New alliance aims to fill gap in Alzheimer's respite care
Longview News-JournalSep 06, 2017
People sometimes complain about their work shifts, but
That's because her job is taking care of her husband, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011.
"Some days he is almost completely normal, and some days he is not. It is the weirdest disease in the whole world," Freeman said. "I wouldn't want it for my worst enemy. People that haven't been through it 24/7 - you just can't describe it unless you've been there."
A main goal of the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance, which formed in February, is to provide more respite care programs for families of people with dementia-related diseases.
Such services are severely lacking in the
About six months ago, Freeman learned about two respite care programs. There, her husband can eat lunch and play games with other people who have dementia-related diseases.
Care on Tuesdays at
She said she makes good use of that time and said the programs help her and her husband.
"These places are a lifesaver," Freeman said. "I couldn't make it now without it. It gives me a break and him a break. When he comes home, I ask him what he had for lunch, and he can't remember, but he tells me it was good.
"He also comes home in a 100 percent better mood. There is such an improvement when he comes home, and he is happy. I think the main thing he is there with other people like him, and he feels more comfortable with them."
"As an elder law attorney, I see on a daily basis the need our local community has for respite care for families, spouses and children, dealing with an individual that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia," Ishihara said. "The East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance has a primary goal of providing resources for respite care to those family caregivers.
"We believe this will help alleviate the incredible stress that comes with being a primary caregiver and improve the chances for an individual to remain in their home with quality care from their family.
Wells, also a member of the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance, said the group is kept small as to not overwhelm residents. He said those who attend the respite program play chair volleyball with large balloons, sing karaoke, have lunch and then go out for ice cream.
On a recent Thursday at Buckner,
"I eat a lot, and I'll eat anything," he said with a smile.
For a little more than 10 years, the
"Most everyone wishes we were there five days a week; it's just a fun, fun time," Burnett said. "It's a social club. We play games, we are patriotic, we have people come to entertain us with musical instruments."
She said she believes she receives more from her role than she gives back.
"This is the greatest thing I've done," Burnett said. "I'm not complete if I miss a Tuesday. It's a blessing to be able to do God's work."
Alliance plans
The East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance has a long-term plan of either purchasing a building or have a building donated where respite care would be provided.
"These are tentative plans now, but our capital campaign is to build a respite care building for
The group is applying for a
The alliance said it still is gathering area statistics, so it is using those from www.alz.org:
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One in 10 people older than 65 have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
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More than 15 million people provide unpaid caregiver services to someone in need.
"The growing need for services is a challenge for all healthcare providers," she said. "In
Upcoming events
The East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance is holding a caregiver reception
The event will allow caregivers to meet the founding board members of the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance.
Alliance members want feedback on how to better serve the community and surrounding areas, and an informal question and answer session will be held.
On
Registration is at
The East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance also is co-sponsoring Mindshare:
The event is scheduled
Wine festival
Ishihara said the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance also is planning a wine festival such as the one
The Twice as Fine Texarkana Wine Festival has been a great fundraiser, according to
"We have more than 7,000 people attend the wine festival this past year," Wren said. "We have met with
Ishihara said the Longview Wine Festival benefiting the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance is set
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