Family Resource Guide

Family Resource Guide
Who We Are
Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area is a local non-profit
organization. Our mission is to make a significant difference
in the lives of those coping with Alzheimer’s disease in our
community. Many of our programs and services are free to
the public and are funded by individual and corporate
contributions as well as grants.
Who We Serve
Our ten-parish service area includes Ascension, Assumption,
East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana,
Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee and St. Helena parishes.
How We Can Help
Some of the programs and services that we provide are
Charlie’s Place Respite Center, Caregiver Network Meetings,
Lunch-N-Learn and Sharing The Journey Educational
Programs, Safe Return Patient Identification Program,
Caregiver Respite Reimbursement Program, a Resource
Library, telephone HelpLine, family consultations, LGBT
Liaisons, Louisiana Required Dementia Care Training for
Professionals, Memory Café for the Early Onset Alzheimer’s
Program and the annual Walk/Run to Remember.
How To Contact Us
We are located at:
3772 North Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 334-7494 or (800) 548-1211
Email: info@alzbr.org
Website: www.BRhope.com
Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, marital
status, sex, disability, age, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs and/or activities.
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What is Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease
is a progressive and fatal brain disease that destroys brain
cells, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior
which is severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or
social life. There is no cure. National statistics (2011) report
one in eight over the age of 65 and one in two over age 85
are affected by the disease.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
Memory loss
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems with language
Disorientation to time and place
Poor or decreased judgment
Problems with abstract thinking
Misplacing things
Changes in mood or behavior
Changes in personality
Loss of initiative
Photo Tate Tullier, Tate Tullier Photography
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Programs and Services
HelpLine Information Phone Line (225) 334-7494 or (800)
548-1211. Information and referral by phone Monday through
Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Education Programs Lunch-N-Learn, Sharing the Journey,
In-Service Training & Service Learning, state required Dementia training and other programs provided throughout the year on
topics related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related
disorders.
Education Conference A day-long program each spring providing continuing education for professionals and caregivers.
Resource Library Books, videos, and other educational
materials that can be checked out.
Safe Return ID Program A patient identification program to
promote safety for memory impaired individuals who may
wander.
Respite Care Services Designed to give caregivers a break.
Choose from Charlie’s Place Respite Center or a reimbursement
program.
Charlie’s Place An award-winning social model respite cen-
ter designed to give caregivers a needed break from caregiving
responsibilities, as well as give the affected individual a purposeful
day of fellowship and activities (See page 10).
TLC (Tender Loving Care) for Caregivers Social events for
both caregivers and affected individuals.
November Awareness Activities National Alzheimer’s Dis-
ease Awareness Month, a variety of educational and/or support
programs are offered throughout the month.
Speaker’s Bureau Staff and/or volunteers participate in community Health Fairs and Exhibitions as well as offering Presentations
and training throughout the ten-parish service area.
Cause to Remember One hour sessions held year-round to
inform who we are and what we do in the community.
Memory Café Early Onset Alzheimer’s Program An outlet
for socialization, education and fellowship among individuals with
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Early/Younger Onset Alzheimer’s under the age of 65.
Website Visit the website at www.BRhope.com for regular commentaries, news, blog and informational material.
Caregiver Network Support Group Meetings Monthly meetings lead by trained facilitators which provide caregiver mutual
support and practical caregiving techniques.
Carelink Volunteers via the phone who lend a sympathetic ear
and innovative solutions to caregiving dilemnas.
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Manual A compre-
hensive handbook listing resources, support agencies, and caregiving strategies in dealing with individuals with Alzheimer’s and/or
dementia in emergency/disaster situations.
Home Safety
Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease often need to look
at their homes through new eyes to identify and correct safety
risks. Creating a safe environment can prevent many stressful
and dangerous situations.
What you can do:
Make sure that the home has adequate lighting. Dimly lit corridors and stairs present particular hazards and need to be well lit.
Place night-lights throughout your home.
Use childproof latches on kitchen cabinets and any place
where cleaning supplies or other chemicals are kept.
Remove locks on bathroom and interior doors to prevent the
person from accidentally locking himself/herself in.
Label medications and keep them stored securely. Supervise
taking prescription as well as over-the-counter medications.
Make sure knives, lighters, matches and firearms are safely
stored and out of reach.
