Volunteers needed to run Land O’ Lakes support groups
By B.C. Manion
The statistics are staggering.
An estimated 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, reports the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
In Pasco County alone, Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs estimates there are approximately 17,000 people with the condition.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills and changes in behavior, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America reports.
Short-term memory fails when Alzheimer’s disease first destroys nerve cells in the hippocampus, and language skills and judgment decline when neurons die in the cerebral cortex, the foundation says.
And those with the neurological disease aren’t the only ones who suffer because of it. Their caregivers also pay a price.
If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, you are familiar with the increasing demands that arise as your loved one slips further into the grip of the disease.
It’s a huge problem and it’s expected to take an even greater toll on society as Americans age, said Joan Griffin, the Pasco County community educator for the Alzheimer’s Family Organization.
“Alzheimer’s is being referred to as the public health crisis of the 21st century,” she said. It is the fourth-leading cause of death in the elderly, trailing only heart disease, stroke and cancer, Griffin said. Statistics show that an estimated one in 10 people who are age 65 are afflicted by Alzheimer’s; by age 85, the odds of having Alzheimer’s are one in two.
A portrait of America’s demographics doesn’t yield a pretty picture, either. Beginning Jan. 1 of this year, an estimated 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 every single day for the next 17 years, Griffin said.
But the outlook isn’t entirely bleak.
The Alzheimer’s Family Organization wants caregivers to know they are not alone, Griffin said.
The organization, which began serving Central Pasco County 12 years ago, provides education, support and assistance to caregivers, as well as providing help to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The group’s executive director, Dominick DePetrillo, understands the need to support families who have a member with Alzheimer’s. His mother suffered from Alzheimer’s, and DePetrillo and his wife, Judy, were his mother’s caregivers.
The organization has support groups operating in some parts of Pasco County, but doesn’t have one in Land O’ Lakes, Griffin said.
But the organization hopes to remedy that situation soon, she said. “There is an absolute need.”
A training session for group leaders is set for the morning of April 15 in Brooksville.
Besides recruiting volunteer group leaders, Griffin also has been searching for free meeting space.
She’s been in discussions with representatives from the county’s parks and recreation department and it appears that it may be possible to have the support meetings at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center on US 41 and at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway, Griffin said.
The goal is to have at least a couple of meetings each month, to give caregivers more than one opportunity to fit a meeting into their schedule, Griffin said.
The support groups give caregivers a confidential place to express their frustrations, to learn about available help, to learn from each other’s experiences and to share information about Alzheimer’s, Griffin said.
Alzheimer’s presents many challenges, she said.
The demands can make caregivers physically and emotionally exhausted.
They can become so consumed in caring for their loved one, they also can become socially isolated and lonely, she said.
And, of course, “there are so many financial and legal concerns.”
“A lot of people are at their wit’s end,” said Kathy Montero, a community service coordinator for Alzheimer’s Family Organization.
“There are things that can make your life easier,” Montero said, and her organization wants to be one of them.
To find out more about the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, call (727) 848-8888 or visit www.alzheimersfamily.org
Training for leaders
What: Alzheimer’s Family Organization will hold a free Support Group Leader training session to help volunteers learn the ropes of running a support group session.
When: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 15
Where: Spring Oaks ALF, 7251 Grove Road, Brooksville, in Hernando County
Who: For anyone who would like to attend
Please RSVP to (727) 848-8888 or (888) 496-8004
Other services
In addition to support groups, the Alzheimer’s Family Organization provides a number of other free services, including respite care assistance, a wanderer’s identification program and others. For details, call (888) 496-8004 or visit www.alzheimersfamily.org
Other ways to help
If you’d like to help, but do not wish to become a support group leader, there are many other ways you can get involved in the Alzheimer’s Family Organization. You can help spread the word about the organization in your organization’s newsletter, you can volunteer your time to help in the office or with fundraisers, or you can take on other assignments. For more information, call (727) 848-8888.
Warning Signs
Each case of Alzheimer’s is different, but there are some signs that distinguish it from basic forgetfulness. These symptoms gradually increase and become more persistent.
Typical warning signs include:
Memory loss, especially of names, recent events, placement of objects and new information
Confusion about time and place
Changes in mood and personality, such as persistent mood swings, increased suspicion and disinterest in usual activities
Difficulty in completing familiar actions, such as brushing teeth or getting dressed
Using poor judgment
Having trouble in finding the proper words or having difficulty in completing sentences, carrying on conversations or following directions
Having difficulty with complex mental assignments such as balancing a checkbook
Source: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. For more information, visit www.alzfdn.org
