As an Alzheimer’s caregiver, it can be helpful to hear from others who are also caring for a loved one. Caregivers get a lot out of attending a support group, from lessening their feelings of isolation to getting great tips and resources. Some support groups offer respite care so that the caregiver can attend without worries about what they will do with their loved one during that time. Another option is to get online support, via various websites or groups on social media where caregivers share information and concerns.

As you face particular challenges, seeking out professional help and guidance may be the best route for identifying solutions that will work. A professional geriatric care manager can provide advice for your specific situation, or do an evaluation/assessment to give you recommendations based on their professional observations combined with your knowledge as the caregiver.

We offer some recommended reading for caregivers as well, which may help you during your Alzheimer’s caregiving journey. We recently came across a book entitled Staying Afloat in a Sea of Forgetfulness: Common Sense Caregiving by Gary LaBlanc. The book is a compilation of articles written during his caregiving experience. Gary writes with a straightforward approach, and you can read short excerpts as you have time, versus trying to digest a large amount of material.

We asked Gary to share some information on his journey as an Alzheimer’s caregiver in a recent interview:

Give us a brief overview of your background as a caregiver. My Father and I worked side by side for 18 years in our co-owned used bookstore. So I actually got to witness the disease of Alzheimer’s from day one all the way to the devastating end. I became my father’s caregiver for the last decade of his life.

How did you decide to begin writing on the subject and how did the book come about? I was actually working on a third novel of a trilogy, when I briefly started writing short stories about my experiences of caring for my dad. Everyone who I allowed to read them, all said the same thing, "You need to do something with these." This is what got me to start my column "Common Sense Caregiving," which has now been published every week for the past two years. After my father past in July of ‘09, I decided to take 65 of my articles, rewrite them with the main goal of making sure they were in a caregiver-friendly manner as possible.

What did you find to be the greatest challenge as a caregiver? I honestly have to say that the delusions and hallucinations my father went through were extremely difficult for me to deal with. But, toward the end of the campaign, the lack of sleep was the hardest physical element I dealt with.

What were some of your rewards or growth experiences as a caregiver? The satisfaction of knowing that by keeping my dad in the comfort and safety of his own home, he had a feeling of content and his demeanor in general was positive. I believe he got the most, out of a horrible situation, and that was rewarding.

As for the growth part, being a caregiver, you well find that there is more endurance inside of you, than you ever believed. Without a doubt, when this crusade is over, you will become a morally stronger person.

What do you think are some of the unique challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia? Learning to have patience and learning to make sacrifices. For example: Putting your social life on hold.

What is your #1 recommendation for caregivers? One word; Routine!

Contact us to find out how we can help you during your journey as an Alzheimer's Caregiver.

The total estimated worldwide costs of dementia are $604 billion in 2010, according to the newly released World Alzheimer Report 2010: The Global Economic Impact of Dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI). Dementia care costs around 1% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). By 2030, worldwide societal costs will increase by 85% (a very conservative estimate considering only increases in the number of people with dementia).

In the Report, costs were attributed to the direct costs of medical care (the costs of treating Dementia and other conditions in primary and secondary care), direct costs of social care (provided in residential care settings and by community care professionals), and informal care (unpaid care provided by family caregivers and others).

“This report clearly illustrates that dementia is already affecting health systems around the world, and for the families who are forced to face Alzheimer’s the anguish is universal,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO. “The World Alzheimer Report 2010 urges all countries – including the U.S. – to develop national plans to deal with the disease.”

In the U.S., according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures 2010, there are as many as 5.3 million Americans living with the disease and every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. In 2010, there will be a half million new cases of Alzheimer’s. By 2050, there will be nearly a million new cases of Alzheimer’s every year. Nearly 11 million U.S. family members and other unpaid caregivers provided 12.5 billion hours of care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, valued at $144 billion.

Every day, we see the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease on individuals and families, from the emotions of seeing a loved one deteriorate to the stress of caregiving and financial sacrifices. We are offering a series of blog postings and caregiver tips through our social media pages to address different aspects of Alzheimer’s caregiving and provide expert tips. Our goal is to assist Alzheimer’s caregivers to reduce the stress of trying to find high quality information that really helps. Visit us on Facebook or Twitter for these tips and the latest news.

We also offer one-on-one caregiver consultations for family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia, or anyone concerned about memory loss.

The first day of fall, September 23rd, has been declared National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. The goal is to promote and increase public awareness about how to prevent and reduce falls among older adults. Many states, organizations and local falls prevention coalitions will honor this day with awareness campaigns, education and other activities.

Any organization working with older adults, especially those who are frail or ill, can help in falls prevention efforts. It is important not only to implement internal procedures and assessments, but to understand the impacts of falls on individuals and society. Aging Wisely not only provides professional falls prevention, home safety and comprehensive assessments, but also joins in community efforts surrounding falls prevention and education. We invite you to visit the Pinellas County Falls Prevention Coalition website, which Aging Wisely co-founded. Community collaborations such as this help to share efforts and resources, and therefore strengthen each organization's falls prevention strategy. Check out some of the great links and resources available there.

If you care about an aging loved one, there are some great resources to do a basic checklist and take some simple steps toward fall prevention (our fall prevention checklist). Our professional care managers provide in depth assessments and reviews with personal recommendations, which can also be helpful if you are concerned about convincing your loved one to make changes. We can also help identify potential causes and solutions, when multiple medical problems or more complex issues exist. Our knowledge of resources saves you valuable time and money, especially when you consider the devastating impacts falls can have.

We have also included a handout about falls and Osteoporosis, which highlights the risks and concerns as well as some valuable tips.

osteoporosis_falls_and-broken-bones

Let us know if your organization or community has activities going on for Falls Prevention Day and we'll be happy to help get the word out!