According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 7 million people in the United States live with the disease. By 2050, the number of people living with dementia could rise to 13 million.
The last stats from 2021, Alzheimer’s is the fifth-leading cause of death for people over 65. And it doesn’t stop at just the disease; it’s being projected that in 2024 it will cost $360 billion dollars for health and long-term care for those living with dementia.
Care Giving
Anyone who has ever been a caregiver knows the difficulty and challenges that go with the responsibility. Though your heart is in the right place and you want to do all you can to help, it can take a big mental and physical toll on you. If you’re married, it can take a toll on your marriage as well.
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that 75% of caregivers become concerned about their own health My wife and I took care of my father-in-law for nearly a year who had dementia. Speaking from first-hand knowledge, it did in fact nearly wreck our marriage.
When Hospice finally entered the picture, the nurse took one look at my wife and I and demanded, not ask, that we go someplace for a least a couple of days. Even though we were completely drained we were filled with guilt to leave. We ultimately did take a couple days off and became acutely aware of the negative health impact caregiving was having on us.
Friendship House
In 1978 a Dr. Louis H. Netzer working in Santa Ynez, did as many country doctors used to do, make house calls. He had a vision to create a residence that would be affordable and as home-like as possible for residents with Alzheimer and various forms of dementia.
Dr. Netzer rented a simple ranch home in Solvang creating the first Friendship House. At the time he encouraged the seniors housed there to work right alongside him and the volunteers doing whatever needed to be done. It included gardening, cooking, cleaning, even getting the bills paid were chores everyone participated in.
When that first home was put on the market, Dr. Netzer had to find another location. With the help of the community, a couple houses behind the El Rancho Market were purchased and expanded from there to four homes. To this day it remains the permanent location of the Friendship House.
Getting Help
Places like the Friendship House allow residents to feel comfortable as well as the family placing them there. It’s never easy for anyone to place a spouse or another family member, even a friend, into a facility. Though sometimes it’s the better solution for everyone involved.
Most of us don’t have the skills to take proper care of our ill family members, especially for those who require 24-hour care. There’s always the fear and possibility, no matter how careful you are, that the family member could leave the house and get lost or injured.
In a place like the Friendship House, they have 24/7 care and a secure campus. Things such as administering medications, doctor visits and the ability to handle emergencies offer a great layer of comfort for the patient and the family.
With dementia on the rise, knowing there are safe places for those with the disease can go, families can feel more at peace.