Keep walking areas clear of tripping hazards such as area rugs
or electrical cords.
Limit the use of potentially dangerous appliance and electrical equipment.
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Communication
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders can gradually
diminish a person’s ability to communicate. Those who are memory-impaired have difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, as
well as understanding others.
Some ways to improve communication are to:
Be sure that you have the person’s attention. Make eye
contact, reduce surrounding distractions such as the television,
radio, and loud conversations nearby.
Help orient the person. Call the person by name and tell them
who you are. Do not argue or correct the person if they give
wrong facts or information.
Keep it simple. Use short sentences, speak slowly, and allow the
person time to process what you are saying. If you need to give
instructions, give one at a time. If the person does not seem to
understand, do not keep repeating yourself. Instead use another
tactic or try again later.
Treat the person with dignity and respect. Be sure that you
stay calm. If you get frustrated, the person you are communicating with will pick up on those feelings. Pay attention to the
emotion behind what is being said to you. Often the feelings
being expressed (sadness, anxiety, fear, happiness) are much
more important than the words being said.
Assist but don’t pressure. If the person is struggling to find a
word, offer one, but be sure that
the words that you offer are
correct. Do not assume you know
what the person is trying to tell
you. Ask questions that may be
answered “yes” or “no” rather than
pressuring the person to come up
with facts. Accept that the person is responding at their level of
Photo Aaron Hogan, Eye Wander Photo
capability.
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Wandering
Wandering is one of the most frequent and challenging problems
that a caregiver can face. It can be caused by several factors
including one or more of the following: medication side effects,
stress, agitation, anxiety, inability to recognize people, places and
objects, fear arising from misinterpretation of sights and sounds,
and desire to fulfill former obligations, such as going to work or
looking after a child.
What you can do:
Enroll your family member in The Safe Return Program. This
nationwide program assists in the identification and safe, timely
return of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementiarelated disorders who wander. The program includes identification
products such as bracelets or necklaces and clothing labels.
Make sure that the person carries some form of identification
at all times. Discreetly label the clothing with the home telephone
number.
Keep a recent photograph or videotape of the person.
Keep doors locked. Consider a keyed deadbolt or an additional
lock positioned out of view.
Place warning alarms on external doors. Painting doors the
same color as the walls can help to camouflage the doors. Posting a “STOP” sign or “DO NOT ENTER” sign on a door can deter
entry.
Place a dark colored mat by the front door and any doors that
exit outside. The dark color can appear as a hole and discourage the person from crossing.
Remember the clothes that your loved one is wearing that
day so that you can inform the authorities if they need to be involved.
Monitor daily activities with a “Baby-Monitor.” Having a receiver near their favorite chair or bed allows you to converse for
reassurance while you are in separate rooms.
Develop indoor and outdoor areas that can be safely
explored.
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Bathing, Toileting & Dressing
For a person with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders, the bathroom can sometimes be a confusing and frightening
place. Additionally, choosing clothes and dressing can be frustrating.
What you can do:
Consider safety first for bathing
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Install grab bars for shower, tub, and toliet area
Use non-slip mats and a bathing seat in shower and tub
Prepare the bathroom in advance
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Choose a regular and relaxed time of day for bathing and
grooming
Keep the bathroom a comfortable temperature
Monitor bathing and grooming, while respecting privacy and
independence
Be flexible; sometimes a full bath is not necessary
Removing or covering mirrors may help advanced stage individuals who don’t recognize themselves
Plan ahead for toileting
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Make it easy to find the bathroom by leaving the door open or
put a picture of a toilet on the door
Learn the person’s unique verbal and non-verbal behavioral
cues to signal when it is time to use the bathroom
Remind or take the person to use the bathroom at regular
intervals
Dress the person in clothing that is easy to unfasten and remove
Limit fluid intake before bedtime
If accidents begin to occur, make sure that there is not an underlying medical cause such as a urinary tract infection or side
effect from a new medication
In the event of an accident, stay calm and try to overcome
embarrassment or frustration
Remember it is not the person’s fault
Organize the dressing process
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Lay out proper clothes for the person; consider comfort, temperature, fit, and ease of donning
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Provide a limited choice of outfits
Simplify instructions for each item of clothing such as “Put on
your shirt,” rather than “Get dressed.”
