Alzheimer's Assoc. group for caregivers to meet Apr. 24 at HealthPlex

Many of those who care for an Alzheimer's patient do so without assistance. This is too heavy a burden for anyone to bear.

To provide assistance, St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese hosts an Alzheimer's Association support group the fourth Thursday of each month. The next meeting is at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Senior Renewal area of the hospital HealthPlex.

The meeting is open to anyone caring for a person with dementia at home or in a nursing home or who has a family member or friend with Alzheimer's or similar. There is no charge.

The group offers support in understanding, coping with and managing Alzheimer's disease, help with community resources and information on the latest research. Senior Renewal and Social Work Services staff serve as coordinators.

The warning signs of Alzheimer's can  include memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation to time and place, poor or decreased judgment, problems with abstract thinking, misplacing things, changes in mood, behavior or personality and loss of initiative.

Anyone recognizing these symptoms personally or in a loved one should contact a physician; early diagnosis is the first step in receiving the necessary information, care and support.

St. Joseph's in Breese also offers a Memory Diagnostic Clinic; for details, contact 526-5330 or email Gerri Haukap.

For support group information, contact 526-5486, email Sandy Radford, Gerri Haukap or  visit www.alzstl.org, the Alzheimer's Association's St. Louis Chapter website.