My Spouse/Parent was just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. What do I do now?

The answer- GET EDUCATED, the sooner the better. There are two ways to get educated:

Teach yourself
1. Call the local Alzheimer’s Association – they will send you information and direct you to support groups. FREE.
2. Call the Area Agency on Aging for the names of other eldercare agencies that will give you information. FREE
3. Buy Books. Type in Alzheimer’s at Amazon.com or go to a bookstore. Not FREE but CHEAP.
4. Talk with your friends, fellow church members, anyone you see at the Neurologist’s office to see what their experiences are.
5. Go online – Start here and read articles from here and other Alzheimer’s sources. Google Alzheimer’s. FREE.
6. Visit Nursing homes, assisted livings, home care companies to speak to people who can teach you about Alzheimer’s.

Have a professional teach you
1. Geriatric Care Managers are professionals with expertise in Aging and the dementias. They are certified by the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers, as meeting the criteria of ethics and expertise by the national association. They are usually Social workers, Nurses or Gerontologists.
2. They will come to the residence of the person with the dementia and complete an extensive assessment of that persons circumstances, including but not limited to, the personality of the person, family dynamics involved with that person’s family, funds available for care, a safety check of the residence, other medical issues of the person, if other professionals need to be brought in to assist ( such as Eldercare Attorneys, Home Care companies, Senior Real Estate Experts and Senior movers, remodeling companies, etc…)
3. At the assessment and in meetings subsequent, the care Manager personally conducts educational sessions with the family on Alzheimer’s and related dementias to increase the family’s knowledge of the behaviors and how to address them.
4. From that assessment a Care Plan will be made up expressly for that person and their family, outlining steps to be taken immediately as well as steps to be taken in the intermediate and long term future.
5. The Care Manager may offer to monitor the person periodically to assure things are going as planned.
6. Care Managers are Private Pay. Medicare does not cover them, but some long term care insurance does. They may work by the hour or charge a flat fee for the assessment and an hourly rate after that. Most are independent companies, a few work for home care companies or other senior businesses. Rates vary widely. Generally in a range of $75-$150 an hour.
7. Most clients say that they ultimately have saved time, money and stress by going to a professional.
8. Care Managers can be found at this website: http://www.caremanager.org/

Carole Larkin
Third Age Services, LLC.
214-649-1392
Email: Carole_Larkin@tx.rr.com.