News Release - Alzheimer`s Association

News Release
Alzheimer’s Association St. Louis Chapter
9370 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-3214
For more information, contact
Lindy Noel, Communications & Marketing Coordinator
[email protected] | 314.801.0416
For Immediate Release
ALZHEIMER’S TAKES ITS TOLL, MALE CAREGIVERS FIND SUPPORT
Norm Phillips finds support at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Male Caregiver Experience.
ST. LOUIS (March 18, 2015) – On the third Tuesday of every month, Norm Phillips takes his seat in a meeting
room at the St. Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. He and about 20 other members of the Male
Caregiver Experience talk about the challenges, as well as the frequent heartbreak of caring for a loved one with
Alzheimer’s disease.
Since 2007, the St. Louis Chapter has offered a place for male caregivers to share their stories, ask questions and
get helpful advice. A second group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at Reliv International headquarters
in Chesterfield. Phillips, whose wife, Ruby, has Alzheimer’s, usually attends those meetings, too.
Due to the growing demand, a third group is starting in St. Charles on March 24 and will be held on the fourth
Tuesday of every month from 10-11:30 a.m. The group will be held at the Spencer Road Library at the
Community Commons, 427 Spencer Rd.
By going to the meetings, Phillips says that men can better understand the complexities of dementia and prepare
themselves for each step in the disease process. The meetings also help men deal with some of the loneliness that
comes with having a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
“You not only get to talk with people and have meaningful conversation, you also understand that you’re not the
only one dealing with something like this,” Phillips, 85, says. “You’re not alone.”
“Caregiving is an important but demanding job. It can wear on the individual providing the care. The
Alzheimer’s Association is here to provide help and hope for those facing this disease every day,” said Stacy
Tew-Lovasz, president/CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association St. Louis Chapter.
Caregiving can take a tremendous physical and mental toll. Some men simply do not know how to do basic
cooking and housekeeping, Phillips says. Those are other areas where the male caregivers group can be helpful,
he says.
By restricting the caregiver meetings to men, Phillips says that the guys probably feel freer to ask important
questions.
“I’ve gone to meetings with men and women, and it’s just my opinion that the men don’t feel as comfortable
talking with other women about how to be a good caregiver,” he says. “They tend to clam up.”
“The Male Caregiver Experience is a support system for men by men who have been through the journey of
Alzheimer’s. Each individual caregiver may be at a different stage so they can provide advice and support to help
ease the journey for others,” added Tew-Lovasz.
Norm and Ruby were married for 65 years when Norm began noticing some changes in Ruby. Suddenly, he says,
she couldn’t keep up with a conversation anymore and couldn’t follow the rules in the board games they liked to
play.
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“At first the doctor said it was mild cognitive impairment,” Norm says. “Then, later, he said it was Alzheimer’s. I
don’t think Ruby really understood.”
Like all of the Association’s support groups, the Male Caregiver Experience provides a safe, understanding and
confidential environment where caregivers can come together to express their joys and concerns, get more
information about dementia and, most importantly, know they are not alone.
“In addition to the Male Caregiver Experience, we have over 60 support groups in our 38-county service area,”
added Tew-Lovasz. “Together, we can provide the help necessary to manage this disease until we find a way to
prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease.”
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, support, or the Male Caregiver Experience, please call the
Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 or visit www.alz.org/stl.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world leader in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The St. Louis
Chapter, a proud United Way member agency, serves 38 counties in eastern Missouri and western Illinois,
providing comprehensive care and support programs. The Alzheimer’s Association mission is to eliminate
Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all
affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. For additional information
about the disease, family support or research, visit the Alzheimer's Association St. Louis Chapter web site at
www.alz.org/stl, or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.
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