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Alzheimer’s support group for early stage forgetters

Can you imagine what it’s like to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and know that your memory will continue deteriorating? That one day, you’ll struggle to recognize the people you love most in the world? Without question, it is one of the cruelest and most arduous challenges life can hurtle at us.

At our Bridges communities, we know how difficult an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be to cope with. We also know that support and encouragement from people who face the same struggles you face helps the coping process. That’s why we advocate support groups for people with Alzheimer’s. These groups can help individuals sustain the strength and courage they need to take control of their memory impairment.

At our Hingham community, for example, executive director and memory impairment specialist Alicia Seaver hosts a monthly resident support group for early stage “forgetters.” The Hingham residents who participate in the group all have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, but they also have a working memory and can articulate how frustrating it is to deal with their memory loss on a daily basis.

Alicia caters the support group to the residents’ needs, allowing them to dictate the agenda to make the support group as effective as possible. Sometimes, they’ll ask her to talk about the common types of dementia, or request coping tips.

Other times, they’ll spend the hour checking in with each other and seeing how everyone is doing. And sometimes, the group becomes an opportunity to vent any frustrations they have with later-stage residents.

Alicia said, “No matter the topic, I let them drive the group. The important thing is that they have a venue to talk openly about their feelings. With talking comes healing.”

All of the residents in the support group have developed close bonds with one another and offer endless support. “It’s amazing to me how they look out for each other. They are all so sensitive to each other’s frustrations,” Alicia said. If one person is upset they struggled to remember a family member’s name, the others are quick to console and offer tips. Alicia said the group has had a huge impact for the good.

Bridges also hosts a monthly support group for spouses of people with memory impairment. This group meets at our Hingham community every fourth Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. Beginning in 2014, we will also host a support group for all caregivers of people with memory impairment. We all need encouragement sometimes, and talking to people who have walked in your shoes truly helps.  

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