In the late 1980’s I was offered a position with an Alzheimer’s Association in Central New York. I was responsible for developing and implementing educational programs for family members, health care professionals and the broader community. As our program developed we began offering 3-hour training programs for family members/caregivers and we went into nursing homes and hospitals to train their staff and doctors. You must remember that this was back in the late 1980’s so there was not a lot of information available on the topics of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Truthfully people were referring to Alzheimer’s at the “A” word and couldn’t bring themselves to even say the word. My experience with the association broadened my knowledge and understanding exponentially. I knew at the end of each day I had truly assisted people in understanding Alzheimer’s disease; the difference between it and dementia; the importance of care and understanding the patient. A number of years ago I was the director of an adult day care program for Alzheimer’s and dementia residents in Detroit, MI. Our program provided a safe haven for patients whose families were caught in the “sandwich generation”…that is, taking care of parents and children at the same time. This was and is a very difficult time for families who are caught between issues of time management, legal & financial responsibilities, employment and perhaps retirement. Most recently, I was working for an assisted living company that provides residential care for men and women with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As the Senior Director of the program, I worked closely with residents, their family members and the staff that cared for the residents. It was an awesome job that I loved. It was amazing to be able to interact with the residents on a daily basis. I found it fascinating to have conversations that would lead us in all sorts of directions, to see residents having so much fun participating in the activities of the day and enjoying lunch at local restaurants. I loved jumping into their reality so they felt loved, protected and validated. As a professional in the field, there are many things we take for granted in our daily routines that are completely foreign to a new caregiver. I want you to know that you are not alone and there are people who can help you through this unfortunate, frustrating and confusing situation. I hope I will hear from many of you who have questions specific to your situation. Please don’t hesitate to ask what might seem like a “stupid” or “frivolous” question. You learn by asking questions...the important thing is how you put new information into play in your daily lives to benefit your loved one and bring understanding to your own lives. I am committed to assisting caregivers – family members and professionals – in understanding what is happening during the disease process so we can all better understand how to communicate and care for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Putnam
DCPutnam Consulting
