Programs for people in the Miami Valley living with early stage dementia
Early Stage Education Series: Comprehensive education program focused on the person living with early stage dementia
Early Stage Support Group: Monthly group for people living with early stage dementia that discusses issues like loss of driving, coping with the diagnosis, anger, sharing the diagnosis with others, dealing with your caregiver
Memory Café: This monthly program, designed for the person living with early stage dementia, encourages friendship and life enjoyment. Events include art workshop, writing workshop, visit to Cox Arboretum and more.
Who is appropriate for these programs?
The person
with dementia must be interested in participating with a group of peers on issues related to dementia; willing to acknowledge his/her own symptoms of dementia; be able to discuss experiences and feelings related to living with dementia; and be able to manage all aspects of self-care.
Before attending any early stage programming, an initial interview over the phone or in person with an Alzheimer’s Association staff is required. For additional information or to set up an initial interview, call (937) 291-3332. Information about Alzheimer’s disease is available 24 hours a day through the association helpline at (800) 272-3900.
Alz Stars Bowling for Alzheimer’s
What: Annual fundraiser held in conjunction with the PBA Senior Dayton Classic
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26.
Where: Capri Lanes, 2727 S. Dixie Highway, Kettering
Cost: $50, includes bowling with some of the biggest names in the sport including Walter Ray Williams Jr., Johnny Petraglia and Tom Baker, prime rib dinner, music and dancing
Information: Space is limited. Contact Teresa Thomas at (937) 291-3332 or teresa.thomas@alz.org
Intellectually, Sherry Geiger of Washington Twp. understood the diagnosis but emotionally, it was almost more than she could bear.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking,” she said.
Sherry’s husband Bruce, now 65, was initially diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and later as having probable Alzheimer’s disease. The retired nurse noticed symptoms in her husband of 42 years starting in 2007; Bruce thinks it started even earlier.
“I suspected for about 10 years that I was dulling a bit,” he said. “I just know I wasn’t as sharp.”
The former Penny/Ohlmann/Neiman vice president is part of a growing number of people nationwide living with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 5.4 million people nationwide and 230,000 in Ohio have the most common form of dementia, commonly associated with problems with memory and thinking and changes in behavior.
“There are very few people who aren’t going to be touched by dementia in some way in their lifetime, whether it is them or someone they are close to,’’ said Dr. Larry Lawhorne, chairman and professor of geriatrics at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.
But while the prospect of living with Alzheimer’s is one that evokes dread in many, the key word for Eric VanVlymen, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter, is “living.”
“There is still life for people with Alzheimer’s,” he said. “That is especially true for those with early stage.”
Beyond the diagnosis
“Bruce’s personality is still pretty much the same,” Sherry said. “He has what he calls ‘cloudy’ days when his brain just isn’t working well, but then he will have good days when he is totally up to doing anything.”
Bruce is considered to be in “early stage,” which refers to people, irrespective of age, who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders and are in the beginning stages of the disease. These patients retain the ability to participate in daily activities and in a give-and-take dialogue. This includes those persons with “younger onset” that develop dementia before age 65 and who are still in the early stages of the disease.
“Early stage is when a person, themself, acknowledges that they have it and is figuring out how to live with it,” VanVlymen said. “The key to early stage is engaging people who know they have the disease.”
That engagement can come in a number of forms from support groups to educational programs and activities to clinical trials.
“It’s important for them to know that they don’t need to be alone, they can tell people what they are going through,” VanVlymen said. “And they can engage with other people and find comfort.”
Beyond coping and commiserating, he encourages early-stage patients to investigate clinical trials, of which there are two being conducted in the Dayton area, as well as opportunities for advocacy.
“The more awareness there is, the more it will help people come out and share their experience,” VanVlymen said.
A positive attitude
“I accept that I have this condition and try to live every day to its fullest extent,” Bruce said. “My life is wonderful, largely because I have a wonderful wife, and I live in the moment.”
That’s not to say he doesn’t have his bad days, the same can be said for Sherry.
“As a nurse, I referred a lot of people to the Alzheimer’s Association and I had more awareness of this condition than most people do, but I think that’s also why I wasn’t sure initially that I wanted to talk about it because I knew the outcome and I didn’t want to be part of that club.”
Sherry and Bruce, while they have a close network of family and friends, have both found comfort and camaraderie in support groups.
“It’s a place where you can sit down and say ‘this sucks,’” VanVlymen said. “Or you can just listen and not say much at all.”
Those who aren’t ready to talk about their condition can find a variety of resources online at www.alz.org and in books. Lawhorne recommends “The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life,” by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins.
“It’s a very comforting resource,” Lawhorne said.
About the Author