The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets on the 4th Monday of each month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Community Rooms “A” & “B” of the West Florida Rehabilitation Institute, 8391 N. Davis Highway in Pensacola.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 24 when the topic will be an open forum facilitated by Joy Barbee, RN, West Florida Memory Disorder Clinic.
The Alzheimer’s Support Group is intended to assist caregivers with understanding the needs and behaviors of the person diagnosed with progressive memory loss. Caregivers will learn about community resources and important steps in planning and managing care. The class is open to the public and would be beneficial to anyone who cares for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
An estimated four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, irreversible condition that destroys brain nerve cells and other structures in the central nervous system. People with Alzheimer’s disease gradually develop dementia, a loss of memory, problems with reasoning or judgment, disorientation, difficulty learning, loss of language skills, and decline in the ability to perform routine tasks. They also experience behavioral problems and personality changes, such as agitation, anxiety, delusions (believing in a reality that does not exist), and hallucinations (seeing things that do not exist).
At this time, there is no medical treatment to cure or stop the progression of
Alzheimer’s disease. However, several FDA-approved medications currently on the market may temporarily improve or stabilize memory and thinking skills in some individuals.
The session is free, but reservations are required. For more information or to register, call 494-3212.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: West Florida Memory Disorder Clinic hosts Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group