Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
An estimated 5,000,000 Americans suffer from Alzheimers - a progressive, debilitating and eventually fatal illness of the neuro-system. It can affect people in their late 40's but is more common in those 65 and older. An informal survey of care centers in Mason City indicated three out of every five admissions have some form of diagnosed dementia. The national tab for caring for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease is estimated at $120 billion annually. Caring for one individual ranges from $18,000 to $72,000, depending on the stage of the disease. It is estimated that one to four family members act as caregivers for EACH individual with Alzheimer's Disease. The stress, frustration, emotional and physical toll of the caregiver is high. 60% of caregivers are clinically depressed and use prescription drugs for anxiety, depression and insomnia at a rate of 2-3 times that of the average population. 50% of caregivers do not have outside help.

Response:
The Family Life Field Specialist and Hospice Director were trained in Powerful Tools for Caregivers and have presented the program twice yearly in the North Iowa area for the past 3-4 years. During this time we discovered many caregivers of Alzheimers patients were not able to attend our six-session programs. We also made the acquaintance of a volunteer in Mason City who has a strong interest and knowledge of Alzheimers and wanted to start a support group specifically for Alzheimers/Dementia family members.

With marketing support from ISU Extension and The Healing House, she started two support groups - one for Alzheimer's families and one for Parkinsons families in 2006. To reach even more caregivers, we encouraged her to write her information in the form of a support handbook which could be given to Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Parish Nurses, Doctors, Medical Clinics, Libraries, Care facilities, and family members.

Impact:
A grant was written to the ISU Foundation - Excellence in Extension. The intent of the grant was to develop a series of videos to be run on closed cable networks at various times during the week so caregivers in their homes could get information on taking care of themselves so they could better care for their family member. The grant was approved for $2500. The video series was completed and started to run on the Clear Lake/Ventura cable station in the summer of 2007. Workbooks to compliment the series were written, printed and distributed to those caregivers who wanted them. During the first 'run' of the series, 3 workbooks were requested.

Our volunteer Alzheimer's information person agreed to be part of the video series - two videos are entirely related to information about caring for a person with Alzheimers/Dementia. She wrote her Alzheimer's Caregivers handbook and money from the grant was used for office assistance, printing, and distribution of the manual. 200 manuals were printed and ready for distribution in August of 2007. Within one month over half of the manuals had been distributed to Doctors, medical clinics, parish nurses, Elderbridge Agency on Aging, AD family members, and care facilities. The Alzheimer's Support group in Mason City meets weekly (except December) with an average attendance of 16 people in 2006 and 17 people in 2007. Once a month a program is arranged with a topic of importance to family members.

New people are joining each month. There is an active call list of 25 families with 56 different individuals attending the meetings. A support group in Clear Lake , was also started as a spin off from the Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes. Average attendance in the Mason City group is 14. Average attendance in Clear Lake is 12. Comments from participants of the support groups about the manual are: "This book is an invaluable resource. Easy to read, full of information." "Oh, this is going to be great for our patients!" - Neurology Clinic at Mercy Hospital A second printing will occur in early 2008 with an additional chapter on 'traveling with an Alzheimers patient.' We are in the process of developing an evaluation for the support group.

 

Other Community Partners::
Ginger Hood, Alzheimers information volunteer
Frances Hoffman, Director of Healing House - Clear Lake , IA

Contact:
Janet Brown, ISUE Family Life Specialist
Cerro Gordo County Extension
2023 S Federal Ave
Mason City, IA 50401
641-423-0844
jmbrown@iastate.edu