Ask the Helpline – Alzheimer’s Disease

November is National Family Caregiver Month as well as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month…in honor of that, this Ask the Helpline segment deals with caring for your loved one at home.

This column is one of a regular series in which our Program Services team answers our constituents’ frequently asked questions. In this issue, we hear from Kristen Resendiz, Helpline Manager.

I need help caring for my loved one with dementia at home, what are my options?

Caring for a loved one with dementia at home can be challenging. A person with dementia’s care needs change at different stages of the disease and each family’s situation is unique. It is normal for you to need some assistance from time to time or on a long-term basis. Taking a break from caregiving allows for a change in environment, time to relax, and/or time to engage in self-care.
Assistance with caring for your loved one in the home can be achieved through Adult Day Services, In-Home Care Services, and/or informal assistance from family members, friends, neighbors, or volunteers from the community. Using these services can support and strengthen your ability to be a caregiver.
Adult Day Services

Adult Day Services are provided outside of the home and are designed to meet the person with dementia’s needs, support his/her abilities and independence and provide the opportunity to interact with others. Adult Day Centers may provide a variety of services that can include: Counseling, Health Services, Nutrition, Personal Care, Activities, Behavior Management, Therapy, and Dementia Specific Services.
Adult Day Services are generally most appropriate for individuals in the early to middle stages of the disease however there are some programs that can work with individuals throughout their disease progression. Participating in Adult Day Services outside of the home give the person with dementia the opportunity to engage with other’s as well as the opportunity to get out of the house to participate in enjoyable activities in a safe and social environment.
In-Home Care Services

In-Home Care Services are provided inside of the home. In-Home Care can include: Companionship, Personal Care, Homemaking/Housekeeping, and Skilled Care Services. Each In-Home Care agency will work with you to ensure that your loved one’s care needs are met.
In-Home Care Services are ideal if leaving the home is an obstacle for the person with dementia. In-Home Care Agencies often have large service areas, especially in rural areas, so even if an agency is not located near the person with dementia they may still serve their area. In-Home Care Services allow the person with dementia the opportunity to receive services in a familiar environment and allow for care and interaction from someone other than the primary caregiver.
Informal Assistance

Again, every family situation is different, but sometimes a family member, close friend, neighbor, or volunteer is willing to occasionally help out. Take these people up on their offers and don’t feel guilty for asking for help. Sometimes people don’t know how they can help, so let them know!
Volunteer Caregiver Services may also be available in your community. This may be available through a faith-based organization, such as a local church, or though a Volunteer Caregiving Agency. For example, the National Volunteer Caregiving Network (http://www.nvcnetwork.org/) lists Volunteer Caregiving Organizations throughout the nation. Visit their website to see if there is a Volunteer Caregiving Agency that serves your loved one’s area.
If financing for these types of services is an issue and there are no informal volunteer services available to you check with each Adult Day Center or In-Home Care Agency to see if scholarships or sliding scale fees are available.
There may also be government assistance available to your loved one with dementia. For example, the Illinois Department on Aging offers a program called the Community Care Program which offers financial assistance to those who qualify for community based services such as Adult Day Care and In-Home Care. You can visit: http://www.state.il.us/aging/ or call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline at 800.252.8966 to learn more about this program.
Choosing an Adult Day Center or In-Home Care Agency can be overwhelming. The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) is available to assist you in determining which type of care is best for your loved one and how to go about choosing a service that will best meet your loved one’s activity level and care needs. Our Helpline staff can provide referrals for Adult Day Centers and/or In-Home Care Agencies that serve your loved ones area. You can also learn more about and locate referrals for these services by visiting our website.

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“Car Talk” co-host dies from Alzheimer’s disease complications

Tom Magliozzi, half of the popular NPR “Car Talk” duo, has died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 77. His family has asked that friends and listeners make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or their favorite public radio stations in his memory.

Tom Magliozzi, one half of the wisecracking Car Talk duo known as “Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers,” has died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 77.

Car Talk Executive Producer Doug Berman sent this note Monday:

“I have the sad duty to report today that Tom Magliozzi, one of the hosts of Car Talk, passed away this morning due to complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Tom’s been such a dominant, positive personality amongst us for so long that all of us in the public radio family — and I include our millions of listeners — will find this news very difficult to receive.”

Magliozzi and his co-host brother, Ray, began the show at WBUR in Boston in 1977, taking it to the NPR network, and a national audience, a decade later. In 2012, the brothersannounced they were retiring from the show, and it has been heard in reruns on NPR member stations since then.

NPR’s Lynn Neary writes:

“The Magliozzi brothers grew up in a tough neighborhood of East Cambridge, in a close-knit Italian family. Tom was 12 years older, the beloved older brother to Ray. They liked to act like they were just a couple of regular guys who happened to be mechanics, but both of them graduated from MIT.

“After getting out of college, Tom went to work as an engineer.

“One day, he was on his way to work when he had a near-fatal accident with a tractor-trailer. He pulled off the road and decided to do something different with his life.

” ‘I quit my job,’ he [told graduates at a commencement speech at his] alma mater in 1999. ‘I became a bum. I spent two years sitting in Harvard Square drinking coffee. I invented the concept of the do-it-yourself auto repair shop, and I met my lovely wife.’ ”

Doug Berman ended his message, “Please note that the Magliozzi family is asking that in lieu of flowers, friends and listeners make a donation to either the Alzheimer’s Association or their favorite public radio stations in Tom’s memory. It’s just one more gift to us from a guy who gave so much to our network and its listeners over the decades.”

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Alzheimer’s Association presents free audio conference on legal and financial considerations

Tuesday, November 11 from noon to 1 p.m. on
Legal and Financial Considerations for Older Adults: Dotting Your ‘i’s and Crossing Your ‘t’s

Presenter: John Lafond, Attorney at Law, Senior Staff Attorney —Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.
Planning for our legal and financial future is something we all should do, but too easily push to another day. If someone you care about has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, legal and financial planning is more important than ever. Participants will learn what issues need to be considered, and how to put those plans in place, no matter your income level.
Audio conferences are held the second Tuesday of every month.
Click here to register or call 309.662.8392. Once signed up, registrants will receive information and directions for the call.

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The unsung heroes of Alzheimer’s disease – Alzheimer’s disease

Last year, more than 15 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be overwhelming, so we would like to take this opportunity torecognize those who care for others.
In recognition of November as National Family Caregivers Month, I hope you’ll join us in honoring the true unsung heroes of the Alzheimer’s epidemic. Make a gift today and we’ll send you our special lapel pin in time to show your support next month.

Because of the generosity of friends like you, we are able to help caregivers by offering resources like:

• ALZConnected^®: Allows caregivers to connect with one another in our online community.
• Educational resources: Our educational workshops and the Caregiver Center offer strategies and proactive advice.
• 24/7 Helpline: Provides reliable information and support to all those who need assistance day or night at 800.272.3900.
• Community Resource Finder: A comprehensive listing of Alzheimer’s and dementia resources, community programs and services.
• Alzheimer’s Navigator^®: A powerful online tool to help caregivers identify their needs and plan next steps.

Your donation today will make these resources and other support possible. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

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