by Laine Himmelmann
Over 7 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease — and one in three seniors dies of Alzheimer’s or another dementia. The disease takes more lives than breast and prostate cancer combined.
Throughout September and October, Blue Shield of California joined the Alzheimer’s Association to participate in Walk to End Alzheimer’s events across the state, with dozens of employees walking in six different locations: San Diego, Redding, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, the San Fernando Valley and Long Beach.
Amanda Lasik, senior manager of corporate citizenship at Blue Shield of California, spoke on behalf of the nonprofit health plan at the Long Beach walk, where Blue Shield served as the presenting sponsor.
“This isn’t just a walk — it’s a powerful gathering of people who care deeply, who show up and who believe in a future without Alzheimer’s,” said Lasik. “At Blue Shield, we believe health is more than care — it’s compassion, community and commitment. We walk for the families navigating this disease, for the caregivers who give so much of themselves, for the doctors providing compassionate care who wish they could do more, for the researchers working tirelessly to change the course of Alzheimer’s — and for the more than 7 million Americans living with the disease today.”
Coming together to support older adults
At the Long Beach and San Fernando Valley walks, Blue Shield also teamed up with SilverSneakers, a fitness program for older adults, available at no additional cost to most Blue Shield of California Medicare members.
“Our collaboration with SilverSneakers provides our Medicare members with access to thousands of gyms nationwide, vibrant community centers, and engaging home and on-the-go workouts,” said Alex Uhm, vice president of Medicare at Blue Shield. “We believe in health care that goes beyond prescriptions and doctor visits. We’re committed to supporting older adults with tools, programs and collaborations that promote wellness and independence.”
In addition, each walk featured a Promise Garden, where participants held flowers in colors representing their personal connection to the cause: purple for those lost to Alzheimer’s, yellow for caregivers, blue for those living with the disease, orange for advocates and white for the hope of the first survivor — a symbol representing the intention for a cure and a future free from the disease.
Knowing the signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia
Blue Shield encourages everyone to learn the 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, which include memory loss that disrupts daily life, challenges in planning or solving problems, confusion with time or place, and changes in mood or personality. Recognizing these signs early can lead to timely diagnosis and access to care and support.
"This is a pivotal moment in the fight against Alzheimer’s. There are now treatments that can change the course of the disease,” said Sasha Spalding, senior director for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the California Southland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “We’re deeply grateful for Blue Shield of California’s support. Every step taken — whether by an individual, a team or a community — is a step toward breakthroughs in treatment and, ultimately, a world without Alzheimer’s or all other dementia.”
Walk to End Alzheimer’s events support care and services for those affected by the disease, advance critical research toward a cure, raise public awareness, and empower advocacy efforts to improve dementia care and funding. Walks take place in more than 600 communities worldwide.
Resources
- Tips for dealing with dementia
- For resources or to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, visit alz.org
- Find a Walk to End Alzheimer’s in your community
Medicare members:
- Wellvolution: An online digital platform with over 60 clinically designed programs to improve well-being, support weight loss, treat diabetes and more
- SilverSneakers: Check your eligibility
- Seniors’ health resources and programs and benefits, available at no cost to eligible Medicare members
Read more about Blue Shield of California’s corporate citizenship efforts at citizenship.blueshieldca.com.
