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Alzheimer's caregivers getting local support

• Alzheimer's caregivers can call (229) 888-7676 for information about the disease.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — About every minute, another person in the United States develops Alzheimer’s Disease, according to figures released by the Alzheimer’s Association this week.

But one little-known fact of which Southwest Georgians should be aware is that the disease is the seventh-leading cause of death among Americans, local Alzheimer’s Association officials say.

“People don’t realize that Alzheimer’s can kill you. There are no survivors,” local Alzheimer’s Association Programs and Services Director Nancy Goode said Thursday.

“You are not cured from Alzheimer’s — yet. But we are very encouraged that we will have a cure.”

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, Goode said there is treatment available that can cut down on the symptoms for a time.

“It’s very important that if they think or suspect that they or a loved one has Alzheimer’s Disease ... to get to a doctor and get on the medication,” Goode said. “It helps tremendously with helping them to be able to function longer; it delays symptoms.”

The Alzheimer’s Association released the 2008 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures publication earlier this week. According to the document, there are 5.2 million Americans living with the disease, 5 million of whom are older than 65.

Other statistics the report includes are:

• One out of eight people older than 65 has Alzheimer’s.
• 10 million baby boomers will develop the disease.
• Another American develops Alzheimer’s every 71 seconds.
• Of those aged 55 or older, one in six women and one in 10 men can expect to develop the disease.
• Nearly half, 46.4 percent, of nursing home residents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.

Because Alzheimer’s Disease is such a debilitating affliction, Goode said it typically directly affects at least two other members of the victim’s family because the Alzheimer’s patient either has to move in with a child and his or her spouse or the child has to move to take care of the patient.

And it isn’t uncommon for the Alzheimer’s patient’s caregiver to become completely engrossed in caring for the patient, often neglecting his or her own health, Goode said.

“A caregiver has no time for themselves. They can’t go to their own doctor’s appointments or go to their hair appointments,” she said. “Caregiving is a 36-hour day.”

To help caregivers and victims of the disease, the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter offers programming, information packets and counseling, Goode said.

One program, called the Respite Program, offers family- member caregivers the money to pay for a temporary caregiver so he or she can take a vacation and know their Alzheimer’s family member is being taken care of, she said.

Another program the center offers is a monthly meeting at Central Baptist Church that allows caregivers and early- stage Alzheimer’s patients to come and relax for an hour.

Goode said the Alzheimer’s victims and caregivers are separated, and the caregivers hear a speaker or play games while the victims are cared for.

Development Director Dan Phillips said the association is registering players for its golf tournament on April 4. The tournament, to be held at Grand Island Golf Course beginning at noon, will include a $10,000 putt after it ends.

“This is our second-largest fundraiser in Albany, Memory Walk, of course, being the first one,” Phillips said. “We’re encouraging people to come out and enjoy the spring weather and help out a worthy cause.”

Registration is $100 per golfer, he said. Golfers will be playing in teams, though a player can sign up as an individual and be placed with a team if he or she needs to be, Phillips said. Players should sign up by April 3, he said.

Fundraising teams, which raise funds for the association in a variety of ways and then walk in the Nov. 4 Memory Walk, are currently being formed., Phillips said.

Funds raised for the association go toward local programs and services and national research, he said.

Southwest Georgians wanting more information about the disease or programs and services available to them can call (229) 888-7676 or visit http://www.alz.org/georgia

The full 2008 report can be viewed at http://www.alz.org

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