Families facing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will have access to a free, seven- week education course in Silver City, offered by the Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter.
“Skills for Dementia Caregiving 101” (aka The Savvy Caregiver Program) is designed for family and friends caring for a loved one with dementia.
To provide caregivers with planning options, there are two separate opportunities to attend: The daytime option will be held once a week, Saturdays, from Jan. 27 through March 10, from 9 to 11 a.m.
The evening option will be held Thursdays, Feb. 1 through March 15, from 5:30 to 7:30.
All sessions will take place at the Church of Christ (in the fellowship hall), 1920 Little Walnut Road in Silver City. To register or for more information on either class, contact Kristin Gandara at 800272-3900 or kmdandara@alz.org.
This evidence-based training aims to teach caregivers practical techniques for interacting with loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and for understanding and managing their behavior. It also imparts tools for long-term planning and for reducing stresses common to dementia or Alzheimer’s caregivers. The course explains the signs, impacts and pathology of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Class size is limited and they fill up quickly.
Participants of “Skills for Dementia Caregiving 101” (aka The Savvy Caregiver Program) may be reimbursed for the cost of having others tend to their loved one while they attend the classes.
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is growing — and growing fast. Today, 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including an estimated 200,000 under the age of 65. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and nearly two/thirds of those with Alzheimer’s disease — 3.3 million — are women. Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia*.
Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s dementia. By 2050, someone in the United States will develop Alzheimer’s dementia every 33 seconds. By that same year, as many as 16 million will have the disease.
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $259 billion in 2017, increasing to $1.1 trillion by mid-century.
Alzheimer’s takes a devastating toll — not just on those with the disease, but on entire families. In this state, 38,000 New Mexicans are suffering from Alzheimer’s. They are cared for by 106,000 unpaid caregivers, many of whom are members of their own families.
If you need help, call the 24/7 Helpline anytime day or night for support or information at 1-800-272-3900.
The Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter, offers many free services and resources to caregivers and families facing the disease: support groups, care consultations, respite, educational presentations, safety programs, information and referral and more.
There are five branch offices in the state: Albuquerque (main office), Santa Fe (northeastern New Mexico), Farmington (northwestern New Mexico), Roswell (southeastern New Mexico) and Las Cruces (southwestern New Mexico).
All offices may be contacted by calling 1-800 272-3900.
*Source for all statistics: The 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report at www.alz.org/facts.