GRANNY SNATCHING: Alzheimer’s Caregivers are NOT Alone!

I met a man this morning who had some experience caring for a relative with Alzheimer’s disease, and I believe this is a good time to provide some useful information to people who may be sharing that situation or contemplating it.

I have noted in the past that as our population ages and more people are institutionalized – many ultimately filing for Medicaid – our state and national budgets are taking huge hits. Thus there is a movement to keep more elderly in their homes and/or in community based care which is generally seen as providing a better environment for the elderly at a huge cost savings.

But that doesn’t mean that caring for the elderly is easy. In fact, it can be a very difficult and challenging experience.

One of the most common comments I hear from people caring for an Alzheimer’s sufferer is that a time comes when they – the caregivers – no longer recognize the person they are caring for as the person they knew in previous years. Unfortunately, as the disease progresses the victim’s mental processes are impacted and control over both mental and physical abilities can deteriorate significantly.

When my wife related – in this morning’s conversation – that we are caring for my 94-year-old mother who doesn’t have Alzheimer’s but nonetheless is 94 and very set in her ways, he cautioned us “Don’t forget to take care of yourselves.”

 

My wife and I exchanged glances because the truth is, we haven’t been on a vacation in nearly three years, nor have we had any significant time off. In fact, as she said, our big “date night” has been a somewhat regular trip to the town dump – excuse me, transfer station. Not exactly my description of “togetherness” but it is what it is.

One thing I have come to recognize over the nearly three years that we have been the sole caregiver for my mother is that there are places you can turn to for help if you need help. Since I began writing this column I have become acquainted with people throughout the state and for that matter internationally who are wrestling with the myriads issues of elder care. Through them many agencies both public and private that offer assistance have come to my attention.

One is the Connecticut Statewide Respite Care Program that is administered through the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter, the Area Agencies on Aging, and the state Department of Social Services Aging Services Division.

According to its literature the respite care program “offers relief to stressed caregivers by providing information, support, the development of an appropriate plan of care, and services for the individual with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementias.”

The association has an excellent description of Alzheimer’s in its literature which if they don’t mind I’ll repeat here and keep for future reference: Alzheimer’s disease is not a natural part of aging, nor is it limited to the elderly. It is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior.

It affects people mainly over age 65 but can affect people much younger. It is the fourth leading killer of adults with over four million victims in the US. There is no known cause or cure and its victims can linger for over twenty years.

Alzheimer’s disease is an emotional and financial nightmare for families.

That pretty much sums up the difficulties encountered by Alzheimer’s caregivers. But the respite program can provide up to $3,500 in services per year to each applicant and a maximum of 30 days of out-of-home respite care services. Just that much information should help some of you.

There are criteria for receiving this assistance though that should be taken into account before proceeding. First there is an application process which requires a physician’s statement certifying that the individual has Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Applicants – this means the person who has Alzheimer’s not the caregiver –  also must have an income of $30,000 per year or less, and cannot be enrolled in the Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders.

A twenty percent co-pay is required although it can be waived due to financial hardship.

Once you have met those requirements you can contact the Alzheimer’s Association and start the process of getting a breather. The association’s main office is at 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100 Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

Their telephone number is 860-828-2828 and the fax is 860-571-8613.

If you are in a state of extreme stress there is a Hotline that takes calls 24 hours per day, 7 days a week at 800-272-3900. Or you can email for information at info@alzct.org. You also can peruse their website at www.alz.org/ct/index.asp.

There. That should provide plenty of places to go, numbers to call and websites to read if you are caring for a person suffering from Alzheimer’s and you need some help.

If that doesn’t work, I strongly recommend loading up your household vehicle with the day’s garbage, pack in your wife, domestic partner or drinking buddy and head for the town dump!