Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month

Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month

Help, Hope & Support: Local Resources, Group Provides Assistance for Caregivers

According to the Alzheimer's Association, close to 16 million individuals in the U.S. provide unpaid care to a family member or friend with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, and these caregivers provide an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid help annually. For Macomb-area residents who are caregivers for a person with dementia, there are resources and support available to help better understand their loved ones, patients and friends, while also learning how to better care for themselves.

Stressbusters

Diane Banach of Macomb started leading what was first known as the 'Stressbusting Caregivers Support Group' at the YMCA Senior Center in 2023 for caregivers of a loved one with dementia. Banach, a caregiver herself for her spouse who had a stroke 20 years ago, knew the importance of having others to talk to, gain insight from and learn how to take care of yourself while taking care of others. While the formal 'Stressbusting' program, which is a national program, is no longer in place, Banach morphed it into the Y's 'Stressbusters Caregivers Support Group,' which is still designed for caregivers of family members with dementia, as well as those who have a chronic illness or diagnosis, such as cancer, Parkinson's, neuro- divergency (e.g., autism), special needs and the like.

Stressbusters meets the third Monday of the month, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the YMCA of McDonough County Senior Center. The group, which is confidential, is open to caregivers of all ages, she pointed out. No registration is necessary, and walk-ins are always welcome, she said. Individuals are welcome to come in at any time, and leave when they need to as well. A few of the original 'Stressbusting' participants remain a part of the Stressbusters, and can share lots of good tips of what has worked for them, she noted.

'We don't preach, we don't give advice. We listen, we share,' Banach explained.

Two of the main Banach shared for caregivers are getting support and asking for help. It might not even have to be in the form of attending a group, it could be as simple as calling the Alzheimer's Association Helpline. The free 24/7 helpline (800-272-3900) provides a connection with a trained volunteer for help, support and information related to Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

'Even I have a hard time asking others, even my kids, for help. I encourage loved ones and friends who have a caregiver in their life, don't just say 'I'm here for you, let me know,' ask them, 'What can I do for you?' We usually try to handle things ourselves, but we do need help. And please don't say 'You should' to us. Sometimes we just need to hear that it's going to be okay,' Banach said. 'Besides getting support and asking for help, please care for yourself as best as you can. Putting on your oxygen mask first is something I like to say. You can't help others if you aren't caring for yourself and if you get worn out or sick, then it becomes more stressful.'

And self-care doesn't have to be expensive, extensive or require hours on end, she stressed. It can be as simple as walking your dog, sitting quietly for a few moments, journaling, watching a movie, anything that gives you a break from the daily tasks associated with caregiving.

'Find a way to manage your stress and take care of yourself that fits into your lifestyle,' she added. 'And remember to give yourself grace. No one is perfect. We lose our tempers; we don't have patience every day. That's okay. Let it go and move on, which I know can be easier said than done.'

Banach also said that remember the qualities you DO have that will, and can, get you through anything. For Banach, it’s her faith, optimism, creativity, humor, patience, self-confidence, endurance and persistence.

'There is help. There is hope,' she concluded. 'And we're here for you.'

Macomb Public Library Bob McMahan Memorial Collection Longtime Macomb resident Lois McMahan, a retired Macomb elementary school teacher and licensed counselor, chose to use funds from her husband's memorial - which she called 'Bob's Memory Money' - to purchase books and DVDs for caregivers. Bob, who was a financial adviser in Macomb and former football and wrestling coach at Western Illinois University, passed away in February 2020. He lived with Lewy Body Dementia for six years before his death. Macomb Public Library Librarian Sharon Sample and Lois coordinated efforts in the selection of books/DVDs/ materials for caregivers and family members for a collection that is now housed on the library's second floor.

McMahan heard leading aging care expert Teepa Snow speak in Macomb in 2017, and it was Snow's advice and materials for caregivers that opened up a world for Lois that she didn't know existed as she cared for Bob. Little did she know how valuable this was as she became a dementia caregiver, and how the newfound training and guidance made her journey much smoother.

'Once I learned more about taking care of someone with dementia, I wanted to share this information with others so they may not feel so alone and helpless,' she told The Community News Brief in an earlier story about the collection. 'I’d been exposed to other information for caregivers, but Teepa's expertise and delivery was reassuring, calm and compassionate. The basis of her training materials are dignity, love and respect, which is why I recommended her works for the collection.'

In addition to the library collection, McMahan has provided a comprehensive list of the materials available at the library to all local facilities that house a memory care unit.

Mcmahan.