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Alzheimer's
and related dementias....
According to The Alzheimer's Association:
Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimer's have risen 66% while deaths from other major diseases have dropped.
Alzheimer's and dementia care will cost the United States $200 billion in 2012.
Currently, Alzheimer's cannot be prevented, cured or slowed.
Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death. |
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Some startling statistics:
*13% of people 65 and older have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.
Estimated number:
In 2012 - 5.2 million
In 2025 - 6.7 million
In 2050 - 1 to 16 billion
*45% of people age 85 and older have Alzheimer's or some form of dementia.
*1 in 7 with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia live alone.
*50% do not have an identifiable caregiver.
*80% of care provided at home is by family caregivers |
| The picture is not as bleak as it may appear and there is a lot that can be done. There are numerous causes of dementia that are treatable. The prognosis and symptoms are highly variable and improvement can be as simple as changing medications. Over the past few years physicians have started to recognize this and we get more calls from potential clients saying that a person has dementia but not Alzheimer's.
Join us for our FREE Alzheimer's support group detailed below.
Alzheimer's Often Strains Family Dynamics
Adapted from the article by Dr. Amy D'Aprix
Dementia can test the unity of even the most cohesive families. It is very stressful because of the behavioral changes associated with the disease. Those who have dementia are so often behaving in ways unfamiliar and unpleasant and, in some instances, inappropriate. Seniors may linger with the disease for years. The daughter of former President Ronald Reagan - in a book about her father - called it the long goodbye. In addition to these behavioral changes, families are dealing with emotional issues. Regular communication - whether it's by email or phone - is the single biggest key to helping families cope with Alzheimer's disease. |
| The following, based on my experiences working with older adults and their family caregivers, are tips to help families stick together through the ups and downs of Alzheimer's disease:
1. Get an accurate diagnosis: Make sure there is an accurate diagnosis so a family knows what it is dealing with, and what to expect.
2. Communicate regularly: Keeping family members updated and informed of all changes in a loved one's condition can help alleviate confusion and hard feelings.
3. Confer with professionals: A family meeting with a professional may be needed to ensure that everyone shares the same information and gets the resources they need. The main caregivers sometimes unwittingly become the keeper of the information because they are the ones dealing with the situation.
4. Learn skills and techniques: The behavioral changes that come with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias can be difficult to manage. The resources of the Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias CARE program can help.
5. Ask for help if you're the primary caregiver: Perhaps you're the only one of your siblings in town with a parent. Or maybe you're the oldest daughter and the one expected to care for everyone. Maybe you're a spouse. Whatever the circumstance, caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias shouldn't try to go it alone.
6. Tune in to the main caregiver's needs: If you're not the main family caregiver, be attentive to the one who is. Otherwise, resentment can fester. Look at what needs to be done and how the primary caregiver can get respite.
7. Consider the family legacy: What will the family dynamic be after your senior loved one is gone? What do you want the legacy of this caregiving experience to be? What kind of relationships do you want with your siblings? Make sure the stress of caregiving doesn't damage your relationships with extended family loved ones.
8. Tap into resources: Families can't have too much information when it comes to trying to manage the potential behavioral changes of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. The Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias CARE program provides family caregivers with a ground breaking free training program that can help.
For more information about the Family Caregiver Training go to
www.HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com |
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Dr. Amy D'Aprix is an expert in aging, retirement and caregiving who lives in Canada and works throughout North America. She served on the expert panel that developed content for the Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging through Research and Education Training Program for the Home Instead Senior Care network.
FREE
Alzheimer's Support Group
If you are a husband, wife, son or daughter, or any one that is a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer's (all stages) or other dementias, then this is the support group for you. |
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We are currently enrolling family caregivers for a support group that will meet the second Tuesday evening of every month at our Northborough office location beginning in September 2012 from 6pm - 8pm.
The support group will be facilitated and conducted by Home Instead's CAREGiver Training and Retention Supervisor, Felica Cardone, an Alzheimer's Association Certified Support Group Leader.
Felicia has unique personal experience with Alzheimer's. As her mother's caregiver for over 13 years, she has experienced the disease through all of its phases.
