Washington, DC –The ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s Network, a diverse, multi-faith, national network of clergy working to focus our nation’s attention on Alzheimer’s disease, is calling on religious leaders and clergy to mark World Alzheimer’s Day in their congregations’ sermons and addresses during the weekend of September 19-21, 2014.
September is globally designated as World Alzheimer’s Month – an international campaign to raise dementia awareness and challenge the stigma so often associated with Alzheimer’s – and Sunday, September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day.
“We are appealing to you as a religious and community leader to mark World Alzheimer’s Day in your congregations’ sermons and addresses during the weekend of September 19-21,” said the founders of ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s in a letter to Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Muslim, Methodist and Episcopal religious leaders. “This will send a powerful message of love and support to those in your faith community who are living with dementia, and their families.”
The letter, dated September 12, continues, “The mission of ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s is to promote dignity, compassionate care and quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and to provide support for families and caregivers, as we work for a treatment or cure. It is our hope that clergy of all faiths will help us realize this vision.
“There are over 44 million people worldwide estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We believe strongly that Alzheimer’s disease presents a moral imperative at a scale commensurate to the great and growing threat it presents to our nation and the world. We are harnessing the powerful and ardent voices of men and women of faith to call for urgent action to advance the goals of better care, as well as improved treatment, prevention and ultimately a cure. Faith organizations can help to disseminate the vital message that accessing a timely diagnosis and medical and social support can help people live well with this disease. Through better awareness we can help the millions living with dementia, a disease which knows no social, economic or geographic boundaries – a truly silent epidemic.
“We believe you are in a unique position to improve awareness in your community. As such, we humbly request that you support this year’s World Alzheimer’s Day by issuing a message encouraging your community to learn about dementia and to show compassionate support to those living with the disease.”
Other groups, including Alzheimer’s Disease International, are making a similar call to religious leaders.
ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s is a Network of USAgainstAlzheimer’s, an engaged and enraged community of individuals who have been personally touched by Alzheimer’s disease and are united by frustration at a status quo system that is moving too slowly and with no sense of urgency. Co-founded and chaired by George and Trish Vradenburg, USAgainstAlzheimer’s is dedicated to mobilizing individuals to express the passion of American families and demand the commitment needed from our political, business and civic leaders to achieve the goal of ending Alzheimer’s by 2020.
ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s more than 115 founding members represent a wide spectrum of faith traditions from across the country, including Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Muslim, Methodist and Episcopal among others. As leaders of congregations and faith communities, founders are at the forefront of pastoral care for those with Alzheimer’s, eldercare issues, hospice care and the dementia friendly communities movement – all with a focus on the broader subject of spirituality and aging. Many ClergyAgainstAlzheimer’s founders are also educators, authors and recognized public speakers. A list of the founding members can be found here.
The group will publish a first-of-its-kind interfaith book of meditations for caregivers this fall titled, “Seasons of Caring: Meditations for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers.” The volume will address the unique challenges faced by Alzheimer’s caregivers and send a strong message about the breadth of faith leaders who are united in the struggle against Alzheimer’s. The book will have original selections by clergy from all faiths, offering hope, encouragement, empathy and understanding.
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