Alzheimer's Association
Technology

Alzheimer’s Association, Shutterfly Partner to Keep Memories Alive

The Alzheimer's Association's latest partnership aims to foster a creative, photographic aid for families coping with the disease.

This week, Shutterfly and the Alzheimer’s Association announced a partnership to create a photo resource as “reminiscence therapy” for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Shutterfly’s “Top Photo Tips for Families Facing Alzheimer’s Disease” provides families with ideas on how to use photographs to help create a memory book for loved ones living with the disease.

Families can go to the site, pick from four designs, upload photos, and create their photo books.

“Bringing families together through photos is at the core of what we do at Shutterfly, and we look forward to applying this expertise to help move forward the Alzheimer’s Association’s laudable commitment to eradicate this awful disease,” Shutterfly general manager Lara Hoyem said in a statement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia; in 2013, 5 million Americans were affected. There is no cure for the disease, which the CDC has projected will affect 14 million Americans by 2050.

Beth Kallmyer, vice president of constituent services at the Alzheimer’s Association, expects the photo-book program to help tremendously in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

“This Shutterfly partnership will help to both raise awareness about ways to connect with individuals living with Alzheimer’s while also supporting cutting-edge research and the families and caregivers grappling with the disease,” Kallmyer said in a statement.

Creating a Photographic Memory

The photo books are intended to counter the memory loss caused by the disease by turning relationships into physical objects that can be seen and held. The association and Shutterfly recommend placing photos in chronological order and then guiding the family member with Alzheimer’s to connect with his or her memories.

Shutterfly announced that for every book made through the program, one dollar will be donated to further Alzheimer’s care, research, and support.

This isn’t the first time Shutterfly has made a contribution to Alzheimer’s research. In 2014, the company partnered with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres to donate $10,000 to “Hilarity for Charity,” an organization started by actor and comedian Seth Rogen to fight the disease.

Eli Zimmerman

By Eli Zimmerman

Eli is studying Journalism at the University of Maryland. When not studying, he likes to relax with a nice book or a couple rounds at the local boxing gym. MORE

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