By Jordee Kalk
Murphy News Service
It’s estimated that one third of Minnesota families are impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease. Of that, 70 percent of those families are caring for their loved ones at home.
The toll on the caregivers and other family members can be great. To help families cope with the effects of Alzheimer’s, Home Instead Senior Care in Maple Grove is hosting free workshops.
The care facility has the motto “changing aging through research.” The business has specialized services for people with and who are affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
John Stuck is the franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Year. He claims that it is important to offer services to the families in need.
“Alzheimer’s is an epidemic today,” Stuck said. “The need for caregivers will be surreal.”
The workshops serve as a way for families and caregivers to network. Participants are able to share experiences, learn behavior strategies and tips, a confidence to care at home kit and access to a smartphone app.
“We do whatever we can do to help families in this situation,” Stuck said. “(Families) need to know we’re out there.”
Home Instead has been helping families with Alzheimer’s and other dementias since 1994. In the last two years the business has strived to do more community outreach and get families involved.
“We want to let people know they’re not alone,” Stuck said.
Stuck also said if Home Instead Senior Care does not have the resources the family needs that they will direct the family to other resources. Often a major concern of families and caregivers is how to understand their family member with Alzheimer’s. Because of that, another goal of the workshop is to give families a better understanding of how the brain is affected by Alzheimer’s. Once families know, it often is easier to work with people that have Alzheimer’s.
Families and caregivers who are interested in attending a workshop should be sure to RSVP early because seating is limited.
Jordee Kalk is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.
____________________________________________________________
INTERESTED IN GOING?
When: April 12 from 1-3 p.m.
April 15 from 5-7 p.m.
Where: 9684 63rd Ave., Maple Grove, Minn.
RSVP: 763-544-5988 or 952-345-6640