‘Senior Selfie Month’ raises funds for Alzheimer’s disease research
Millennials may take a lot of selfies, but since July is Senior Selfie Month, this is a time to capture their smile for loved ones and raise money to research Alzheimer’s disease.
Throughout July, seniors can take part in the Senior Selfie Challenge by snapping a selfie and raising money for the fight against Alzheimer’s. For every Senior Selfie posted to SYNERGY HomeCare’s Facebook page, the in-home care franchise organization will donate $5 to the National Alzheimer’s Association. Seniors are encouraged to use the (hashtags) #SeniorSelfie and #EndAlz when posting.
If a senior does not have access to Facebook, family members are encouraged to help them take a selfie and post on their behalf. Family and friends can be in the picture with the senior, too.
A Senior Selfie party is being scheduled in Philadelphia for local seniors to help them get involved and to teach them the trendy technique.
SYNERGY HomeCare began the fundraiser three years ago and this is the first year that it has been declared as a month celebration. All 150 SYNERGY HomeCare locations across the country are participating in the Senior Selfie to raise money to assist the Alzheimer’s Association. Among the SYNERGY HomeCare locations, there is one in Broomall in Delaware County, Lansdale in Montgomery County and SYNERGY HomeCare of Chester Springs in Chester County.
Senior Selfie Month was created to help seniors learn how to connect with their loved ones through social media and by using technology. But it’s also a time when seniors can give back by simply smiling for a selfie.
There is significance to raising money by smiling. In the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people lose the ability to smile. SYNERGY HomeCare wants to save their smiles and their memories by raising awareness and money for continued research into this growing epidemic.
The mission of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide, and fund research for better treatment and a cure, according to its website.
More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds. Alzheimer’s disease is the nation’s sixthleading cause of death.
More than 16 million people provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks, the Alzheimer’s Association website states.
There are some rules involved in the photo taking and posting in order to raise funds. Selfies must be of a senior and do not need to be a client of SYNERGY HomeCare. All Senior Selfies must be shared with the National SYNERGY HomeCare Facebook page with the (hashtags) #SeniorSelfie and #EndAlz.
Cara Stein, with SYNERGY HomeCare, said their focus is on helping to capture as many smiling seniors as possible, with a goal to raise money and awareness to help end Al
zheimer’s. She added that because the seniors did not have this technology when they were younger, this is a fun way to help them stay connected with their friends and family. She explained that because people use cell phones and social media to stay in touch with each other, she said by learning how to take a selfie and posting it online, that it shows them that they can use the technology for the same purposes.
Stein added that this activity also raises awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and helps raise funds for research. There is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, treatments for symptoms are available. Treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
AFA has a National Memory Screening Program which provides, free, confidential memory screenings at sites across the country. Additionally, AFA operates a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484), staffed by licensed social workers to provide support and assistance to callers, and to connect them with resources in their area, according to its website.