‘Coping with Changes’: Alzheimer’s New Jersey to Host Free Conference in Hackettstown for Caregivers
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (Warren County) – An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s in 2019, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Statistics also show approximately 180,000 are people over the age of 65 living in New Jersey – making Alzheimer’s the 6th leading cause of death in the state.
Sadly, the disease is known for being a “long goodbye” for loved ones. From an early onset diagnosis, to end of life care, many family members and friends of those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia often wonder where they can go for help.
In hopes to bring aid to caregivers in our area, experts from Alzheimer’s New Jersey will be holding a free caregiver conference on Wednesday, September 25th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bentley Commons at Paragon Village.
“We don’t want caregivers to lose sight of the fact that the changes that are occurring also have a basis in the disease process,” explains CEO of Alzheimer’s New Jersey, Ken Zaentz. “It’s also important for care givers to know that there is help available.”
While we are not at a place today where we can slow down the disease process or cure it, Zaentz goes on to remind people that there is help available no matter what. “Care givers should not feel like they are in this by themselves.”
It’s important to understand the disease from a neurological standpoint, explains Zaentz. He says symptoms of the disease can be more than just memory loss. “Because of changes that are occurring in the brain, a person with Alzheimer’s loses their ability to communicate verbally. So then behavior – for example such as becoming agitated – may be a way that the person with Alzheimer’s is trying to say, ‘I’m in pain,” or ‘I’m hungry.” Or perhaps they are frightened. So those are some of the things that we hope caregivers will take away as part of this education program.”
While the event is free, people interested in attending are required to register online at www.alznj.org or by calling Alzheimer’s New Jersey at 888-280-6055
The community education program will be held at Bentley Commons at Paragon Village located at 427 Route 46 East, Hackettstown, NJ 908-498-0100.
