The June holidays are upon us; a time when the little ones are released from their academic endeavors and their devoted parents from tutoring and schooling duties. Term breaks are essential blocks of rest and relaxation, allowing little minds to be refreshed and to discover a new zest for the rest of the year ahead.

For persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias, there are no breaks from the condition. Every day is a ceaseless struggle to cling on to whatever threads of memory and structure that still remain in their lives.

June is also Alzheimer’s And Brain Awareness Month in the US, a time when celebrities, caregivers, and people who care deck themselves in purple–the colour of the Alzheimer’s movement there–and get involved with supporting the fight against the disease and spreading the word. With over 47 million people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias worldwide, awareness is key. As Eckhart Tolle once said, “awareness is the greatest agent for change”. The more people know about dementia and its effect on the ones we love, the more we are better able to inspire the actions that can create the change we want to see. Perhaps this is a challenge then, for us to spread awareness of dementia, so that we can better cope with the challenges dementia brings.

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