional Rhode Island caregivers and recognize an organization that excels in providing support to caregivers with the Langevin Award. The Family Caregiver Alliance of Rhode Island is a volunteer organization made up of caregivers and agencies that provide them with support and services. The Alliance is a separate entity of its own, but affiliated and supported by the United Way of Rhode Island.
The Langevin award was first given to, and named after, Congressman James Langevin in 2013. The congressman is one of two prime sponsors of Lifespan Respite federal legislation. As a result of his work, many states, including Rhode Island, have been awarded federal funds to help develop, strengthen and coordinate respite care and other caregiver support services. Each year, The Family Caregiver Alliance of Rhode Island presents the Langevin Award to an individual or organization that has helped to further Rhode Island’s network of support for family caregivers. This year, the Alzheimer’s Association, Rhode Island Chapter was honored to be recipients of the Langevin Award.
The Rhode Island Chapter is committed to helping caregivers navigate the various challenges of caring for someone living with Alzheimer's and other related dementias, and recognizes the importance of managing caregiving stress, balancing caregiving responsibilities, and taking care of the caregiver. The Alzheimer’s Association provides services and resources to include confidential support, information, and referrals to local resources via its 24/7 Helpline, care consultation, caregiver support groups, education programs for families, and online information and tools for all those who participate in providing care and making care-related decisions.