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Contact: Jennifer Whelihan
813-866-1610 Ext. 4115
Email: jwhelihan@byrdinstitute.org


Seminar to Prepare Caregivers for Hurricane Season
08.11.06


TAMPA – The Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr., Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute is teaming up with the American Red Cross, Hillsborough County Emergency Operations and Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services to prepare caregivers of Alzheimer's loved ones for the storm.

Sufferers of Alzheimer's disease pose special challenges during hurricane season, which runs through November. An upcoming seminar will provide caregivers with the tools they need to safely navigate the season.

“We are reaching out to the Alzheimer's community because it is imperative our caregivers are prepared for this type of disaster,” says Melanie Meyer, chief of external affairs at the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute.

The Hurricane Preparedness Seminar is
Saturday, August 19, 2006
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
at Westshore Senior Center
4102 W. Spruce St. Tampa, FL 33607

Speakers are Larry Gispert, Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Officer; Caroline Flint, American Red Cross; Nancy Teten, Clinical Social Worker; and Mary-Jo McKay, Hillsborough County Aging Services.

“When a hurricane hits, it's very hard on the family and especially a family with an Alzheimer's loved one,” says McKay. “We're preparing families to help relieve stress.”

Caregiver and disaster relief kits will be given out. Participants will be eligible for door prizes, and refreshments will be served.

Respite care will be provided at the Westshore Center by the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services. Space is limited, so please call 813-866-1610 ext. 4115 to reserve a respite spot for your Alzheimer's loved one.

Basic checklist for Alzheimer's caregivers:

  • Prepare a hurricane supply kit.
  • Prepare activity supplies for your loved one.
  • Register in advance for the Special Needs Registry.
  • Enroll your loved one in an ID bracelet program.
  • Write down a safety plan.
  • Be aware of behavioral signs, like agitation, and have appropriate interventions in mind.
  • Get to know your neighbors.

Do

Maintain a normal routine if possible.
Anticipate needs of your loved one, such as the need for medications, water and food.
Avoid continuous viewing/listening to news about the weather or aftermath of a hurricane.
Make sure your loved one wears his ID bracelet at all times.
Involve your loved one in enjoyable activities to divert attention away from the catastrophic event.
Utilize respite at long-term care centers to give yourself time to restore your home after a storm.

Don't

Don't argue or try to reason with your loved one.
Don't force your loved one to do something he does not want to do.
Don't let your loved one walk or drive away from home during the recovery after a hurricane. Even familiar routes will look different, and many injuries occur post-storm.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the loss of brain cells and their connections. Alzheimer's disease currently affects 4.5 million Americans. By the middle of this century, as many as 14 million of today's baby boomers could have AD.
Signs of the disease usually become evident after 65 years of age, initially as a loss of short-term memory for events that occurred a few minutes earlier. Over the disease's time course of 2 to 20 years, cognitive impairment expands to involve long-term memory and language skills. Eventually, all aspects of intellect are lost.
The mission of the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute is to prevent and cure Alzheimer's disease. Created in 2002 by the Florida Legislature, the Institute is dedicated to supporting and coordinating the tremendous research, expertise and creative vision of scientific professionals all over Florida.
The National Institutes of Health designated the Byrd Institute and University of South Florida as the only Alzheimer's disease Research Center in Florida, generating more than $7 million in research money. There are only 32 of these centers in the country, and Florida is one of only 21 states with centers that have earned the designation.

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