November is National Caregiver’s Month!
Are you a caregiver? Do you have a caregiver? One out of every four people will either be a caregiver, a care receiver or both in their current lifetime. The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP reported that in 2009, “65.7 million caregivers make up 29 percent of the U.S. adult population providing care to someone who is ill, disabled or aged.” This staggering percentage has only increased over the past few years, which demonstrates the dire need for caregivers in today’s world.
Being a caregiver is a rewarding task, but one must be cautious of the difficult hardships he or she may encounter on a daily basis. Taking care of a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia can be a difficult, stressful, and tiring job. It affects the caregiver’s health and ability to rest and can be a source of stress and conflict for the entire household.
The demands of caring for a person who has dementia may cut off caregivers from friends, leisure activities, and other responsibilities. For a caregiver who has health problems, the physical and emotional strain of caregiving can make those problems worse. Fatigue, depression, and sleep problems commonly develop, and caregivers often carry an added emotional burden of feeling worried, guilty, and angry about taking care of the person.
Education is key. Where can you get it? Join us in Centre, AL at Cherokee County Health and Rehabilitation Center in the Education Building, 877 Cedar Bluff Road, Centre, AL on November 18, 2015, 10-12pm. Brandi Medina from the National Alzheimer’s association, Mid-South Alabama chapter, will be discussing Dementia-related Behaviors & Communication and Ellen A. Tibbetts, AL CARES Coordinator (Caregiver program), from the East AL
Regional Planning Development Commission’s Area Agency on Aging will discuss resources for caregivers as well as how to reduce stress. The presentation is FREE. If interested or have any questions, please RSVP and call 1-800-AGE-LINE or 256-237-6741 at extension 122.
The East Alabama Regional Planning Development Commission Area Agency on Aging and the National Alzheimers Association have scheduled a Caregiver Awareness class to be held at Cherokee County Health & Rehab’s Activity/Education Building – Wednesday, November 18th from 10:00am – 12:00 noon.
This class is FREE of charge.