June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and to recognize it, we wanted to share our good friend Richard’s story.
You may remember Richard from our 2020 Holiday Campaign, where he shared some of the struggles he’d been working through, two of which were a recent dementia diagnosis and seizures.
Like many of the people DASCH supports, Richard also has Down syndrome. It’s been found that people living with Down syndrome have an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s estimated that 50% or more of people with Down syndrome will develop dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease as they age.
When you met Richard in 2020, he had difficulty adjusting to life with dementia and navigating his daily routines.
Now, two years later, Richard is doing much better!
Richard has moved into a new home supported by DASCH, where he is able to be better supported for his specific needs, and we are happy to report he has been settling in wonderfully.
The direct support professionals at his new home share that he’s getting along with his new housemates and has become excellent friends with one of his roommates, Jeff. They’ve bonded over their mutual love of sports TV!
Richard gets along great with his support staff and enjoys participating in what they’re doing in the kitchen and around the house. He’s known to serenade them with a song too!
The staff and families of DASCH have been making sure Richard still gets together with his former housemates and good friends. Their most recent get-together was when they came over to help celebrate Richard’s 50th birthday!
Richard continues to face challenges in life, but thanks to his DASCH support network of family, friends, roommates, staff, and donors, he’s still living life to the fullest.