Felicia will be able to help attendees with the emotional aspects of caregiving and living with someone who has Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Discussions will be facilitated and guided towards understanding individual situations and creating solutions to the many different needs of the group. It will be a place to share your feelings, hear from others in similar situations and get help solving mutual problems.
Light refreshments will be served. You must register to attend.
If you are interested in attending please call 508-393-8338 and ask for Felicia or email Felicia at felicia.cardone@homeinstead.com.
The group will consist of a maximum of six people.
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The Alzheimer's Association is almost entirely privately funded. Awareness is our hope. Join us in the movement to end Alzheimer's disease!
September 30, 2012
at
The Worcester County Walk To End Alzheimer's
Quinsigamond Community College
Worcester, MA
10:30am
Unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions. Join our team for the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's™, the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer's disease. Together, we can advance research to treat and prevent Alzheimer's, and provide programs to improve the lives of millions of affected Americans.
TO DONATE or JOIN OUR TEAM for the WALK CLICK HERE
All team members will be provided a team t-shirt for the day of The Walk! If you have signed up to walk with our team, please email Wendy Nollman at wendy.nollman@homeinstead.com with your t-shirt size.
For more information about this and other senior issues related to health and well being please visit our website:
www.hearthside-homeinstead.com
Home Instead Senior Care:
Trusted Care for the Senior You Care For |
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July 2012
Accredited by
the Home Care Alliance of
Massachusetts |
We regularly post relevant information to help you and your senior loved ones navigate the aging process.
Ask questions and comment about what you would like to read.
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What's the right thing
to do for Mom and Dad
as they get older?
Learn how to:
*Form an early and strong partnership with your parents and siblings
*Strategize on connecting with doctors and other care providers
*Navigate medical crisis
*Create a committed advocacy team
*Reach out with greater empathy and awarenes
*Face the end-of-life time with confidence and skill
"My Mother,
Your Mother"
by
Dr. Dennis McCullough
www.amazon.com
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 Home Instead Senior Care is the preferred home care provider for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Wellness programs. Call 1-888-377-4446 to find out about the discount we offer plan members.
Home Instead Senior Care serves the Greater Worcester County and MetroWest areas
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 Our Home Instead Senior Care Office Locations:
386 W. Main Street, Suite 14
Northborough, MA 01532
508-393-8338
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209 W. Central Street, Suite 216
Natick, MA 01760
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Family Caregiver Support Webinar Series for Professionals
Home Instead has teamed up with the American Society on Aging to present a series of 12 FREE monthly web seminars that address pertinent caregiving issues. The webinar series features a variety of topics that will help you help family caregivers navigate the many issues that will arise while caring for an older adult.
Each 1 hour webinar is 1 CEU credit.
Pre-registration is required to attend the live webinars but they are also available online for 60 days afterwards to take at your convenience.
Click Here to Sign up |
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New!
Caregiver Support Group
Starting in September 2012,
Home Instead Senior Care will be running a caregiver support group for anyone who is caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
The support group will be limited to 6 people and will meet the second Tuesday evening of every month from 6pm - 8pm in the Training Room at our Northborough location.
Discussions will be facilitated and guided towards understanding individual situations and creating solutions to the many different needs of the group. Light refreshments will be served.
You must register to attend. To register please email Felicia Cardone at:
1-888-377-4446 Support Group Leader Felicia Cardone: Felicia Cardone is an Alzheimer's Association certified Support Group Leader who has unique personal experience with Alzheimer's and other dementias. As her mother's caregiver for over 13 years, Felicia experienced the disease through all of its phases. Felicia has been with Home Instead Senior Care since 2001 and is the CAREGiver Training and Retention Supervisor (among her many other responsibilities) for Home Instead Senior Care in the Northborough and Natick offices. |
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| | Owner, Laurie Bender |
Home Instead
Senior Care
In Your Community
Owner, Laurie Bender, frequently speaks at public forums addressing senior health
issues such as Frailty,Seasonal
Affective Disorder and Alzheimer's,
concerns you have about family
dynamics, your role and your parents' role
as they age as well as presenting the
startling facts about the Home Care
Industry and what you really need to know
to be safe and protected.
As a public service, Laurie is available for
talks and presentations in your area,gratis.
Please call 508-393-8338 if you are
interested in having Laurie speak at your
event or group.
Read more about Laurie |
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