Cure Alzheimer's Fund

I am hoping for a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Or at least preventative measures that could really make a big impact.  I donated part of my Prudential Spirit of Community National Honoree Award money to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.

Here are some facts:

They support breakthroughs in the field like the Alzheimer's Genome Project 

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• Cure Alzheimer's Fund - Hailey Richman
• All donations go directly to fund research leading to a cure
• They encourage scientists to pursue unusual ideas and take bold risks
• They are funding some of the world's leading researcher

Disparities in The Alzheimer's Community Social Justice Within the Alzheimer's Community: Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey

I was fortunate to hear Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey speak at the National Alzheimer's Conference in 2018. He is a Senior Advisor and National LGBT Liason Multicultural Leadership Community State and National Affairs. 

His message really touched me and I realized the importance and significance of reaching many communities within the Alzheimer's Community. He speaks about the difficulties that the LGBT community faces with caregiving. 

Elderly LGBT members who are in need of caregiving or who are caregivers are overwhelmed. They need resources. Elderly LGBT members are less likely to be married or have children. They desperately need resources. And youth members who are part of the LBGT community are also burdened with caregiving.

 Kid Caregivers is advocating for resources and young caregivers who need us. We are getting puzzles out specifically to communities in need of Alzheimer's puzzles. We will have upcoming zoom sessions for members of that community. Stay tuned for a Zoom code.

Kid Caregivers Donates 1000 Puzzles to ARTIS Senior Living for COVID-19 Relief

 

We have exciting news! The ThredUp Store (www.thredup.com) had a wonderful campaign. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when several states had a "shelter in place", ThredUp had an amazing incentive. During the shelter in place, many people turned to jigsaw puzzle-solving as a relaxing pastime. When they were finished with all of their puzzles, they wanted to donate them. ThredUp the world's largest consignment online thrift store, had a wonderful offer. The plan was for every puzzle donated to their store, they would donate a meal to Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org). Thousands of generous donors sent in their puzzles and they amassed 12,000 puzzles! They closed the initiative in May. ThredUP needs their warehouse space. Their warehouse has 12,000 puzzles in need of a home! That part is where Kid Caregivers comes to the rescue! If you know of an organization on the East Coast that is willing to take a bulk order of 1000 puzzles in which to distribute them to nursing homes, memory care facilities, etc, please reach out to us! We are working with middle and high school students who will distribute the puzzles with us and receive volunteer service credit. We also have OUTDOOR Puzzle Time! Using COVID-19 precautions our volunteers can STILL participate in our Intergenerational Puzzle Time Program. Student volunteers wear masks and follow safety guidelines.  Read the story herehttps://people.com/home/this-mail-in-puzzle-swap-program-lets-you-buy-sell-puzzles-for-only-5-with-1-to-charity/

ThredUp Consignment Company donates 12,000 Puzzles To Kid Caregivers for COVID-19 Relief

We have exciting news! The ThredUp Store (www.thredup.com) had a wonderful campaign. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when several states had a "shelter in place", ThredUp had an amazing incentive. During the shelter in place, many people turned to jigsaw puzzle-solving as a relaxing pastime. When they were finished with all of their puzzles, they wanted to donate them. ThredUp the world's largest consignment online thrift store, had a wonderful offer. The plan was for every puzzle donated to their store, they would donate a meal to Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org). Thousands of generous donors sent in their puzzles and they amassed 12,000 puzzles! They closed the initiative in May. ThredUP needs their warehouse space. Their warehouse has 12,000 puzzles in need of a home! That part is where PuzzlesToRemember comes to the rescue! If you know of an organization on the East Coast that is willing to take a bulk order of 1000 puzzles in which to distribute them to nursing homes, memory care facilites, etc, please reach out to us! We are working with middle and high school students who will distribute the puzzles with us and receive volunteer service credit. Read the story herehttps://people.com/home/this-mail-in-puzzle-swap-program-lets-you-buy-sell-puzzles-for-only-5-with-1-to-charity/

Music and Memory and the iPod Shuffle

There is a lot of scientific evidence that music is good for the brain. The is a lot of research that shows music can spark memories.  People living with Alzheimer's disease have lots of older memories. Many of the older memories are of songs they listened to/or played when they were young.  I am planning to collect used iPod Shuffles, and create a playlist of 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's music.

1) Buy headphones
2) Download music onto an iPod Shuffle (it helps if you know the music that your family member enjoys)
3) Listen to the music TOGETHER
4) Dance or just move your arms, but keep time to the music!

I Lost My Best Friend

 On April 14, 2020, my mom received the worst phone call of her life. The doctor called to tell her that Grandma died.

 I am still in shock. We all are heartbroken. The likely cause was COVID-19. Grandma is now a statistic along with 800,000 other Americans who were lost to this horrible virus.  

Grandma was 96 years old. I never got a chance to say "good bye". It was really hard! Due to COVID-19 lockdowns I could no longer visit my sweet grandma. 

She never understood why I "abandoned her. I tried very hard to be cheerful for the Zoom sessions with her. This is the last picture of us together. I am not the only kid who lost a family member. 

I will always love my grandma, and will continue to provide a shoulder to lean on, tips, and support to other caregiving youth. I know it is what grandma would have wanted. I know she is proud of me.