World Alzheimer’s Day is September 21st — where as a global collective, we raise awareness to Alzheimer’s and other variations of dementia. For families dealing with the effects of this disease, shining a light on this topic and bringing overall awareness to Alzheimer’s and its effect on an individual and their families garners support, attention, and careful consideration to the reality of experiences and testimonies.

In Black and Hispanic communities, Alzheimer’s can be seen as taboo, be medically misdiagnosed, or even just blatantly ignored. Stepping up and advocating for a family member may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Starting that conversation is hard — knowing and trying to understand these changes under a fresh lens can be quite frustrating. Change, especially a loved one, can drastically affect those who are there to support them. 

Getting proper help, guidance, and support during this time of transition is essential for the wellbeing of everyone involved in this process. Navigating the journey through Alzheimer’s should never feel foreign and isolating to patients and their beloved caregivers. To culturally connect to a community, educate and prepare, and navigate health equity through articles, infographics, references, and courses of action for patient care already does so much for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s. 

TalkAboutAlz.org is an all-in-one resource filled with courses of action, information about clinical trials, caregiver’s guides, and community support, specifically for Black/African American and Hispanic communities. Taking into account the different levels of treatment, misdiagnosis, racial disparity, cultural perspective, and overall social stigma, this guided website helps alleviate the pressure of the lack of knowledge and information one may have about Alzheimer’s. Along with these guided resources, TalkAboutAlz.org offers a safe, community space to hear others’ stories and even share your own unique experiences under the Alzheimer’s Patient Network. Here, you can find culturally-rooted support, understanding, and most importantly, advocacy.