Okay, so I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but surely you're already thinking about Christmas shopping. I know I am. And what better place to do your shopping than at a store that also does something good.
Alzheimer's disease affects about 14.4 million people worldwide, 5 million in America. Most of these are over the age of 65, but it can strike much younger people as well. As our population continues to age, it will affect more and more Americans directly. It's a terrible disease. At its onset, patients simply find themselves less energetic and it's typically undiagnosed. As it progresses, the short-term memory loss and spatial confusion are often the first noticeable symptoms. Eventually, sufferers lose all independence, needing help even with tasks such as eating, walking and going to the bathroom. It's a terrible progression that ends in death. There is no conclusive pre-mortem test for Alzheimer's.
November is Alzheimer's Awareness month, while next week, November 13, is National Memory Screening Day. Thus, it's a good time to think about Alzheimer's. While it's important to search for a cure, what's immediately vital is to ensure quality of care for those who suffer from it today. The Alzheimer's Foundation eStore raises money to support the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. If you are looking for a holiday gift that also benefit a worthy cause, it makes a good place to start. All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Foundation.
The Foundation is working to ensure quality care for those who suffer from this terrible affliction. (Among the items it offers on its store is a DVD provides instructions and guidance for families who must care for a family member with Alzheimer's.) Furthermore, it has a fairly low overhead, so that most of the money it raises goes to its mission--according to the 2005 annual report, only 13 percent of its total revenues supported fundraising and administrative expenses.
So, again, if you are looking for a place to do your holiday shopping that also supports a worthy cause, be sure to look into the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's eStore. Or, you can contribute directly to the Foundation to benefit Alzheimer's
This has been a sponsored post:
NOTE: This post was composed for research purposes for an article for Wired magazine.
