Alzheimer's support group meets Tuesday

Friday, December 5, 2008

The Alzheimer's Support Group has been meeting at Putnam County Hospital on the second Tuesday of the month for a numbers of years and welcomes new members.

This support group for family or friends of persons afflicted with Alzheimer's disease is sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association of Indiana. Participants share personal stories, frustration and successes encountered in the day-to-day life of coping with a loved one with this dehabilitating disease as well as information on medication, treatments and research.

The state Association provides a monthly "Fact Sheet" on a topic of interest to those who are providing care or support to someone with Alzheimer's. Topics might include travel suggestions, communication tips, bathing techniques or information when seeking long term care, among others. These often bring on discussion led by the hospital's social worker.

The Alzheimer's group provides a supportive, confidential, non-judgmental time of sharing for its members. Participants who have lost a loved one to this disease often continue to attend meetings to continue the relationships established between members and to support others through this life changing process.

In this season of gift giving, the Alzheimer's Support Group members suggest that one of the most meaningful and needed gifts is to provide respite time for the caregiver. A few hours away to allow the caregiver to shop, attend church, enjoy a movie or visit with others is a truly wonderful gift.

The Alzheimer's Support Group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. on the third floor in classroom No. 1 of the Putnam County Hospital.

For more information, contact Barbara South, MSW, Social Services Director at 765-655-2608.

Comments
View 5 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • This is a cruel disease

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 4:01 AM
  • The article should read the second THURSDAY of the month, not the second Tuesday. It would be a shame for someone to show up on the wrong day & possibly never want to attend again.

    -- Posted by sadNmad on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 6:51 AM
  • It would be wonderful if there was an Alzheimer's Support Group meeting for those like myself who can't come to a meeting at 4:00 p.m. Is there a possibility that Putnam County could form a group that meets around 7:00 p.m. Not everyone who would like support are older or free of other responsibilities, but we still need a supportive environment to deal with the effects of having a loved one with Dementia's and Alzheimer's Disease.

    -- Posted by helpinghand on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 9:46 AM
  • To "Helping Hand" and others: there is a Caregivers' Support Group that meets every Thursday from 6-8pm at the Library. This support group is for all caregivers, but many of us have loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease or some other type of dementia. In fact, a few of us leave the above-referenced group at the hospital and then go to the one at the library. And, yes, they both are on Thursday. The Alzheimer's support group at the hospital meets once a month; the Caregivers' Support Group meets once a week. If you can't come at 6, come at 7. We'd love to have you. Check the calendar of events notice in this paper for more information. (Although if you want up-to-date info, it's best to check out the print edition. When I checked the online Calendar yesterday, it was still showing events for Hallowe'en!)

    -- Posted by cll on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 3:57 AM
  • If anyone is interested in starting a group for Alzheimers Support (which can meet later in the evening and potentially on the weekends) please contact Rajean Gallagher, Program Coordinator at the public library. Phone 765-653-2755 rajeang@putnam.lib.in.us

    Thank you!

    Rajean Gallagher

    -- Posted by Rajean on Wed, Apr 29, 2009, at 8:45 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: