An Early On-set Alzheimer’s Disease Program
The development of Alzheimer’s disease beginning before age 65 is known as “early onset” dementia. Many people assume that Alzheimer’s and other causes of dementia only affect older people. In fact, about one person in every 1,000 below the age of 65 develops dementia. While rare, the disease can even affect people in their 40’s. In the United States, of the 5.3 million people with Alzheimer’s disease, 200,000 of them are under the age of 65. (2010, Alzheimer’s Association) Although the symptoms of dementia are similar regardless of age, younger people with dementia are impacted with different needs. They may be actively working at the time of diagnosis, have dependent children living at home, have greater financial commitments, be physically fit and behave in ways that other people find challenging, have difficulty accepting and coping with losing skills at such a young age, and most of all, find it difficult to access information, support and services for younger people with dementia.(www.alz.co.uk)
The Memory Café
For more information, please contact
Dana Territo, Director of Services
at 225-334-7494.
Seventy percent of people with Alzheimer’s live at home where friends and family care for them. More than 40% of family and other unpaid caregivers rate their emotional stress as high or very high (Glenn E. Smith, Ph.D., Neuropsychologist at Mayo Clinic). A diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer’s can raise the stress level even higher. Individuals diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s experience various problems emerging from work and/or home. They may also suffer a loss in relationships and have difficulty in marriage. Household income drops as they may be forced to leave work or worse are let go due to loss of skills and memory. Additionally, spouses often reduce their workload or quit their jobs to become a full-time caregiver, which places additional financial strain on the family budget. Most medical benefits and many social support programs do not provide assistance unless the person with Alzheimer’s is over the age of 65. The cost of providing long-term care for a person with Early Onset Alzheimer’s is very expensive. Individuals and families typically pay for services out of their own pocket. Additionally, because of the loss of relationships, individuals with Early Onset Alzheimer’s feel somewhat isolated and/or embarrassed to share personal feelings and concerns. A social network with others experiencing the disease and similar issues is needed for them to sustain their quality of life.
Alzheimer’s Services is proud to launch, The Memory Café’, an outlet for socialization, education and fellowship among individuals with Early Onset Alzheimer’s that would also provide resources in special-needs planning and directives which can help relieve at least some of the financial stresses the disease challenges bring to the individuals and their families. Partially funded by the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge Credit Union Group of the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge Foundation, monthly scheduled meetings will have programming that benefits the individual, offer a structured program to stimulate brain health and memory, and gather input from the participants and their particular needs would assist in planning the agendas.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s, please contact us to get on the list to join The Memory Café’. Please call Dana Territo, Director of Services, 225-334-7494 x206.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Giving back to the community in which you live is a long-standing tradition at McDonald’s Valluzzo Family Restaurants. McDonald’s has been a corporate sponsor of Alzheimer’s Services’ events since the foundation of the organization.
Supporting Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area helps to provide local families with services and information they need to provide the best care for their loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
McDonald’s…Good Food…Good People…Good Neighbor
PROUD CORPORATE PARTNERS
OF ALZHEIMER’S SERVICES
