Group offers guidance for Alzheimer’s caregivers

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America President Chuck Fuschillo Jr. joined Boston Herald Radio’s “Morning Meeting” program yesterday to talk about the group’s upcoming free conference at the Hotel Langham in Boston on March 19:

Q: This is something that really impacts pretty much every family at some point or another.

A: We all our lives are told exercise, don’t drink, don’t smoke and keep your body healthy. They should also say keep your brain healthy as well. We deal with families whose loved ones are in their 30s and 40s who have Early Onset Alzheimer’s. So it’s really becoming more prevalent. In the state of Massachusetts alone there’s about 120,000 people living with Alzheimer’s. So there’s a multiplier. So that means that there’s more than 300,000 caregivers in your state and nationwide over 5 million people are living with the disease, more than 20 million caregivers. So you need to become better educated on Alzheimer’s disease and what can be done and how you can help.

Q: Patients’ children are often not ready to suddenly take on this kind of level of caregiving.

A: You’re absolutely right, and one of the initiatives we have is chapters in high schools and in middle schools and colleges all throughout the country. We want people to be better educated and you’re never too young to learn to be a caregiver. All of a sudden life changes. Once Alzheimer’s walks into your front door, life is never the same for the person inflicted with the disease, but you as a caregiver as well.

And that’s why we’re coming to Boston as part of our Educating America Tour.