Creating a dementia-friendly community is what CAUSED is all about
They were there to learn tips for dealing with their loved ones, resources to assist from caregiving to finances, and for help on managing the physical and emotional stress of caring for those with dementia. The room was filled with people hungry for information to help them navigate this new, and often lonely, role of caregiver that many never anticipated.
A panel of experts from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, University of South Florida Memory Disorder Clinic, Alzheimer's Association, and the University of South Florida Byrd Institute provided a wealth of information to the children, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, and friends who now find themselves caring for a cognitively impaired loved one.
The County's Adult Day Services announced the launch of Caring About Unifying and Supporting Elders with Dementia (C.A.U.S.E.D.), the local initiative of Dementia Friendly America. C.A.U.S.E.D. is designed to bring together a coalition of businesses, service providers, and groups that foster inclusion and support of people with dementia and their care partners.
Through C.A.U.S.E.D., Hillsborough County Adult Day Services wants to create a community that is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals living with dementia, their families, and caregivers, and that provides supportive options that improve quality of life. Businesses and service providers that people with dementia and their caregivers interact with on a daily basis are encouraged to adopt practices that allow those individuals to feel more included and comfortable. For example, a customer who is perceived as difficult may actually be an individual living with dementia.
While no two cases of dementia are exactly the same, there's one thing everyone can agree on: Caregiving is extremely hard. It's best not to do it alone. Tapping into family, friends, and community resources to help is important.
Here are a few tips for caregivers:
- Be mindful of noisy restaurants and places with flashing lights which can agitate someone with dementia
- Run errands or go out to eat when your loved one is well-rested, like after a nap
- Visit an elder law attorney early on when your loved one can still make decisions and sign legal documents
- Have a care plan in place and adapt the plan as the disease progresses
- Tap into support groups to talk and share tips and resources with others in your shoes
- Put alarms on doors if your loved one wanders
Register with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Safe Encounters site so they are aware and prepared for your loved one's response.
Visit Hillsborough County Adult Day Services for more information on caregiving resources. Contact Remona Singleton at (813) 644-5985 for more information on C.A.U.S.E.D. or to join the coalition.