Plattsburgh, N.Y.—70% of dementia caregivers report coordinating care for their loved one is stressful, with one in five pointing to costs associated with care as a major contributor to their increased anxiety. The Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (ADCSI) provides resources to those needing support, including respite services, wellness programs and support groups.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, the ADCSI team is reminding caregivers not to ignore the signs of stress, which can include:
- Denial about the disease
- Increased agitation with your loved one
- Social withdrawal and decreased care of your own health
- Exhaustion and sleeplessness
- Lack of concentration
Caregivers in Northern New York are encouraged to seek help through ADCSI’s free services. Support groups, which are facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Association, allow caregivers to speak freely and share their experiences or simply listen and take comfort in knowing they are among other caregivers who are walking the same journey and experiencing similar struggles.
Support groups are held monthly in the six counties ADCSI serves on a regular cadence of:
- Clinton County – First Tuesday of the month, 6:00 pm at CVPH Medical Center
- Essex County – Second Monday of the month, 6:00 pm at Champlain Valley Senior Community
- Franklin County – Second Thursday of the month, 11:00 am at the Office for the Ageing in Akwesasne or at 2:00 pm at 155 Finney Blvd, Suite 2 in Malone
- Hamilton County – Second Tuesday of the month, 2:00 pm at Indian Lake Public Library
- Warren County – Third Monday of the month, 3:00 pm at Queensbury Senior Center
- Washington County – First Wednesday of the month, 1:30 pm at Greenwich Free Library
ADCSI also provides free respite services for caregivers needing to attend appointments, use supportive resources or are otherwise engaged in time away from their loved one. All respite services are provided by trained professionals, and if a caregiver does not have a respite care provider in mind, ADCSI can help find one through its partners. Respite providers are paid $20 an hour by ADCSI.
More information on ADCSI’s services can be found on its website, wehelpcaregivers.com.
About Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative:
Also known as We Help Caregivers, the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative provides free support services to those caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders in northern New York, across Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren and Washington Counties. The Initiative’s goal is to reduce caregivers’ financial, emotional and physical distress, and improve caregiver overall health and quality of life, while also reducing the number of care receiver emergency visits and institutional placements. Operated by The Center for Neurobehavioral Health, it is an affiliated program of the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Plattsburgh and is supported by the SUNY Research Foundation. WeHelpCaregivers.com