Don’t rush the person
Adopting Healthy Brain Lifestyles
The total number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is expected
to triple by the year 2050. There is a growing evidence that lifestyle can affect your brain health and risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Adopt a brain healthy lifestyle with these healthy choices.
Diet/Nutrition Enjoy a diet rich in antioxidants, such as the Mediterranean diet. Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet that features
dark-skinned vegetables and fruits; foods rich in antioxidants;
vitamins E, C and B-12; folate; and omega 3 fatty acids.
Exercise According to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention
Foundation, physical exercise reduces your risk of developing
Alzheimer’s disease by 50 percent. Exercise keeps the blood
flowing and encourages new brain cells. Regular exercise - even
walking 10,000 steps a day - can also slow further deterioration in
those who have already started to develop cognitive problems.
Mental Stimulation Learn a new skill or hobby, enjoy strategy
games and puzzles, use your non-dominant hand, practice memorization.
Stress Management Take long,
deep breaths, practice guided imagery, schedule relaxation activities such as yoga, playtime with a
pet, listen to favorite music.
Socialization Build friendships
and family networks, maintain
meaning and purpose in life, vol- Photo Tate Tullier, Tate Tullier Photography
unteer in the community, enroll in
classes, develop hobbies and join support groups.
Spirituality Most scientists acknowledge a strong mind-body
connection, and various studies link spirituality with better brain
health. Practice meditation, prayer, reflection, and participate in
faith-based activities regularly.
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The Alzheimer’s Services
Respite Center
Charlie’s Place is a program for individuals with mild to moderate
Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Programming at Charlie’s Place
is designed to provide cognitive stimulation and social interaction.
Activities include, but are not limited to, gardening, reminiscing,
armchair exercises, music therapy, and pet therapy. Based on
abilities, participants enjoy leisure classes and community service
projects. Lunch is provided.
The program offers families the opportunity to take a break from
their daily caregiving responsibilities. Family caregivers are
encouraged to schedule social activities, doctor’s appointments,
shopping trips, or simply stay home and relax while their loved one
is at Charlie’s Place.
Charlie’s Place clients have the option of attending weekly, with a
maximum of two visits per week. Potential participants will undergo an assessment to determine their ability to participate in
the program. Charlie’s Place is a social model; no medical care is
provided. There is a screening assessment and fee to attend the
program.
To learn more about enrolling in Charlie’s Place, please contact
Alzheimer’s Services at (225) 334-7494 or (800) 548-1211.
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Charlie’s Place was purposefully designed to look like a home.
The socialization area invites clients to reminisce while looking
through a coffee table book or chatting with a staff member or
volunteer.
Arts and crafts
activities, puzzles
and board games
are some of the
activities that occur in the socialization and activity area. Staff
and volunteers
welcome clients
each morning in
the foyer, then
Photo Aaron Hogan, Eye Wander Photo
join them in the
kitchen (pictured right)
for a cup of coffee or
juice, and conversation to get reacquainted. Clients enjoy
gardening, feeding the
birds, barbeques and
walking in our beautiful
memory garden (pictured below.) Our
Respite Care
Coordinator plans
each day to provide
an array of stimulating and purposeful activities: word
games, sing-alongs, discussion
and intergenerational programs are
included in the
monthly calendar.
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Caregiving
The role of caregiving can be very stressful. Prolonged
stress can leave the caregiver feeling powerless. Burnout
touches many aspects of the caregiver’s life including emotional, social and physical well-being. Adopting a healthy
lifestyle is important for caregivers to be able to care for
themselves as well as their loved ones effectively.
Here are a few ways to help make your caregiving more
successful:
Get a diagnosis as soon as possible. Consulting a physician can
help to treat symptoms now and in
the future.
Know what resources are available to you. The Alzheimer’s
Services staff will help you learn
more about community agency
resources, library and internet
resources and educational opportunities.
Photo Aaron Hogan, Eye Wander Photo
Become an educated caregiver. As the disease progresses, new caregiving skills are necessary. Educating yourself
can help you cope with the behaviors and personality changes that often accompany the disease.
Get help when and where you need it. Doing everything
yourself can leave you exhausted. Seek the support of
family, friends and community resources. Use respite care
services like Charlie’s Place to help you get the break from
caregiving that you deserve.
Take care of yourself. Watch your diet, exercise and get
plenty of rest. Make time for doing things that you enjoy.
