Young Caregivers Needed For Alzheimer's Patients

OMAHA, Neb. - KETV.com

It’s a difficult task, but more and more young people are caring for relatives with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, more than a million Americans, ages 8 to 18, are helping those with the memory-stealing disease.

Local advocates want to help young caregivers and recruit others to fill the growing need.

Sally Collins, 25, already knows what it’s like to take care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease. For the last seven years, she was the primary caregiver for her grandmother Margo, who died of the disease this year.

“Losing her, that was the hardest part of the entire thing,” Collins said. “I would do it again and again. You just do it because you love them.”

Collins is not alone. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 19 percent of caregivers are under the age of 35. In the next 20 years, it's estimated a total of 3,500,000 more formally trained health care providers will be needed to handle the increasing number of patients.

Advocates are recruiting people like Laura Mayer, 26, who has worked for Hillcrest Health Systems for the past four years. She said it’s a tough job, but it does have its rewards.

“My favorite part is building relationships,” said Mayer.

To learn more about becoming a caregiver, call the Midlands Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at 502-4300. You can also get information on the disease and local support groups on the chapter’s

Web site.

Most Popular Stories at KETV

• Lincoln Boy, 15, Accused Of Molesting Foster Child
• Police Still Seek Suspects In Tuesday Pursuit
• Young People Missing From Ceremony, Man Says
• Company Repays Employees After Pay Cuts
• Report: 10 States Face Looming Budget Disasters

MORE FROM THEOMAHACHANNEL.COM

TheOmahaChannel.com Section Front

Male Role Models Needed Man Suspected Of Having Child Pornography Man Dies After Fall From 6th-Story Window Bar Owner Recovers After Stabbing Thieves Target AC Units TheOmahaChannel.com Section Front   Add TheOmahaChannel.com headlines to your news reader: