Tips For Dementia Caregivers During Winter Weather
Winter weather conditions colder temperatures, snow andice and early darkness can be particularly challenging and stressful for the215,000 dementia caregivers in Indiana. The Alzheimers Association GreaterIndiana Chapter is offering the following tips for keeping loved ones safe:
Be prepared. Winter stormscan be dangerous. Check weather conditions regularly and have emergency plansin place. For example, if a snowstorm is predicted consider reschedulingappointments that are not urgent. Tackle to-do lists in one trip to avoidmaking multiple trips.
Bundle up. If delayingtips is not an option, help the person living with Alzheimers dress warmly forwinter weather conditions by wearing dry, loose-fitting layers and coveringexposed skin. Make sure the person you are caring for wears clothing thatcovers as much exposed skin as possible. Mittens keep hands warmer than glovesand may be easier to help get on and off.
Prevent slips. Balance andmobility can be a challenge for a person living with Alzheimers or dementia.Assume all surfaces are slick and assist the person by taking smaller steps andslowing down, so they can match gait and speed to a safer level.
Make daylight last. Winter monthsbring decreased sunlight and shorter days. Visual perception can be a challengefor those living with Alzheimers or other dementias, and can cause increasedconfusion or disorientation in dark or shadowy environments both inside andout.
Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter Applauds Passage Of Dementia Training Bill
INDIANA The Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter is applauding the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 353, which will set minimum dementia training standards for home health aides. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb on March 8, 2022.
SEA 353 was authored by Sen. Vaneta Becker and Sen. Stacey Donato and co-authored by Sen. Shelli Yoder , Sen. Ed Charbonneau , Sen. Michael Young , and Sen. Lonnie Randolph . It was sponsored in the House by Rep. J. Michael Davisson , Rep. Ann Vermilion , Rep. Cindy Ledbetter , and Rep. Gregory Porter .
Hoosier families are increasingly choosing in-home health aides to assist with caregiving, said David Sklar, director of government affairs, Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter. Setting minimum training requirements will benefit these professionals by ensuring they have an understanding of the unique needs of people living with dementia, and it will help ensure their patients receive quality care. We want to thank Governor Holcomb and the many legislators on both sides of the aisle who supported this bill.
Nearly 220 volunteer Hoosier advocates from across the state sent emails and contacted legislators in support of the bill during the Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapters Day of Action last month. Another 259 advocates sent messages to Governor Holcomb asking him to sign the bill.
Executive Director Natalie Sutton Reflects On Aaic22
Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter executive director Natalie Sutton attended the 2022 Alzheimers Association International Conference in San Diego. Below, she reflects on the experience and shares some of the top stories from this year.
Over the last week, Ihave been privileged to join more than 5,000 in-person and 4,000 virtualattendees at AAIC 2022. Research is the key to finding a cure, and it is incredible to learnabout all the exciting studies that are helping us uncover new informationabout this disease and how to fight it.
AAIC brings together the best and brightest minds from about100 countries around the world. This year, about 60 percent of attendees arewomen. Many are students who are just beginning their careers in the field. Indianais also well-represented, with 56 Hoosier researchers presenting theirfindings.
Here are just a few of the top stories from this year:
· Persistentloss of smell due to COVID-19 may be a better predictor of long-termcognitive impairment than the severity of the initial disease.
· Experiencesof racism are associated with lower memory scores and worse cognition inmidlife and old age, especially among Black individuals.
· Lowersocioeconomic status is associated with higher dementia risk, lowercognitive performance and faster memory decline.
· Experiencinghigh blood pressure disorders during pregnancy is associated with anincreased risk of vascular dementia and accelerated brain aging.
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Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter Offers Tips For Caregivers During Extreme Heat
Extreme heat can have a significantimpact on everyones safety, but it can be especially stressful and confusingfor individuals with Alzheimers and other dementias.
People living with Alzheimers andother dementia can be vulnerable during extreme weather because their judgmentmay be impaired and they may be unable to communicate discomfort, saidNatalie Sutton, executive director,Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter. Its really important to takeextra precautions with these individuals when there is extreme heat or otherexcessive weather conditions.
The Alzheimers Association GreaterIndiana Chapter is offering important safety tips for the 216,000 Hoosiersserving as family caregivers for someone with dementia:
Make a plan. Family and friends should prepare accordingly and makeplans to regularly check-in on a person living with Alzheimers disease andother dementias during extreme heat. Arrange alternative plans for coolerspaces, if air conditioning is unavailable, and dress in loose, light clothing.
Pay attention at night. Keep people living with Alzheimersdisease and other dementias cool by using fans and keeping the air conditioningon. At night, low temperatures can still exceed 75 degrees with littlefluctuation in humidity levels, making for difficult and exacerbating sleepingconditions, heightened anxiety and increased agitation.
Greater Indiana Chapter Thanks Super Early Bird Walk Sponsors
The 2022 Walk to End Alzheimers® doesnt begin until September, but more than two dozen sponsors signed on to support Greater Indiana Chapter Walks months in advance. The Chapter is recognizing them for their commitment to the fight against Alzheimers and all other dementia.
Our sponsors are critically important to advancing our mission, said Julie Moore, Senior Director of the Walk to End Alzheimers for the Greater Indiana Chapter. Their contributions help us fund research and provide free programs for Hoosier families affected by the disease. Signing on early helps set our Walks up for success, and we are so grateful for their support.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, email Julie at jumoore@alz.org.
To register for the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimers, visit alz.org/indiana/walk.
Thank you to these super early bird sponsors!
American Senior Communities
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A Milestone Year In Indiana And Beyond
2022 was a milestone year for the Alzheimers AssociationGreater Indiana Chapter and most importantly for the fight against thisdisease. It included the Chapters first $1 million Walk to End Alzheimers andthe most promising news yet in dementia research.
Take a look back at the year in advocacy, care andsupport, research, fundraising, and awareness.
Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Kicks Off 2022’s The Longest Day Fundraiser
Indianapolis The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter kicked off its The Longest Day fundraiser for 2022.
The fundraiser is all about standing up to the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s being held on Tuesday, June 21st this year which is the day of the year with the longest amount of light.
Tuesday’s kick off was aimed at getting the word out.
People are encouraged to take something they love to do and turn it into a fundraiser.
Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Executive Director Natalie Sutton said it’s never too early to start.
“It really is a year round campaign and we have volunteers and participants and fundraisers and people who help us raise awareness of the Alzheimer’s Association and our mission,” Dutton said.
Money raised will be used for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
You can register for The Longest Day fundraiser, by clicking here.
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Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter To Host Virtual Day Of Action
INDIANA Volunteer advocates from across the state will urge lawmakers to pass legislation to help Hoosiers affected by Alzheimers and other dementia during the Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapters virtual Day of Action on Feb. 1, 2022.
Alzheimers Association advocates will push for three legislative priorities, including SB 353, authored by Sen. Vaneta Becker and Sen. Stacey Donato , which would require minimum dementia training standards for home health aides.
More and more Hoosiers facing dementia are opting for in-home care, yet home health aides in Indiana receive little or no training on caring for someone with the disease, said David Sklar, director of government affairs, Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter. It is crucial that home health aides receive adequate training so they are prepared to provide quality patient-centered care.
Advocates will also push for HB 1087, authored by Rep. Ethan Manning , to create a dementia coordinator role in state government and two proposed bills HB 1123, authored by Rep. Gregory Porter and SB 112, authored by Sen. Donato that would add Alzheimers expertise to Indianas Medicaid Advisory Committee.
More information is available at bit.ly/INadvocacy2022.
Indianapolis Airport Authority Unveils Promise Garden Display
Ahead of the 2022 Indianapolis Walk to End Alzheimers®, the Indianapolis Airport Authority unveiled a 10-foot tall spinning purple Promise Garden flower display in the Civic Plaza area of the Indianapolis International Airport.
An unveiling event was held on Sept. 12. Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority Natalie Sutton, executive director of the Alzheimers Association Greater Indiana Chapter and Ersal Ozdemir, executive event chair of the 2022 Indianapolis Walk and owner of 2022 Walk host Indy Eleven spoke during the event. Zeke, the Indy Eleven mascot, was also in attendance.
