FirstLight Home Care Joins the Alzheimer’s Association in The Longest Day 2019

June 21st: The day with the most light is the day we fight

CINCINNATI — On June 21, FirstLight® Home Care will raise funds and awareness to advance the Alzheimer’s Association’s care, support and research programs for The Longest Day®. The home care company has created a Global Team and invited its franchise locations across the country to join in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

“FirstLight Home Care is honored to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Rebecca Rushing BSN, RN, Director of Client Care Services for FirstLight. “Several of our employees have been affected by this devastating disease. We also take care of many clients and families who are living with Alzheimer’s. We recognize the importance of participating in activities such as The Longest Day that help bring the disease out of the shadows.”

The Longest Day is held on June 21 – the summer solstice and the day with the most light. Thousands of participants across the world will come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through an activity of their choice. FirstLight Home Care offices in the company’s more than 175 markets across the U.S. will participate in a variety of activities and events to shine a light on the 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and the more than 16 million family members and friends providing care and support.

FirstLight teams will raise funds through events and activities in their local markets, such as bake sales, chili cook-offs, health fairs and more. Some will also hold Ageless Grace fitness classes that are open to the public. Ageless Grace is a fitness and wellness program that seeks to improve health and well-being, reduce stress, keep the brain agile and keep the body responsive. The nominal class registration fee from each event will be donated to The Longest Day.

“We are thrilled to partner with Ageless Grace on The Longest Day,” added Rushing. “Last year, we began offering Ageless Grace training to our franchise owners and managers who, in turn, have trained their caregivers. The customized curriculum was developed by Denise Medved, founder and creator of Ageless Grace, specifically for FirstLight Home Care. The program has been wonderful for our clients who are experiencing cognitive decline.”

Key facts about Alzheimer’s include:

• Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
• More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.
• 16 million family and friends provide unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in the United States.
• Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.
• In 2018, more than 16 million caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias provided an estimated 18.5 billion hours of unpaid care, a contribution to the nation valued at nearly $234 billion.
• In 2019, Alzheimer’s disease will cost the United States $290 billion. This number is projected to rise to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050.

The FirstLight Home Office Headquarters in Cincinnati will be holding several fundraising events as well from June 21 through August all in support of The Longest Day. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.