By John Schaffner
Dist. 9 Atlanta City Councilwoman Felicia Moore, who represents the western portion of Buckhead, and the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will turn Atlanta City Hall purple to promote National Alzheimer’s Awareness and Caregiver Appreciation Month.
Purple lights will surround City Hall in downtown every night during the week of Nov. 23-29 to honor caregivers and to bring awareness to the disease.
Moore, who lost her father a few months ago to the disease, was instrumental in helping create Mattie’s Call, a statewide missing persons alert system for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or disabled adults who wander from home or care facilities.
“I know from personal experience that care giving offers many challenges,” said Moore. “Care givers give their time and energy to people who are being devastated by Alzheimer’s. They deserve to be recognized and we should do everything we can to bring awareness to the disease.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 200,000 Georgians have Alzheimer’s and approximately 350,000 Georgians are caretakers for those with the disease.