Living on the Moon merges theater and education offering hope to individuals with mild to severe cognitive impairment and their family members. Why give in when you can fight back?
Leader
Molly McFadden .
Location
1855 Ansel Rd Cleveland, OH 44106-4107
Mission statement
We are 3 separate entities with a shared passion to improve the lives of individuals on the spectrum of cognitive decline, from the early stages of memory loss to severe cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s and other dementias), those at risk of dementia, caregivers, and anyone else impacted by dementia.
We engage people through humor and connection to a personal story to help audiences think about the impact cognitive impairment has in their own lives. We then capitalize on this conversation to share strategies for optimizing brain health and provide insight into how best to provide guidance to help access the resources in our community such as Cleveland Clinic for Brain Health and WeCare at Benjamin Rose for those living with and alongside the diagnosis.
Our goal is to reduce the stigma and fear surrounding cognitive impairment and dementia.
THE WHY
Our goal is to share the following message of hope to the audience. There are treatments available for different stages of cognitive impairment; the key is to get tested early on. Additionally, there are resources in the community to support patients and their caregivers and loved ones through the Cleveland Clinic Brain Health and WeCare at Benjamin Rose.
The steps
Why we’re doing it
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. Over 10% of adults 65 years and older have Alzheimer’s, a total of 6.7 million Americans, and this number is predicted to double by 2050.1 Alzheimer’s is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s or other dementias at this time.
The course of dementia can be a difficult journey, one that is physically and emotionally draining on patients, their caregivers, and loved ones. The disease course can also take a significant financial toll.
The good news is research has demonstrated that preventive measures can slow the progression of, and in some cases reverse, early stages of cognitive impairment.2-4
We have joined forces to get the message out to the public that regardless of where an individual is along the spectrum of cognitive decline, there are treatments and resources available to improve the journey for everyone involved. Why give in when you can fight back?
References
[1] Alzheimer’s Association.