ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION: Iowa Chapter November is National Family Caregivers Month & National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month By Lauren Livingston Alzheimer’s Association: November is National Family Caregivers Month and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Association is raising awareness of the importance of supporting caregivers. In Iowa, there are 73,000 family and friends providing care to over 66,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. In 2020, 11 million people nationwide, which represents nearly half of all caregivers, provided care to someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Over 80% of these caregivers are family or friends. Caregivers help their loved ones with daily living tasks, such as grocery shopping, cooking and transportation, personal care, like bathing, dressing and taking medication as well as emotional support and more. Compared with caregivers of people without dementia, twice as many caregivers of those with dementia indicate substantial emotional, financial and physical difficulties. The prevalence of depression (28% in Iowa) and chronic health issues (64% in Iowa) is also higher for caregivers of people with dementia versus other caregivers. Because of all of the challenges that caregivers face, it is imperative that they have access to support and resources to help them. The Alzheimer’s Association offers many free resources to caregivers including the 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900), local support groups and education programs and information on our website – alz.org/iowa – including tips on daily care, information on legal and financial planning, the stages of the disease and more. Below are ways that you can help support a caregiver, especially during the holiday season. 8 Ways to Support an Alzheimer’s Caregiver: 1. Learn about the disease: Educate yourself about Alzheimer’s disease – its symptoms, its progression and the common challenges facing caregivers. The more you know, the easier it will be to find ways to help. The Alzheimer’s Association has a vast amount of resources and information available at alz.org.
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