I follow this group on Facebook and have downloaded their brochure as follows:

If you or a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s, Early Onset Alzheimer’s, or another Dementia related disease, if you are an advocate, or want to know more about these diseases, we invite you to join us. Memory People™ is a Facebook group founded by Rick Phelps who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease June of 2010. Rick saw the need for real time interaction for all those touched by these diseases. At Memory People™ you will find care and support in a comfortable and safe environment where patients, caregivers, and all involved come together to share our stories, support each other, and bring awareness to these diseases. First, you will need to have a Facebook account to join us. From your Facebook home page type Memory People into the search bar. Then click on Memory People, and you will be taken to our home page where you can read about our group. Then, just click on the “Join Group” button and one of our Administrators will add you. If you or a loved one have been touched by Alzheimer’s or another Dementia related disease we encourage you to join us at Memory People™.
bringing Awareness, one person at a time
Rick Phelps
Founder, Memory People
Cell 740-294-2456
phelps2645@gmail.com
Leeanne Chames
Personal Assistant to Rick Phelps
Executive Director, Memory People
leeannechames@gmail.com

The mission of the Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network (Alabama Respite) is to lighten the burden on caregivers, by making caregiver supports more readily available in Alabama.

A caregiver is anyone who provides care for a person with a disability or chronic illness.  There are an estimated 850,000 caregivers in the state of Alabama providing care for a loved one in their home.  Providing this care, while rewarding, can often be physically, mentally, and spiritually taxing.

If you have a faith based community that would like to investigate how to provide some type respite for caregivers, go to alabamarespite.org and find out all the many ways a group can help.  They will go the extra mile to enable you to provide this valuable service. Or call Anna Hines-Capron at (256) 859-4900 or e-mail to annastc@ucphuntsville.org for more information.

Ministry leaders and church representatives can also help Alabama Respite staff learn what types of assistance may be the most useful by completing a quick survey at this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/52SQF8F.

Available respite resources are also listed on the website.  Learn about this caring network and benefit from their expertise.  The link to the website is found at the top of the blog.

PBS reports a special investigation on the Assisted Living industry.  If you miss the program on television, go to PBS.org and watch the full program entitled,”Life and Death in Assisted Living” at your convenience.  It’s a must see.

Gulf Shores United Methodist Church, located at 1900 Gulf Shores Parkway, offers DayBreak, a ministry providing support and service for caregivers and their loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease. DayBreak is held on Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is nominal and lunch is provided. For more information, contact Dolly Crewes at 251-968-3634 or Terry Fowinkle at 251-968-2377.  For more information, visit their website at Gulf Shores United Methodist Church.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia may be one of the greatest challenges many face in life.  At the E.A. Roberts Center, their program is designed to help caregivers meet that challenge.  The primary goal of the program is to maximize levels of functioning for those with dementia while offering support and relief to caregivers.  The staff consists of qualified professionals  who offer the following services:

Personal care, daily health monitoring, nutritional counseling, therapeutic activities, social interaction, meals and snacks, family/caregiver education, and support groups.

The center is open 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and offers flexible one – to- five day per week attendance schedule. They  have added a Saturday a month to their schedule.

To be eligible for the program, an individual must have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, and must be ambulatory or able to use a wheelchair.

For more information regarding the program, please call 251-435-6950.

Via has an enduring reputation for providing vital support services to residents in the Mobile Area. GrandFriends, an adult day services program, is one of the most valuable benefits offered.

GrandFriends combines structured, supervised activities with a safe, affordable and comfortable environment for elderly adults with dementia or special physical needs. The program is available 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Program members can participate one day a week or up to five days. Program members routinely participate in socialization, recreation and exercise activities that are focused on maintaining independence, dignity and life enjoyment within the scope of their individual abilities. Breakfast, a hot lunch and an afternoon snack are provided daily.

The GrandFriends staff consists of Certified Nursing Assistants, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, fitness trainers, and trained companions and volunteers. They are all dedicated to helping families who are confronted with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related issues. The program is dedicated to providing care-givers with much needed respite. Family members and friends are able to continue their daily routines knowing that their loved one is in a caring environment that fosters safety and activity.

All individuals must complete a screening and assessment to ensure eligibility.  Contact Via at 251-478-3311 or go to www.viamobile.org for more information.

I have just placed my mom into a skilled care facility.  The transition is difficult for us both.  Educating the staff on what works best with my mom is a delicate dance between what they do and what we expect.  We are still making adjustments but for all you folks doing a similar thing, here is a letter I’ve composed to help communicate our position.  Maybe it will help you, too.

