DAPHNE, Ala.— Caring for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia is never easy.

A caregiver—usually a family member—must handle the stress of seeing someone’s health and well-being decline while they make sacrifices such as missing or quitting work to look after the person affected.

 The Agency on Aging has set a six-week seminar at the Daphne Senior Center to address the emotional and financial needs of caregivers of Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers.

Sessions will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesdays from Jan. 7 to Feb. 11, 2009.

“It’s going to be different facets of Alzheimer’s disease like education and the dimensions of the disease process,” Alabama Cares coordinator Gwen Gay said. “We’ll focus on caregivers’ health, dealing with (patients’) hostile behavior and creating a safe, conducive environment.”

The information sessions will teach caregivers how to keep themselves healthy while they care for their loved ones.

“It will give (caregivers) some info on how to help them deal with personal caregiving,” Gay said.

The sessions will also cover: diet, health and legal issues; personal finance management and estate planning; understanding Medicare; and exercise.

The sessions are for anyone who is caregiving or who anticipates moving into that role.

“They can either use it personally or share (the info) with those who need it,” Gay said.

For caregivers who would like to attend but need assistance in watching their loved ones, the Agency on Aging can send a registered nurse to the affected person’s home while the caregiver participates in the sessions.

“If caregivers want to attend and they have home responsibilities, we have a licensed and bonded nursing agency for that,” Gay said.

“We’ll pay for the nurses to watch their loved ones while they attend,” she said.

Family caregiver profile

According to the Agency on Aging:

Impact of family caregiving

The impact family caregiving can have includes financial burdens like lost wages and expenditures such as gas needed to drive loved ones to see physicians.

According to the Agency on Aging:

“Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Health”

All sessions are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Daphne Senior Center; topics are as follows.

For caregivers who may feel overwhelmed, help is on the way. The sessions will provide valuable information for the primary caregivers of an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient.

A light breakfast including coffee, juice and Danishes will be served. Lunch will be catered each week from local sandwich eateries and pizza delivery establishments.

The Daphne Senior Center is located inside the Daphne Civic Center at 2605 U.S. Highway 98.

Call The Agency on Aging at 433-6541 or 1-800-243-5463 for more information.