New Alzheimer's Disease Resources
The Upper Peninsula’s population is aging.
And the U.P. region chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association wants the community to know about two ways to find help online.
The group has recently launched two new free resources.
ALZ Connected is the world’s first social networking site just for Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers.
And Alzheimer’s Navigator lets caregivers connect with local programs and services.
U.P. region director Ruth Almen says resources like these are crucial because serving as an Alzheimer’s caregiver can occupy all day and all night, so caregivers might only have time at 2 or 3 in the morning to seek this sort of help.
About 180,000 people in Michigan are living with Alzheimer’s, and there are about 500,000 unpaid caregivers in the state.
Almen says the impending holiday season can be rough because it can feel as if a family has lost someone with Alzheimer’s while that person is still alive.
She says if you know an Alzheimer’s patient or caregiver, it would be very helpful to that person to offer some emotional comfort or to cook dinner.
With members of the baby boom generation now turning 65, the need for Alzheimer’s resources is expected to climb quickly.
The Alzheimer’s Association says one of every eight Americans age 65 or older has the disease.