Support Group Offers Help for Those in Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), people have only mild memory loss and confusion. While significant challenges arise, there are also many remaining capabilities.

Now, a specialized support group program brings hope and help to individuals in the early stages of AD and their family members. These support groups teach people how to live with AD and help family members to grieve and go on.

The support group program is being conducted at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and is co-sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada. A pre-enrollment interview is required.

To join the group, interested individuals must have a diagnosis of dementia, be informed of - and at least occasionally be able to acknowledge - the illness, have good communication and social skills, and want to participate in the group. Clients can be referred for screening to Heather Gray at the Alzheimer's Association by calling 800/272-3900.

People diagnosed early in the course of the disease rarely have opportunities to get their questions and concerns addressed. They often become isolated and stigmatized, even though they may be quite healthy and functional for a number of years. For example, while many can no longer work, they typically live at home, do their own personal care and continue to enjoy many pleasurable activities.

In support groups, these individuals get information, share feelings and experiences with others in a similar situation, and learn coping strategies - much like people facing any other illness. Issues in common include losing one's driver's license, adjusting to increasing dependency, and changes in relationships with family and friends. They also discuss what is going well in their lives, and how to sustain that for as long as possible. As one man put it, "I want people to know I've got a lot of life left!"

Family members of those with early AD meet in a separate support group at the same time and location. They focus on caregiving issues unique to the beginning of the illness, such as restructuring household responsibilities and determining when to assist the person with AD and when to encourage independence. Occasionally, the concurrent support groups meet jointly, allowing all participants to interact together.

People with AD have reported an increased understanding and acceptance of memory loss and improved mood and morale from the camaraderie of support groups. Family members report feeling less isolated, gaining knowledge about coping and realizing that planning now for the future needs to include the person with the disease, which will no longer be possible in AD's later stages. Additionally, caregivers learn sooner than they might otherwise about the range of services available throughout the course of the disease.