November is National Alzheimer’s Month and National Family Caregivers Month. Twenty-five years ago Ronald Reagan proclaimed November as National Alzheimer’s Month and this year President Bush proclaimed November as National Family Caregivers Month also.

Approximately 5.2 million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease in the United States with that number expected to continuously rise significantly in the next couple of decades. For many the caregiver is a spouse; however, adult children are a growing segment found caring for their parents. There is also the “Sandwich Generation,” which is adult children caring for their own children and their own parents. Caregiving is all around us. Relationships suffer in some instances and thrive in others. Caregivers need our support; isolation is huge for a caregiver and extremely detrimental to their physical and emotional health. It’s likely someone in your neighborhood is a caregiver. It isn’t always obvious. Organizations exist to educate, offer resources and direction through the maze of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease:

Alzheimer’s Association: 1-800-272-3900 (24-hour helpline), email info@alz.org.

Alzheimer’s Society of Washington: 1-800-493-3959, email alz@alzsociety.org.

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: 1-866-232-8484, Web site www.alzfdn.org.

For local assistance contact: Daybreak Adult Day Service, 279-4592 or 279-4590, email daybreak.ads@oakharbor.org.

Senior Information and Assistance: Oak Harbor, 675-0311; Coupeville, 678-4886; Bayview, 360-321-1600.

Time Together Adult Day Service: 360-321-1600 or 678-3373; timetogether@islandseniorservices.org.

These are all programs of Senior Services of Island County.

Kristi Huffman, director

Daybreak Adult Day Services