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National Alzheimer’s Month & National Caregivers Month (November 2009)
By Home Helpers, Jennifer Anastasiades

November is designated National Alzheimer’s Month and National Caregivers Month. With more than 35 million family caregivers providing some level of direct care for a family member age 50 or older, and approximately 10 million of them caring for someone with dementia, it is fitting that these two designations occur simultaneously. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2009 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures report, one in eight people age 65 and older currently has Alzheimer’s disease.

While the demands of caregiving on family members can be stressful and overwhelming, the challenges tend to be even more emotionally and physically draining when a loved one is cognitively impaired. For a variety of reasons, more and more family caregivers are turning to professional caregivers for support. Oftentimes, family members live out of town, have limited availability due to other commitments (e.g., immediate family, work), need an occasional respite break, or simply cannot handle the day-to-day responsibilities. Fortunately, there are home care agencies, such as Home Helpers. According to Home Helpers Owner Pat Dowd, “Our caregivers can either serve as the primary caregiver or supplement care provided by family and friends.”

According to Dowd, although many family members may wish to provide the majority of care, it can be beneficial to enjoy and focus on the relationship with their loved ones and leave the independent living and personal care activities to the professionals. To learn more about Home Helpers, call (781) 585-1244 today for your free in-home consultation.

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