Somerset County Health Dept fosters community for dementia patient caregivers
Crisfield, Md. – Those who care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia can often feel overwhelmed and isolated. However, the Somerset County Health Department is hoping to support caregivers by partnering with community stakeholders to create events that connect caregivers to resources and community while their loved ones are in a safe space.
At Wednesday’s “Healing Through Creativity: Dementia Conversations” event, clinical and nationally-certified art therapist Sivan Perdue offered dementia patients an artistic outlet.
“I was brought in to help for respite so caregivers could come and have a couple hours to attend the session and not have to worry about maybe they can’t leave their person at home alone. They could bring them,” Perdue said. “I would spend time with them and connect and engage them in a meaningful activity while their person was engaging in the educational session.”
These educational sessions are part of an initiative by the Somerset County Health Department after receiving $50,000 from the Maryland Department of Health. At Wednesday’s event, caregivers were able to listen in on a presentation by Jennifer Schermerhorn, a volunteer community educator with the Alzheimer’s Association. While caregivers learned, their loved ones could explore coloring and other crafts with Perdue.
“It focuses on connecting people with education, resources for anybody who might have a dementia diagnosis,” Somerset County Health Department Prevention Supervisor Elizabeth Justice said. She also said the initiative is meant to raise awareness for different kids of dementia and develop resources through a community needs assessment.
“We are trying to get a better understanding of what it is we need to focus our efforts on from the community standpoint,” Justice said.
Admissions Coordinator at the Alice B. Tawes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Kenya Thomas says, for caregivers, community is essential and asking for help is not a weakness but a strength.
“Reach out to your local resources. Reach out to your local nursing home,” Thomas said. “Speak to someone that can give you the steps of what may be needed to move forward. Just because you need a little help doesn’t mean you’re helpless.”
Schermerhorn said one if the biggest misconceptions about diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia is that nothing can be done.
“We want to be able to plan for our future,” she said. “So, as the disease progresses, people will lose the ability to communicate their, you know, needs and wants. And so we want to make sure that they’re communicating those to their family members now while they can.”
She also said there are FDA-approved medications that can treat the underlying cause of the disease and
“So there’s a lot of hope and promise, in terms of the future with Alzheimer’s disease,” Schermerhorn said. She encouraged community members to speak with their primary care physician at the first sign that something may be wrong.
As for the residents, she reminds community members that one of the best things they can do is visit them.
“You never know what coming to just say hi does to them,” Thomas said. “‘Cause just coming by to tell them that they’re still here and that you still care is probably one of the biggest things that’ll get them through the day.”
Those who are interested in attending more health department events can visit their website or find them on Facebook for information on events.
