Millions of people around the world have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. From aging spouses to caregiving children, Alzheimer’s is often labeled as a “family disease,” meaning the progression and chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. By 2050, the Alzheimer’s Association predicts that more than 12.7 million adults aged 65 years or older will have Alzheimer’s, and more than 11 million Americans will be providing some form of care to their loved ones. While these numbers might seem staggering, we look to World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month as a much-needed reminder that, even when the odds seem stacked against us, there is still hope to be found beyond an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Oakwood Uses Creativity To Inspire Hope Beyond Diagnosis

For us, every day is an opportunity to highlight the beautiful lives each of our members have lived. Our members are mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and friends. They have pursued remarkable careers, made their marks within their communities, and left behind inspiring legacies that deserve the greatest of celebrations. In our Day Clubs, we find that our members can reflect upon their lives and recall memories with the most significant impact when they are given the tools to be creative. By empowering their creativity, we see our members with Alzheimer’s find a new platform to amplify their voices and share stories of their own.

Research tells us that individuals can still communicate through the creative center of their brains, even when they are no longer verbal. In fact, some skills can be reignited the moment a person with dementia is placed in front of the muse of their choice. Even if it seems unfamiliar to them at first, there is something magical about watching someone pick up right where they left off once their heart recognizes something memorable within the setting, even if for only a moment.