Alzheimer’s Month Highlights Need to Support Caregivers

President Ronald Reagan designated November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in 1983. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of dementia that presents as progressive mental deterioration due to generalized degeneration of the brain. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 5.7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease.

While the early stages of this deterioration are very difficult on afflicted persons, long term stress and strain weigh heavily on the shoulders of those who love and care for them. Those who help persons living with all types of dementia assist with their daily needs: bathing, dressing, eating, cleaning the house, paying bills and other areas.

“This can be exhausting to family and friends who are the caregivers,” stated Susan Brannelly Martin, RN, BSN, a certified dementia practitioner who works for Turtledove Home Care in Fairfield. “President Reagan lived with Alzheimer’s for ten years, that is a long time to provide this type of care alone so caregivers should look for assistance,” Martin added.

President Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994 and died ten years later.

"Ten years is a long time for this type of care, Martin said. "Caregiver isolation can develop when one-on-one care is needed and getting out of the house becomes more and more difficult. "Having assistance can help limit that type of isolation,” said Martin.

Martin has recommendations on how people can help. She suggests supporting those who are living with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones by offering help by sitting with the afflicted person for an hour while his or her loved one goes to the hairdresser or barber; watch a movie with the person with AD while the grocery shopping gets done; or prepare a meal.

"These small acts of kindness are often a breath of fresh air to a tired caregiver," Martin said.