Author Bruce McIntyre once said in a prayer that caregivers are often “unknown and unnoticed, but a hero, none-the-less.”

He also said, “even in weakness, a caregiver gives life to their beloved.”

Lee Ann Hyatt, RN, the new Bedford County Caregiver Relief director, said for such reasons, those caring for Alzheimer’s Disease patients should be recognized. It was in 1983, when President Ronald Reagan designated November as “Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.”

“In 2020, the Alzheimer’s Association reports that more than 5 million Americans are living with the disease,” said Hyatt. “In Tennessee, there are approximately 12,000; we have the 4th highest Alzheimer death rate in America! Estimates are that around 300 of these live in Bedford County. This is a call for all of us to pay attention to this epidemic that is raging.”

The registered nurse, who has years of experience in the field, said chances are that most families have been affected by this most dreaded disease-one which she believes can “steal your loved one way before they die.”

The Caregiver Action Network reports, Hyatt shared, that the family Alzheimer caregiver is 60% women, 69% married, 63% employed at least part time, and spends an average of 4.1 years caregiving their parent or spouse with Alzheimer’s Disease.

The survey also revealed that as a result of their caregiving, those by the side of loved ones skip social obligations, get to work late or leave early, neglect other personal/family responsibilities, and unfortunately, neglect their own health.

“In Tennessee in 2019, caregivers provide 506,000,000 hours of unpaid care, she said. “The impact of this exhausting caregiving has been widely studied. According to the 2020 Alzheimer’s Disease facts and figures by the Alzheimer’s Association, the results are that the caregiver experiences increased emotional stress, a higher incidence of depression, new or exacerbated health problems, and depleted income and finances.”

The veteran nurse said sadly, the disease can literally create family emergencies, such as about 18% of spousal caregivers dying before their partners. She said this is where Bedford County Caregiver Relief program can be so beneficial, especially in decreasing those odds for families.

“Since its inception in 1983, The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Relief Program of Bedford County has been supporting family caregivers right here in your own neighborhoods. As a non-profit community service, we provide a free monthly visit by a dementia certified registered nurse.”

Hyatt added that registered nurses, like herself, will offer emotional support, education about the disease process and its progression. As well, those visits will include tips on communication and behavioral challenges, caregiving techniques, access to funds for respite sources, and community referrals.

Bedford County Caregivers Association depends on local support. Donations in honor or memory of caregivers can be sent to Caregiver Relief Program, P.O. Box 584, Shelbyville, TN 37162.