Mental Health America equips families with information, education, and access to the community support services needed to provide the best care for their loved ones living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Their Caregiver Support Program empowers families with an active support network, reminding them they are never alone on this journey. By focusing on the power of the present, they help families make memories for tomorrow. This program provides services to 13 counties: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Wilson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, and Williamson. The programs consist of one-on-one meetings with family caregivers. They also provide group training regarding communicating with someone living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and providing tips and techniques on dealing with difficult behaviors as well as having difficult conversations with regard to aging in place.
One of the pieces to aging in place and having a good quality of life is doing your best of planning for the “what ifs” of the caregiving journey. The Caregiver Support Program can place resources and workbooks right in the hands of caregivers that will walk them through the planning of long-term care. The pieces include titles: “Now What?” Steps to Take After Receiving an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis (and in Spanish), How to Have a Successful Doctors Appointment, and Preparing and Planning for Life’s Final Chapter. There are also resources that cover such topics as bathing, dressing, and the importance of dietary needs. Not only is this information provided free of charge but there are training courses that teach how to implement changes in the home. Again, focusing on the quality of life for the care receiver and the care provider. Most of the resources provided are in both English and Spanish. This is especially important as we are finding that Hispanic Women are more at risk from Alzheimer’s than others of different racial backgrounds. It is also important since Hispanic and African American older adults tend to rely more on inside family support than reaching outside of the home for information and education.
If contacting the Caregiver Support Program directly is not possible, a number of items can be found on their website at www.mhamidsouth.org as well as the National Institute on Aging at All Publications | Publication Ordering System and Contact Report System (nih.gov) and Age Well at www.agewelltn.org. These resources are free for anyone to order and there are also downloads available.
Lynn Wood is a Caregiver Support Coordinator. She is a member of the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and a Certified PAC (Positive Approach to Care) Trainer. If you would like more information regarding this support program, you can reach her at lwood@mhamidsouth.org or 615-434-2710.