Knowing there are resources, and knowing where to look for them: an ALZ Cheat Sheet
Hi there! I’m writing this on a Saturday morning, watching squirrels run up and down the little hill in our backyard while the sun tries to peek out after days of clouds and rain. Maybe THIS will be the day those last two diminishing piles of snow in our front yard finally melt away.
I’ve recently joined an Alzheimer’s support group on Facebook. Since I’m no longer officially a caregiver (my father passed away three years ago), I’m out of the loop in terms of how physicians and facilities are helping families and friends face the daily challenges of living with Alzheimer’s, but the plights of the brave people in this FB group quickly brought me back to reality.
So today I thought I would share a couple of thoughts and resources that might be helpful to other families on this journey.
First - Google is my friend, and should be your friend as well. Most physicians and their staff focus on the physical, medical health of their patients, while doing little to help family members navigate the needs for simple, everyday living. Fortunately, it’s been my experience that there are a growing number of qualified groups who provide knowledge and compassion, with the mission of supporting caregivers and families.
The national (and local) chapter(s) of the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) should be a starting point for anyone beginning this process, and a checking-back point all along the path. You’ll find chat support, scientific and medical breakthroughs, local contacts for a variety of topics, and a community of hope and compassion. For some, their 24/7 hotlines might be the most important outreach they provide. Check here for their ‘developing a caregiver action plan’ section. And here for wonderful online resources.
Eldercare attorneys represent a growing niche in the legal field - a logical evolution. Some states even have a board certification process to qualify as an eldercare attorney, and when dealing with power of attorney (POA), medical POA, living wills, DNR, etc, who better to assist in the process than someone who specializes in the very issues ALZ patients and their families are facing? Check out the videos here for more information.
Many communities will have a not-for-profit agency devoted to Seniors - in my community, it’s a county-based Senior Services Center. They have a wonderful building that serves a daily hot lunch, a workout room monitored by trained staff, activities galore, and a lending library. They provide a sort of adult day care service, they take clients to appointments, and they even provide transportation to the facility each day. And they have people on staff who know about local resources - it’s their job to support seniors and their families. They are wonderful people, and I bet many communities have agencies just like this.
Likewise, more and more churches and faith organizations are expanding their services to include seniors - whether it be members who will call on elderly members just to check on them or visit with them, to providing respite care a few hours at a time, or even providing a weekly meal and social time.
There are also many businesses now specializing in in-home (and even in-facility) assistance for the elderly. Companionship, meal prep, simple daily routine activities like getting dressed, walking a dog, getting outdoors, even running errands and possibly light housekeeping - there are plenty of options for hiring someone to come in, a few hours a day, a few hours a week, or even round-the-clock. There are options for different levels of nursing care, as well - dispensing meds, bathing, assessment, etc. Here are a FEW, of many, options.
There are so many things to know, to discover, to resolve. And these resources are just a few of many. We don’t yet have a cure for Alzheimer’s, and there aren’t treatments that make it, magically, less awful. But with a LOT of help, a LOT of knowledge and understanding, a LOT of compassion and support, it can be better than what I see many people experiencing. So, read, reach out, question - find the help you need and that your loved one deserves. It might be closer than you realize.
Sadly, I must include this disclaimer - I’m not a medical professional. I’m not an attorney. I’m not a banker or financial consultant. I’m simply a daughter who lost her beloved father to ALZ. These are my experiences and ideas but in no way should they be interpreted as professionally-qualified advice or endorsements.
