August 2, 2007

Alzheimer's care needs increasing exponentially across the nation

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the growth in the 65-and-older population will be about three and a half times the growth of the nation as a whole. This trend indicates that by mid-century, the number of people with Alzheimer's will grow to as many as 16 million, more than the current total population of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston combined.

For many families, Alzheimer's care begins and ends at home. Caring for a loved one with the disease is a difficult task even for the most educated, patient and able-bodied person. Alzheimer's disease causes people to do things they normally wouldn't do if they didn't have the disease.

"Care giving for a loved one with Alzheimer's is a huge responsibility," said Jim Booth, CEO and president of Comfort Keepers®. "There is a risk of emotional burnout and a decline in health for family caregivers who do not make it a point to take much needed breaks. For many, finding respite care is the best solution."

Booth shared the following tips for finding in-home care to support family caregivers providing Alzheimer's care.

Identify job details - Identify the specific functions you expect the help to perform to eliminate confusion. Details such as dressing, bathing and eating need to be addressed.

What kind of person should you look for? - Some qualifications you may require are: certified health care worker (BSBA Nursing or LVN), licensed driver, experienced in operating special equipment and experienced in handling clients with Alzheimer's disease.

Some questions you should considering asking potential caregivers:

What did your duties consist of?

What was your daily schedule?

What were your other responsibilities?

Most people hope to age safely and comfortably in their own home, including those managing Alzheimer's. Many Alzheimer's patients can safely stay in their own home for a period of time, and that's where various organizations can provide in-home care assistance.

"Most of our owners have been formally trained by their local Alzheimer's Associa-tion or the Alzheimer's Disease Education And Referral Center (Adear) chapter in how to provide in-home care for Alz-heimer's disease clients. This training included assisting the client with dressing or grooming, Improving eating habits with healthy meal planning and how to enhance home safety by implementing measures to prevent wandering or driving," added Booth.

Every 72 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease. Help is available for those caring for an individual with the disease. For more information, contact the local Alzheimer's Association chapter by visiting www.alz.org.