In addition to raising awareness of the Walk, the display includes information on the warning signs of the disease and the Alzheimers Association Helpline , a free resource that is available nationwide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At the Indianapolis Airport Authority, we understand the impact of Alzheimers disease on travelers and the community, said Mario Rodriguez, executive director, Indianapolis Airport Authority. We have quiet sensory rooms available for people living with the disease and their caregivers, and we offer tips and information to help travelers who need additional assistance. This partnership with the Alzheimers Association is a continuation of those efforts. Were proud to help raise awareness of the disease and the resources available for travelers because we believe no one should walk or fly this journey alone.
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They Touched Our Lives That Day One Indy Walk Participant Shares Her Walk Day Experience
Registration for the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimers is now open at alz.org/indiana/walk. Below is the story of one Indianapolis Walk participant, Traci McGaha. In her own words, she shares what the Walk Day experience was like for her last year, when she held the purple Promise Garden flower – honoring someone lost to the disease – for the first time.
In November of 2020 my Mom lost her battle with Frontotemporal Dementia, a type of dementia that causes issues with behavior and language. I walk every year because it was her favorite thing to do. It keeps her memory alive. I recently went through the year of firsts. Birthdays, holidays and other anniversaries you experience after your person passes away. It makes for a difficult year, but I am happy we got through it.
Ive been walking since my mother was first diagnosed in 2015. Ive walked in East Lansing, MI , Battle Creek, MI, and Indianapolis, IN, where we now walk every year.
I made it through the first Walk without my Mom . I love you, Mom, and I will walk every year I am able in hopes of one day raising that white flower.
Board Member Turns Passion For Pickleball Into Fundraiser For The Longest Day
Take some elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, servethem up on an indoor or outdoor court, and you have pickleball the nationsfastest-growing sport.
Among the games many devotees: Alzheimers AssociationGreater Indiana Chapter board member Dr. David Mandelbaum and his wife, Anna,who he says has become nearly addicted to the sport.
They are taking their passion for pickleball and turning itinto a fundraiser for The Longest Day® by hosting a pickleball tournament. Weare looking to have between 150 and 200 players in the tournament and manyinterested spectators in the park that weekend. It will afford us not only theopportunity to generate lots of revenue, all of which will go to theAlzheimers Association, but will create an audience for some briefpresentations and announcements well be making to provide education regardingdementia, our organization and the cause were there to support, Mandelbaum said.
Mandelbaum says the disease had an impact on his family in anumber of ways, including financially. As the oldest of six kids, I acceptedthe responsibility of becoming the legal guardian of both parents as theirhealth declined. Managing their affairs amounted to nearly a full-time jobwhile I was also working full time as a busy physician and, of course,collaborating with my wife to manage our own affairs which obviously did notjust go away.
It was the worst part of the roller coaster ride ofemotions that accompanied my role as main caregiver, he said.
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Who We Are
Our mission: To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research to provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Our vision: A world without Alzheimer’s disease.
History: In 1982, the Alzheimer’s Association and Related Disorders Organization was established in cooperation with Community Hospitals, Indianapolis to support patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Chapter affiliated with the National Association in 1988 and became the Alzheimer’s Association – Central Indiana Chapter. By the year 2000, 37 counties in central Indiana were served by the Chapter.
Meanwhile, in 1986, the South Central Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association was incorporated. Located in Columbus, IN, the South Central Chapter originally served five counties. By the year 2000, their service area had grown to 14 counties.
In the year 2000, these two chapters merged to form the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Indiana. In 2003, the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Indiana merged with the Fort Wayne Alzheimers Support Groups to form the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter. With the merger, the Association expanded its territory to include Northern Indiana and opened an office in Fort Wayne, IN.
More than 400 volunteers are also utilized to provide support and education to the Chapter’s 73 counties.
What We Do
The Alzheimer’s Association is here to help families through their journey with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Our free services at a glance:
– 24/7 Helpline staffed by highly-trained and knowledgeable professionals for information, support and assistance: 800-272-3900- Support groups for caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s- Education programs to help families understand the disease and how to relate to their loved one, as well as for professionals.- One-on-one care consultations for families with clinical social workers.- Community Resource Guides
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