THE ALLERGAN FOUNDATION GRANTS ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES CENTER $3,500

Huntington Beach, CA) – In October 2010, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center (AFSC) received acknowledgement that the Allergan Foundation has awarded the agency a $3,500 grant in support of Early Stage Dementia Services.

The Allergan Foundation, created in 1998, is committed to providing a lasting and positive impact on the community. Since inception, The Allergan Foundation has granted more than $20 million to worthy causes, focusing in four philanthropic areas: the arts, civic programs, education, and health and human services.
AFSC’s executive director, Cordula Dick-Muelhke, Ph.D., noted, “The Allergan Foundation gives so much to the Orange County community and we are exceedingly grateful that they continue to support our mission. At AFSC, we strive to engage families affected by Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia in services early so they can better cope with daily challenges of memory loss and prepare for the journey ahead. Our early stage dementia services have been developed specifically to benefit the growing number of seniors being identified with early memory loss and the family members who provide care for them at home.”

Notably, as Baby Boomers turn 65, the age after which AD becomes most prevalent, California will witness a doubling of those affected and, correspondingly, a doubling of those caring for a loved one with dementia. In Orange County alone, the number of seniors affected by AD and caregivers will grow to approximately 300,000 by 2030.[1] There is no cure for AD, but improvements in diagnostic techniques have led to earlier diagnosis of the disease – giving families an opportunity to prepare for the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia over the long-term.

Unfortunately, many families don’t know where to turn for support when they receive a dementia diagnosis. Given the stigma associated with loss of cognitive abilities in our society, families tend to keep dementia “a secret” and “go it alone” until a crisis, such as wandering, finally leads to getting help. By this time, caregivers may be in poor physical or mental health, and even heightened risk for death, due to the chronic stress of eldercare. In Orange County, AFSC has identified an emerging need for ongoing, year-round support of persons with early memory loss and their care partners, as well as for affected individuals who do not have a family support system. These seniors may live alone, have family caregivers who are disengaged, or rely on neighbors or friends to “check-in” from time-to-time, but do not have access to consistent support.

Helping families access the system of dementia care early is beneficial for both affected individuals and their care partners. Indeed, early stage interventions that integrate education with support and involve both the dementia-affected individual and care partner facilitate “coping as a team, pulling together to face the challenges, and learning to better understand and tolerate one another.”[2] Rather than feeling like “nothing can be done” when dementia strikes, early stage dementia services empower individuals to participate in long-term planning while still able, and care partners to use practical knowledge and skills to manage the multiple challenges of dementia.

Affiliated with the Hoag Neurosciences Institute, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center, a private non-profit agency, is the only Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center in Orange County. The agency fulfills its mission through a continuum of direct care, caregiver support, education, and outreach services. For more information regarding Alzheimer’s Family Services Center call 714-593-9630 or visit www.AFSCenter.org.