Community support for senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can help out and supplement any help received from home, or from the federal government. Luckily, Colorado has a lot of support for seniors affected by Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It kills more than prostate and breast cancer combined. There are currently more than five million people affected by the disease in the U.S., and approximately every 67 seconds someone develops it.
Nearly two-thirds of those who get the disease are women. Actually, senior women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as they are breast cancer during their lifetimes.
Community Support for Seniors with Alzheimer’s in Colorado
The Alzheimer’s Association – http://www.alz.org/
This is a national organization that has chapters in most states in the United States. They have many programs to educate and help those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Here are just some of the programs they provide:
Education Programs – There are numerous programs that teach people about Alzheimer’s disease for free. These programs are designed for seniors who have symptoms of the illness, as well as for anyone who might be caring for them.
Learn everything you can about the symptoms of the disease, as well as how to care for any sufferer.
Get-Togethers – Another part of local community support are groups that meet on a regular basis. These groups are designed for those who are suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
They can meet in a social setting with other people who have the disease. They can attend with their families and can receive support and counseling.
Caregivers – They provide caregivers the counseling they need to deal with Alzheimer’s patients in various stages of the illness. They also have a toll-free hotline that is open 24 hours a day in case you need it.
Walk-a-Thon – They have charity walks where you can participate to help fund their programs. This is also a nice way that you can also give back, and it allows them to continue and possibly expand their programs.
Other Programs
Here are some programs that you can find:
Locally Sponsored – There are many locally sponsored programs and events that take place throughout Colorado. Check your local directories, or other designated places in the city or town you live for relevant information. You can also search on the Internet.
Meals on Wheels – Meals on Wheels Association of America is a nutritional program for seniors that delivers delicious meals to their doorsteps. It is a nationwide program.
They have more than 5000 locations across the U.S.
Online Support Groups – Because most of us have computers, it becomes much easier for people to form a virtual community on the Internet. There are many groups out there that discuss the difficulties of Alzheimer’s disease and address those problems and seek solutions.
You can be located anywhere in the U.S. or the world and participate.
For those who want some anonymity, they can join these groups without giving their real name or location. What’s really amazing about these groups is that you are hearing real stories about people who are going through the same situation in their lives.
You can learn from each other’s experience, and you can possibly learn about other community support groups that you didn’t know existed in your area.
Conclusion
Community support programs for seniors are available in most areas in the United States. It shouldn’t take you very long to find them, set up an appointment, and benefit from them. Always look for as many support programs as you can to assist you.
