CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Alzheimer’s Association reports that nearly seven million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's and that more than 11 million people are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Local non-profit, Face to Face, knows about the challenges that come with caring for someone with Alzheimer's, that's why they're hosting their annual family and friend's caregiver conference on Friday at Del Mar College's Heritage Campus.
Founder and president of the organization, Dr. Nestor Praderio spoke with 3NEWS ahead of the event to tell us more about why his organization believes offering resources to Alzheimer's caregivers is so important.
"At least 10 years ago there was not a book that you could buy and become a caregiver. There's not a course that you can take and transform you into a caregiver," Praderio said.
Dr. Praderio has been a geriatric psychiatrist in Corpus Christi for 30 years. In 2007, he decided to create Face to Face, a non-profit focused on providing education and resources to family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
"What is so good and so salient in this group of individuals is their love and dedication," he said.
Caring for those with Alzheimer's is Praderio’s primary mission, but being able to provide support and empower the caregivers that work overtime to care for their loved ones doesn't fall far behind.
"For example, stress increases to high levels because you don't know how your loved one is going to be tomorrow morning. Therefore, there is a sensation that you don't have any control," he said.
With a disease that has proved to be aggressive, Leslie Martinez, with the national non-profit Compassion and Choices, believes that being a caregiver isn't just about caring for the person that's sick.
“Caregivers are the most impacted people. They start to get sick and tired more than the patient sometime,” she said. “The most important thing is that they have to take care of themselves. They have to have the tools and the resources in advance to be prepared."
The Face to Face: Friends and Family Caregiver Conference is happening Friday, Aug 30 starting at 8 A.M. The event is free and will be held Del Mar College - Heritage Campus in the Retama Conference's Harvis Room. For more information call 361-826-2343.