November is National Caregivers Month, but it is also National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Here in Rochester, New York, Alzheimer’s disease continues to impact thousands of families. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6.9 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and New York State alone is home to over 4.1 million unpaid family caregivers providing more than 2.6 billion hours of support each year. Learn more about ways that you as a caregiver of a person living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia can support your loved one.
Family and professional caregivers play a vital role in enabling active aging. Encouragement, patience, and adaptive support help individuals participate in meaningful routines. When caregivers provide opportunities for engagement rather than simply completing tasks, they help preserve dignity and identity. Active aging with dementia is not about denying the changes that come with the disease; it is about recognizing and supporting what remains strong: the capacity for connection, creativity, and meaning.
If you are caring for a person living with dementia at home, Ask Mary is the place to get your questions answered and to learn about helpful resources. In her role as a skilled care services professional at St. John’s, Mary provides care and support for people living with dementia and their families. Check this page on St. John’s Online Dementia Resource Center to see Mary’s answers to submitted questions.
