Issue link: http://accesshealth.uberflip.com/i/1437831
especially amid tense family dynamics. Some of Cigliana's most rewarding experiences have been watching families come together united despite the underlying grief of the situation. "My understanding [of dementia caregiving] has only grown in appreciation," she said. "We're in a position at MCHS where we really get to celebrate and validate everything that family caregivers bring to their role. When you celebrate people's strengths and you stop criticizing the things they're not doing and stop worrying about the abilities lost to dementia, you find that there are a lot of moments of joy." At the core of MCHS's interventions is educating families on the fact that while we can't change the person living with dementia, we can change our caregiving approach, the environment around the person, and the activities we expect them to accomplish. "There's a lot of beauty in caregiving," she said. "I don't mean to paint a rosy picture of dementia – it's a very difficult, heartbreaking condition to watch somebody's mind decline. But the gift of it is that when you've lost many of your memories and you can't really plan an hour or a day ahead, the person with dementia is really living in the moment. When families can meet that person and really exist in the present moment together, some pretty awesome connection happens." Get the Caregiving Support You Deserve The Alzheimer's Association Greater Missouri Chapter and MCHS have partnered with the Missouri Rural Health Association to deliver the Customized Caregiver Training and Relief Program (CCTRP). The CCTRP features two tracks. The Customized Relief Program offered by Alzheimer's Association Greater Missouri Chapter provides respite and relief for qualified safety equipment and services up to $700; the Customized Training Program offered by MCHS provides caregivers with a blueprint for care, as well as education, community resources, and support. Throughout the Customized Training Program, MCHS dementia experts: • Work with the entire family unit to equip care partners with skills and strategies to manage dementia progression at home. • Help families transform the home (with minor modifications) into a safer environment where the person with dementia can be successful with daily activities. • Connect families with other community resources to assist in the journey of caregiving. • Navigate families throughout the entire progression of dementia so that no one has to walk this path alone. There are only two criteria for eligibility: there must be someone with suspected or diagnosed dementia of any type, and at least one informal care partner to engage in services. Because dementia care is so difficult to access, especially due to the barriers faced by Black and Hispanic communities, MCHS does not require an official diagnosis or a doctor's referral. Families are welcome to call and ask questions or request to schedule a meeting. Due to local, state, and federal grant funding, there are very little and often zero out of pocket costs for families. Programs and services are also funded through philanthropy fundraisers throughout the year. Each family is provided with tailored behavioral treatment from a team of social workers and OTs to meet each family's own priorities and challenges. Medicare covers more intensive services and more frequent meetings with an OT if necessary, as do many other insurance options. "Most people don't know that non-drug dementia treatments have been studied and tested as rigorously as pharmaceutical treatments," Cigliana said. "What we've learned through that research is that behavioral interventions are actually more effective than drugs at managing difficult dementia behaviors. But there aren't many healthcare providers or community organizations offering this type of treatment, so most people go without. We are so fortunate to have this offering in our area." MCHS is located in St. Louis, Missouri. and provides St. Louis and the Metro East with in-person and in-home services. Thanks to telehealth, video visits are available to anyone throughout Missouri and Illinois. To begin services, visit https://memorycarehs.org/contact-us/ and fill out a form; you can expect a call in a day or two. Families and individuals are also welcome to call the office at 314.645.6247 with questions or to schedule an initial meeting. MCHS's YouTube channel offers caregiving tips as well as a virtual tour of their office, which is a mock home used to demonstrate modifying the home environment for dementia safety. Lend a Hand According to the Alzheimer's Association, caregivers in Black and Hispanic families especially may be hesitant to ask for help. During National Family Caregivers Month, offer support to a caregiver in your community in one of the following ways: • Learn: Educate yourself about Alzheimer's disease – the more you know, the easier it will be to help. • Build a care team: Organize family and friends who want to help and coordinate tasks. • Give caregivers a break: Spend time with the person living with dementia to allow their caregiver time to recharge. • Check in: Many Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers reported feeling isolated. Be sure to offer support and remind them they aren't alone. • Tackle the to-do list: Ask for a list of errands or chores that need to be done. • Be specific and flexible: Specific offers of support, such as "I'm going to the store, what do you need?" can be more helpful than open-ended offers. • Help caregivers at the holidays: Offer to help with cooking, cleaning, shopping, or hosting. • Join the fight: Honor the person living with the disease and their caregiver by getting involved with the Alzheimer's Association. Read the Alzheimer's Facts and Figures Special Report to learn more about dementia care among various races and ethnicities and learn the Alzheimer's Association's recommendations to prepare the workforce to care for a diverse population of older adults. The Family Caregiver Alliance provides resources for caregivers in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Honor a Caregiver National Family Caregivers Month, observed every November, raises awareness of caregiving issues, helps educate communities, and increases support for caregivers. In coordination with this event, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services, is highlighting the Caregiver of the Year Initiative to recognize and honor unpaid caregivers in our Missouri communities. Do you know someone who puts their life on hold to care for a family member or friend? If so, consider nominating that person for recognition. The Department will honor and celebrate exceptional unpaid caregivers each month by featuring a story and photo on the department's website. In December, an overall Caregiver of the Year will be selected. If you would like to nominate someone, complete the caregiver nomination and photo release forms. Send both forms, along with a digital photo of the caregiver, to Melissa.LaNeave@health.mo.gov. 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