The summer solstice on June 20 marks the longest day of the year following the longest year of a lifetime for many. While all had our challenges, it was especially difficult for those caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s. Even in the best of times, Alzheimer’s care can be an extremely isolating experience, and each day can feel like an eternity. That’s why the Alzheimer’s Association uses The Longest Day as a metaphor to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and all those it affects both directly and indirectly.

The more everyday people understand the challenges of caregiving, the more acceptance and support will come from the broader community. While this is a great start, I also want to call attention to the fact that we can be doing more from a technology standpoint to make life better for those with Alzheimer’s or their caregivers. 

 If we could build care networks where individuals living all over the country and the world could increasingly take shifts and provide meaningful support for a loved one in need, it would be life-changing for caregivers. Just think about your own mobility and how liberating it is to see friends, go to restaurants and get back to normal after more than a year of restrictions. Caregivers certainly want to have some freedom to enjoy life as well.

With one in three people over age 85 affected with Alzheimer’s disease, this is not something we should put off. Let’s find more and more scalable ways to support those with Alzheimer’s.

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