Newswise ATLANTA (October 1, 2012) The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) announces today is the first day of nationwide October Lewy body dementia awareness month, A Month To Remember. LBDA invited volunteers to join the awareness movement by Standing Strong with LBDA to build awareness for Lewy body dementia in their communities all month long. The LBD Awareness Movement is a national, grass roots effort to increase LBD awareness in the general public and medical profession. Participants in the movement are getting involved with LBDA in several ways to make Lewy body dementia (LBD) become a household word, from distributing materials in their community and to local physicians offices, to organizing outreach or community fundraising events.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) affects an estimated 1.3 million individuals and their families in the United States. It is currently widely underdiagnosed because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD. Early diagnosis allows for important early treatment that may extend quality of life.

Given the growing population of older Americans, at some point in your life LBD will likely affect someone you know, said Angela Herron, President of LBDAs Board of Directors. The general public, and far too many primary care doctors and nurses, have never heard of LBD. In addition to trying to manage a very difficult disease, LBD families find themselves in the unanticipated role of educator and advocate.

These are just a few of the outstanding efforts around the country: Karen F. of Allentown, PA has 8 outreach events and media activities in October Rachael V. and Samantha L. are organizing the 1st Annual LBD Walk for Awareness in Abilene, TX on Oct. 20! Karen M. organized the Giddy-Up for Gary 5K in Omaha, NE on Oct. 12! Sue Ellen J. is doing an outreach event, delivering posters and materials to physicians and getting the word out and the PSAs to her local media in Austin, TX!

Check out LBDAs online calendar for all of the events for October Awareness Month!

LBDA is also encouraging Awareness Movement participants throughout the country to engage with each other locally by joining a Hub of Hope in their community. LBDA Hubs of Hope provide opportunities to connect LBD families and friends in local areas to build a network of resources for caregivers and people with LBD, as well as engage them in social and educational programs about LBD. To join LBDAs awareness movement, A Month To Remember, and for more information please visit http://www.lbda.org/go/awareness.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit http://www.lbda.org.

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Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Is Making October "A Month to Remember"

Newswise ATLANTA (October 1, 2012) The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) announces today is the first day of nationwide October Lewy body dementia awareness month, A Month To Remember. LBDA invited volunteers to join the awareness movement by Standing Strong with LBDA to build awareness for Lewy body dementia in their communities all month long. The LBD Awareness Movement is a national, grass roots effort to increase LBD awareness in the general public and medical profession. Participants in the movement are getting involved with LBDA in several ways to make Lewy body dementia (LBD) become a household word, from distributing materials in their community and to local physicians offices, to organizing outreach or community fundraising events.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) affects an estimated 1.3 million individuals and their families in the United States. It is currently widely underdiagnosed because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly known diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD. Early diagnosis allows for important early treatment that may extend quality of life.

Given the growing population of older Americans, at some point in your life LBD will likely affect someone you know, said Angela Herron, President of LBDAs Board of Directors. The general public, and far too many primary care doctors and nurses, have never heard of LBD. In addition to trying to manage a very difficult disease, LBD families find themselves in the unanticipated role of educator and advocate.

These are just a few of the outstanding efforts around the country: Karen F. of Allentown, PA has 8 outreach events and media activities in October Rachael V. and Samantha L. are organizing the 1st Annual LBD Walk for Awareness in Abilene, TX on Oct. 20! Karen M. organized the Giddy-Up for Gary 5K in Omaha, NE on Oct. 12! Sue Ellen J. is doing an outreach event, delivering posters and materials to physicians and getting the word out and the PSAs to her local media in Austin, TX!

Check out LBDAs online calendar for all of the events for October Awareness Month!

LBDA is also encouraging Awareness Movement participants throughout the country to engage with each other locally by joining a Hub of Hope in their community. LBDA Hubs of Hope provide opportunities to connect LBD families and friends in local areas to build a network of resources for caregivers and people with LBD, as well as engage them in social and educational programs about LBD. To join LBDAs awareness movement, A Month To Remember, and for more information please visit http://www.lbda.org/go/awareness.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit http://www.lbda.org.

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Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Is Making October "A Month to Remember"

Jim Fitzgerald / AP

Victor Rivera dances with a dementia patient Sept. 20 at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in the Bronx borough of New York. The Hebrew Home has a program that provides care and activity overnight for dementia victims with sleep problems.

By JIM FITZGERALD, AP

NEW YORKJust after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

See the rest here:
Dementia 'night camp' gives caregivers a rest

Jim Fitzgerald / AP

Victor Rivera dances with a dementia patient Sept. 20 at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in the Bronx borough of New York. The Hebrew Home has a program that provides care and activity overnight for dementia victims with sleep problems.

By JIM FITZGERALD, AP

NEW YORKJust after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

See the rest here:
Dementia 'night camp' gives caregivers a rest

NEW YORK (AP) Just after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

"We would all wake up, and my daughter would ask, 'Why is Grandpa screaming? Why is he so grumpy?'" Garcia said.

"Now he comes home in the morning, shows me his drawings, tells me what they did all night."

While many nursing homes offer temporary "respite care" so caregivers can catch up on sleep or go on vacation, the overnight-only program at the Hebrew Home fills a niche.

But costs are high, and such programs are rare. An official at the Alzheimer's Association said she knew of no other.

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Overnight dementia care gives caregivers some rest

NEW YORK (AP) Just after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

"We would all wake up, and my daughter would ask, 'Why is Grandpa screaming? Why is he so grumpy?'" Garcia said.

"Now he comes home in the morning, shows me his drawings, tells me what they did all night."

While many nursing homes offer temporary "respite care" so caregivers can catch up on sleep or go on vacation, the overnight-only program at the Hebrew Home fills a niche.

But costs are high, and such programs are rare. An official at the Alzheimer's Association said she knew of no other.

Excerpt from:
Overnight dementia 'camp' allows caregivers rest

NEW YORK (AP) Just after 10 p.m., when most people their age are going to sleep, a group of elderly folks suffering from dementia are just getting started, dancing and shaking tambourines and maracas in a raucous version of "La Bamba."

"It's a party," says an 81-year-old woman, among dozens of patients brought to a Bronx nursing home every night for a structured series of singalongs, crafts and therapy sessions that lasts until dawn.

The program, which appears to be rare, is kind of a "night camp" for dementia victims who don't sleep at night or tend to wake up agitated or become frightened or disoriented by the fall of darkness.

It's meant to provide care and activity lots of activity to fill the wee hours for people with Alzheimer's and similar diseases who live at home. And it's meant to provide their caregivers usually a son or daughter with a treasured night's sleep.

"Without this program, my father would be lost, and I would be crazy," said Robert Garcia, whose 82-year-old father, Felix, is in the program at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale called ElderServe at Night. "He doesn't sleep. At night he's wide awake, and he needs activity."

Garcia, who lives in a Bronx apartment with his wife and three of their children, said that before his father went into the program he would wake up in the night, loudly, and keep everyone else from sleeping.

"We would all wake up, and my daughter would ask, 'Why is Grandpa screaming? Why is he so grumpy?'" Garcia said.

"Now he comes home in the morning, shows me his drawings, tells me what they did all night."

While many nursing homes offer temporary "respite care" so caregivers can catch up on sleep or go on vacation, the overnight-only program at the Hebrew Home fills a niche.

But costs are high, and such programs are rare. An official at the Alzheimer's Association said she knew of no other.

Excerpt from:
Overnight dementia 'camp' allows caregivers rest