Alzheimer's caregiving series offered

RONAN - An Alzheimer's caregiving mini-series for informal caregivers will be held each Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Oct. 3, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the MSU/Lake County Extension Office, 300 Third Avenue NW, Ronan. Almost 17,000 Montanans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a debilitating illness that steals a person's memory and ability to function independently.

The disease knows no boundaries of economic status, race, gender or intellect. It creates challenges for family members as they seek out answers and treatment.

The recognized need for educational programming for caregivers has resulted in the development of this five-week program.

The first session will feature local speakers and give an overview of the disease. Each following week, a Family and Consumer Science Specialist from Montana State University Extension will travel to the area and present information on various topics. The topics include:

Sept. 5: Understanding the nature of Alzheimer's, its causes, diagnosis and treatment. Local resources will also be shared.
Sept. 12: Food and nutrition for people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.
Sept. 19: Alzheimer's-proofing your home: adaptations and safety.
Sept. 26: Financial and legal issues regarding health care, property titles, power of attorney, etc. and
Oct. 3: Taking care of yourself: how to recognize and reduce stress.

Although this series is geared for the informal caregiver, professionals are welcome to attend. The cost is $10 per family for all five sessions.

The goal is to give reliable information about the disease and to provide tools to the caregiver to help them during this time. For more information and to register, call Corinne Cramer, MSU/Lake County Extension Agent at 676-4271 or lake1@montana.edu.