Caregivers find support at Alzheimer?s info meeting

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Whether living with the disease, or simply caring for someone who is experiencing it first-hand, the ins and outs of life with Alzheimer?s Disease can be a lonely road to trod. With this in mind, the local Alzheimer?s Association of Greater Iowa chapter held a Caregiver College at Kimzey Funeral Home, on Tuesday evening, specifically directed at Alzheimer?s Disease.

?Alzheimer?s is something that changes a person?s entire life,? said presenter Michelle Kelman, senior program and events coordinator for the Alzheimer?s Association of Greater Iowa. ?It?s a difficult thing to go through, but it?s also a difficult thing to watch a loved one go through. So, having a support system is something we feel passionate about.?

As the nation?s sixth leading cause of death and one of the few causes of death in America that cannot be prevented or cured, Kelman says understanding the disease and how best to treat its symptoms are vital to the overall quality of life of the person living with the disease as well as those caring for that individual.

?People living with Alzheimer?s cannot control what the disease progressively does, and therefore, neither can those caring for them,? said Kelman. ?So, how to treat the symptoms as they come is very important.?

Alzheimer?s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, cognitive thinking and behavior. Symptoms typically develop gradually, differing with each individual, getting more advanced over time and interfering with normal, daily tasks.

Typically, the disease effects individuals 65 years of age and older, and statistically, almost two thirds of American?s with Alzheimer?s are women. Last year, approximately 63,000 Iowans were living with Alzheimer?s disease, and the disease was considered the sixth leading cause of death in the state.

?Iowa has the fifth highest Alzheimer?s death rate in America,? Kelman said. ?And roughly 13 percent of Iowa?s seniors are living with the disease right now. That?s pretty significant.?

With Iowa showing such a large number of citizens living with Alzheimer?s, Kelman says the effect of the disease is far spreading and multi-faceted. In fact, she suggests that the toll that caregiving has on those in a caregiver position for someone with Alzheimer?s is not something to ignore.

?Caregiving for someone with Alzheimer?s can be emotionally and physically a struggle, especially as the disease becomes more advanced,? said Kelman. ?That?s why its important for caregivers to know what services and support are out there.?

According to the Alzheimer?s Association, 41 percent of caregivers have a household income of $50,000 or less, and over half of primary caregivers of people with dementia take care of their parents or in-laws.

It is also estimated that 250,000 children and young adults between ages eight and 18 provide help to someone with Alzheimer?s disease or other form of dementia. In 2014, friends and family of people with Alzheimer?s provided an estimated 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care.

The Alzheimer?s Association provides services, education and support to people living with Alzheimer?s, as well as their caregivers. The Greater Iowa Chapter serve those affected, by providing these services in 85 Iowa and Illinois counties. Locally, the Alzheimer?s Association has offices in Burlington, which can provide services to the Henry County community.

In addition, the Alzheimer?s Association provides a 24/7 helpline, which is available to anyone for questions, concerns, resources or emergencies by calling 800-272-3900.

?Our goal is to hopefully one day find a cure for Alzheimer?s and dementia. But until then, we want to provide care and support to those effected by these health issues,? said Kelman.

In addition to Alzheimer?s Association, HCI Hospice Care Services also co-sponsored Tuesday?s Caregiver College.