June 20, the longest day of the year, adds some extra time to an otherwise standard day. This year, we’re using that extra time to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association via an educational event hosted at each of their more than 170 communities.
As a Global Partner for The Longest Day, Senior Lifestyle will host a free, online educational event titled “Effective Communication Strategies,” in addition to raising funds toward a company-wide goal of $50,000 to support the efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. Through this event, participants will learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help connect and communicate with their loved ones at each stage of the disease.
Hollie Kemp, our Corporate Director of Resident Experience, said the partnership is a natural extension of Senior Lifestyle’s mission and values.
“We are committed to supporting those who live, support, care for, and walk alongside those on this journey. Like so many others around the country, our employees are personally impacted by this disease; we are sisters, brothers, daughters and sons of people battling Alzheimer’s,” Kemp said. “Our participation in The Longest Day is for our family, and Senior Lifestyle’s way of uniting to support the families around the nation so that no family is alone in their fight.”
Kemp added that this partnership is a way for us to actively provide support to the residents, families, employees and communities that call Senior Lifestyle home. Kemp’s passion for the project echoes that of the SL team members whose families face the daily battle against Alzheimer’s.
“Watching my Dad’s face when he was given the diagnosis of Early Stage Alzheimer’s was one of the hardest days of my life,” wrote an anonymous Senior Lifestyle team member. “From that day on, my commitment to the Alzheimer’s Association and to improving care and treatment for those living with this disease became more than a profession, it became my personal mission.”
The Longest Day event will occur at each of Senior Lifestyle’s communities accompanied by additional activities depending on the location. For more information and to find the location nearest you, visit http://alz.org/thelongestday and search for any of our communities.