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Early Onset - Memory Café
Alzheimer’s disease appearance before age 65 is
known as “early onset” dementia. Individuals diagnosed with
Early Onset 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 fulltime caregivers, 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. Additionally,
because of the loss of relationships, individuals with Early
Onset Alzheimer’s feel somewhat isolated and/or embarrassed to share personal feelings and conerns. A social network with others experiencing the disease and similar issues
is needed for them to sustain their quality of life.
The Memory Café is an outlet for socialization, education and fellowship among individuals with Early Onset
Alzheimer’s that provides resources in special-needs planning and directives which can help relieve at least some of
the financial stresses the disease challenges bring to the
indivduals and their families. The monthly scheduled meetings will have programming that benefits the indivduals, and
input from the participants and their particular needs to assist
in planning the agendas. Financial Advisors, Social Workers, medical professionals and other speakers will contribute
to the content and interact in the program providing tips and
guidelines for the participants in their journey with the disease. Additionally, The Memory Café will offer a structured
program to stimulate brain health and memory.
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Resources
Alzheimer’s Services of the
Capital Area/Charlie’s Place
www.BRhope.com
http://alzheimersservices.blogspot.
com
(225) 334-7494 (800) 548-1211
Social Security Online
Shares information about benefits,
policies & legislation
www.ssa.gov www.medicare.gov
Baton Rouge (866) 613-3070
(800) 772-1213
Alzheimer’s Foundation of
America
Focuses on care for individuals,
with Alzheimer’s, family caregivers,
and healthcare professionals
http://alzfdn.org
(866) 232-8484 (Toll-Free)
Memory Matters
Practice techniques that help
adults in their senior years retain
their memory. Brain teasers,
puzzles & exercises
www.yourmemorymatters.com
Capital Area Agency on Aging
Providing advocacy & specified
services for seniors & persons with
adult onset disabilities & their caregivers. www.capitalaaa.org
(800) 833-9883
Louisiana SenioRx
Linking seniors to pharmaceutical
aid
www.louisianaseniorx.org
(877) 340-9100
Institute for Dementia Research
& Prevention, PBMC
Improving the quality of life for individuals in Louisiana by generating
world class research programs
focused on dementia prevention.
http://idrp.pbrc.edu
(225) 763-2973
LA Nursing Home Association
(LNHA)
Information & representation of licensed nursing homes in the state
www.Inha.org
(225) 927-5642
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The Aid and Attendance (A&A)
Pension
Veteran’s Administration
provides benefits for veterans &
surviving spouses who require
the regular attendance of another
person to assist activities of daily
living. http://veteranaid.org
(225) 925-7268
The Alzheimer’s Store
Products for people with AD and
their caregiver
www.alzstore.com
(800) 752-3238
Family Caregiver Alliance
A Clearinghouse on brain disorders, caregiver assistance and
long-term care public policy
www.caregiver.org
(800) 445-8106
Louisiana Governor’s Office of
Elderly Affairs
including Ombudsman
www.goea.louisiana.gov
(225) 342-7100
Resources
Louisana Department of Health
& Hospitals
www.dhh.louisiana.gov
(225) 342-9500
LA Assisted Living Association
(LALA)
Primary voice for assisted living
communities in Louisiana
www.laassisted.org
(225) 791-5811
LA Enhancing Aging with Dignity through Empowerment &
Respect (LEADER)
Transforming & promoting dignity
in the culture of aging
www.laculturechangecoalition.org
(318) 235-5002
Administration on Aging
www.aoa.gov
(202) 401-4634
National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys, Inc.
List of certified Elder Law Attorneys
in each state www.naela.org
(703) 942-5711
The Alzheimer’s Brain
Normal & Alzheimer’s brain comparison
www.alzbrain.org
The Alzheimer’s Association
Tips on caregiving, updates on research & treatments, & information
on programs & services provided
by local chapters.
www.alz.org
(800) 272-3900
Alzheimer’s Forum
News, articles, discussion, diagnostic & treatment guide & more
www.alzforum.org
Cut here
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Corporate Partners
Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area
3772 North Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: 225-334-7494
Toll Free: 800-548-1211
Website: www.BRhope.com
Alzheimer’s Services
3772 North Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
PLACE
POSTAGE
HERE