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World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month – Why It Matters and How You Can Help
September 10, 2021

OCC: Rooted In Dementia Care

A symbol of strength and resistance, the mighty oak tree grows upwards of 100 feet tall, cascading into the sky and expanding its branches to provide fields of shade and comfort for everything living beneath it.

At Oakwood Creative Care, our roots are planted firmly and deeply into the soil of our surrounding communities…like that of the sturdy oak tree. We’ve existed as a nonprofit organization for over 45 years, dedicated to providing a unique day club experience for seniors living with Alzheimer’s Disease and various other age-related challenges.

Oakwood Creative Care

Growing Higher Standards In Alzheimer’s Care For Arizona Seniors

As an establishment specifically crafted to provide a fun and engaging, yet safe and supportive environment to aging adults, our clubs were designed to honor the personhood of our Members: breaking the mold of standard practices. We provide a unique paradigm of thinking – one specifically designed to encompass the individualized thumbprint presented by each of our day club’s Members.
Our deep-seated understanding of the vast importance of offering a holistic approach centered around the entire person, comes from a resounding call to action left behind by an immensely underfunded healthcare system. Presently, over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, a disease whose diagnosis occurs rapidly every 67 seconds.

The city of Mesa, Arizona, alone, is poised to have the fastest growth rate of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia in the United States by 2025. Alzheimer’s presents as the most common type of dementia, as well as one of the costliest conditions to provide for, given its progressive nature and long-term effects.

The city of Mesa, Arizona, alone, is poised to have the fastest growth rate of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia in the United States by 2025.

A Desperate Need For Help

Currently, only 2% of philanthropic dollars are directed to elderly care. Of the remaining unpaid care costs, it is estimated that family members and care partners for seniors living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias provide nearly $257 billion to receive the services needed to care for their loved ones.

In addition to this astronomical financial toll, the total national cost of care is projected to reach $355 billion by the end of 2021 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021).

With numbers this high, families are often encouraged to place their loved ones in a facility with minimal support, information, training, or hope.

With numbers this high, families are often encouraged to place their loved ones in a facility with minimal support, information, training, or hope.

 

The Oakwood Approach

Although Alzheimer’s presents with a number of mountains to climb, at Oakwood Creative Care, we recognize an opportunity to not only revolutionize the standard methods of caring for Alzheimer’s Disease, but also unite its communities in engagement – centered around living a life full of purpose, far beyond diagnosis.
With sights set on raising the bar for senior care, our model is continually committed to rolling out classes and programs specifically designed to reflect the strengths and interests of our Members. Oakwood Creative Care’s curriculum encourages independence, self-esteem, improved communication, creativity, lifelong learning, and overall quality of life. All while simultaneously reducing the risk of hospitalization and prolonging institutionalization.
Within the walls of Oakwood Creative Care exists a wide range of intellectual, creative, wellness, and expressive experiences. We offer classes based in storytelling, culture, history, wood working, mixed media arts, music, dance, Zumba, and poetry (just to name a few).

In addition to our integrative dynamic of classes, we embody a safe place and support system for care partners and families. Our deepened understanding of the emotional, physical, and financial stress that often comes with caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s guides us to seek opportunities to connect with care partners in a way that ensures them that this road need not be walked alone.

September Is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month:
How You Can Help

The month of September is painted as “World Alzheimer’s Awareness month”, and we at Oakwood Creative Care look forward to continuing down the path of enriching lives and sparking moments of joy amongst our communities. A journey that, in retrospect, also relies on the generous support of its communities. Our mission to provide care and hope to Oakwood Creative Care’s elderly members and their families is made possible through donations, sponsorships, and volunteers.
This support enables us to provide 2,700 hours of scholarships, 24 support group sessions for families, 1,584 one-on-one counseling, support, and education with Oakwood Creative Care’s dementia experts, and 12 community training and education workshops.

As a part of this deeply rooted community, you have the opportunity to help discover the difference a day can make by joining in Oakwood Creative Care’s mission to revolutionize the way Alzheimer’s Disease is cared for, as well as how partners are supported in their dedication to providing for their loved ones.
Click here to learn more about the several ways you can support Alzheimer’s Care in Arizona.

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Alzheimer’s Association. (2021). 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association. https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf

Welcome

We're a nonprofit organization based in Mesa, Arizona with three senior day club locations (and a fourth on the way) which serve older adults with Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, and various other physical or cognitive challenges. Life does not end with a diagnosis. Our members continue to learn new skills, enjoy new discoveries, make friends, laugh, and live a joy-filled life. Our team of dementia experts lead support groups, events, classes, and private sessions with caregivers and families, guiding them on the best methods to care for their loved ones while also caring for themselves.

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