Dear Caregiver,

Have I told you how important you are to us lately?  Along this journey with my mother and Alzheimer’s disease, you play a very important role.  You have the power to guide the outcome of her day by your sensitivity, creativity and kind nature. What helps my mother helps me.  And when Momma’s happy, everybody is happy.

Forgive me if I ever question the way you are caring for my mother.  You see, I am responsible for her welfare.  Before I chose you to help, I was providing her care.  Through trial and error, I figured out what methods worked best to achieve a pleasant day while accomplishing the activities of daily living.  When I could no longer handle the high demands of providing care alone, I turned to you for assistance.  However, I have the experiences that you could benefit from to help you do your job.

I have the privilege of knowing my mother very well.  I know her history, her preferences, and her personality.  I know how she might have responded to your personality when she was well.  Now that she has dementia and can’t use words to convey her wishes, we both need to take the time to listen to her nonverbal cues. Then we will best know how to approach and achieve what we are here to do.

We are both here, communicating with each other for one purpose―to care for my mom.  For me, this is a daunting task that I take very seriously.  I often feel helpless and afraid that I’m not doing everything I should to care for her.  At times, I have chosen to look the other way when things seem amiss because I don’t want to become estranged from you.  I need you.  I have learned a lot from you and value your input.  I couldn’t do this without you!

I need to trust your care for my loved one.  I know this isn’t an easy job for either of us.  I have added you to my team in hopes of working together.  Your interaction with my mother is of major importance to her quality of life.  If you’re having difficulty, let’s put our heads together to come up with a solution.  And when we do communicate, please pass that information on to the next caregiver so our solution and awareness won’t be lost.

In this information age, there are solutions to our challenges with a click of a mouse, a visit to the library, or time spent watching a DVD.  I encourage you to continue to take the time to educate yourself on all aspects of your job.  Please don’t be offended if I offer a suggestion when I think I know a better way.  And I’ll welcome any suggestions from you.   I want to keep the conversation going.  I am for you, not against you.  I want us to succeed.

I believe I speak for all the families who rely on someone else to care for their loved ones.  Our peace of mind and the quality of someone’s life depend on it.

Thank you.

 Today was my last afternoon activity with the residents at the Special Care Assisted Living Facility where my mom lives.  We moved there September of last year.  Over the months, I have enjoyed getting to know the residents as they all gather in one big community room throughout the day.

At first, my purpose in knowing everyone was to help my mom feel a part of the group and become acquainted with her new “neighbors”.  As time went on, however, I began to look forward to my visits not only with my mom, but with my new friends as well.  After I spent some one on one time with my mom in her room or outside, we would move into the common area and visit with anyone who was interested.  One day mom and I sat at one of the round dining tables when soon everyone who could squeeze around the table was present.  We began to roll a small rubber ball back and forth between us.  After we got the hang of that, we added spontaneous singing. As elementary as this may seem, we all enjoyed the challenge of keeping the ball on the table and the familiar songs. This became a regular occurrence. It kept the residents engaged until suppertime and boosted everyone’s spirits.

Sometimes we connected a speaker to my smartphone and played music from their era and took any requests that came up.  It was like sitting around the record player and listening to all our favorite music.  To look around the table at the smiles and broken sentences was pure joy. From my favorite singing partner who could harmonize with and follow anything I sang, to my tall friend who could play the harmonica and my dear little friend who could only see shadows and hear when I spoke loudly into her ear, I will always remember you with great fondness.

Some of those folks have already passed to their eternal destiny.  I was privileged to have been at the bedside of several of my new friends as they began their approach to their new life in heaven.  The families also became very precious to me, along with many of the staff members of the facility.

Now we must move to a higher level of care as my mom’s abilities have declined.  As difficult as it is to leave our friends at this place, I know the next place offers new friends and unknown possibilities.

Good-bye, Brookside.   I’ll always cherish the time spent with you and expect one day, “in the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.”

Thank you for visiting this site.  If you have any questions concerning your journey with someone with Alzheimer’s Disease that is not already addressed in the previous pages, please leave a comment after any post.  I will receive those comments and be able to answer you directly or post some information that you may find helpful or direct you to the answer if I can.

I hope you will communicate with me on a regular basis so we can get a conversation going.  I welcome your experiences, trials, successes and resources.  Don’t be shy, I’m waiting to hear from you.

The Area Agency on Aging is pleased to announce its new dedicated Alzheimer’s helpline.  It provides free, trusted, unbiased information about services available in Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia Counties for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  The phone is answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on normal business days.  The service is provided in partnership with the Alzheimer’s &  Dementia Coalition of South Alabama.