Alzheimer’s friendly business program addresses isolation among family caregivers
The Home Instead Senior Care® office serving Greater Baton Rouge is launching a new campaign designed to make the community more Alzheimer’s friendly. Through the Alzheimer’s Friendly BusinessSM program, the Home Instead Senior Care office will provide free training to local businesses to help equip employees with information and resources needed to welcome families who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
In a recent survey of Alzheimer’s caregivers, 74 percent reported that they and their loved ones have become more isolated from the community as a result of the disease. Furthermore, 85 percent reported that they feel a reduced quality of life due to isolation. 1
“For many caregivers, the unpredictable nature of the disease can make going out in public with their loved one intimidating,” said Matt Cohn, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Iberville and Livingston Parishes. “Our research shows that family caregivers might be reluctant to frequent public places because of the behaviors that could be associated with the disease.”
According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, the number of people with dementia worldwide is expected to grow to a staggering 75.6 million by 2030 and 135.5 million in 2050.
“Given the statistics, most businesses that deal with the public will be serving people with Alzheimer’s and their families,” said Cohn. “It’s critical that local businesses start working now to build Alzheimer’s friendly communities to better serve their customers with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”
Local businesses can work directly with the local Home Instead Senior Care office to coordinate an in-person training. An interactive, online version of the training also is available at AlzheimersFriendlyBusiness.com. Once the training is successfully completed, businesses will receive a window cling with the Alzheimer’s Friendly Business designation. The designation will be valid for two years.
For more information about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Alzheimer’s Friendly Business program and to access additional resources, please visit AlzheimersFriendlyBusiness.com or call (225) 819-8338.
Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care® network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 14 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.
1 Home Instead, Inc. surveyed 692 Alzheimer’s family caregivers, including 102 from Canada and 590 from the U.S., who completed an online survey between April 13-23, 2015.