Dementia Organizations -- Preventing Isolation Of Yourself As Caregiver
Updated: 2018-02-07
Fortunately, there are more and more organizations today that specifically address a specific type of dementia. While years before there were only the large organizations like the Alzheimer's Association, founded in 1981, now there are groups representing the rarer dementias like frontal temporal dementia. Which should you join or participate in? I say as many as you can; each offers different services and perspectives.
I have found that some groups have more funding than others. Size of the population can determine funding, along with wealthy individual donors that were affected by dementia. As frustrating as it is to any family, realistically dollars equates to the number of programs that an organization can provide.
While my father has the rare frontal temporal dementia, which is different than Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association was the first organization that I contacted when we received Dad's diagnosis years ago. The Alzheimer’s Organization connected me with resources that were specific to Dad’s dementia. They also have support groups for early onset dementias.
I enjoy working with our local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association Greater Michigan Chapter. I still participate in the support groups that they organize today. The Alzheimer’s Association has local offices in nearly every community, and can provide services and information specific to where you live.
Another benefit of joining a broader organization and learning about other types of dementia is to be able to better educate your friends, family, and community about the differences with your loved one’s specific type of dementia. While Alzheimer's gets much of the media attention, I find it helpful to describe to friends how Dad’s dementia is different, yet what is still possible because of these differences.
In our Bernie’s Journeys, I have found that the same empathy and support is needed for our loved ones with an early onset Alzheimer’s dementia as with our loved ones with the rarer frontotemporal dementia. We should all work together to find new ways to support our loved ones.
Fortunately, there are more and more organizations today that specifically address a specific type of dementia. While years before there were only the large organizations like the Alzheimer's Association, founded in 1981, now there are groups representing the rarer dementias like frontal temporal dementia. Which should you join or participate in? I say as many as you can; each offers different services and perspectives.
I have found that some groups have more funding than others. Size of the population can determine funding, along with wealthy individual donors that were affected by dementia. As frustrating as it is to any family, realistically dollars equates to the number of programs that an organization can provide.
While my father has the rare frontal temporal dementia, which is different than Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association was the first organization that I contacted when we received Dad's diagnosis years ago. The Alzheimer’s Organization connected me with resources that were specific to Dad’s dementia. They also have support groups for early onset dementias.
I enjoy working with our local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association Greater Michigan Chapter. I still participate in the support groups that they organize today. The Alzheimer’s Association has local offices in nearly every community, and can provide services and information specific to where you live.
Another benefit of joining a broader organization and learning about other types of dementia is to be able to better educate your friends, family, and community about the differences with your loved one’s specific type of dementia. While Alzheimer's gets much of the media attention, I find it helpful to describe to friends how Dad’s dementia is different, yet what is still possible because of these differences.
In our Bernie’s Journeys, I have found that the same empathy and support is needed for our loved ones with an early onset Alzheimer’s dementia as with our loved ones with the rarer frontotemporal dementia. We should all work together to find new ways to support our loved ones.