Message from Brenda Avadian, MA

Dear Family or Professional Caregiver:

Thank you for visiting us at: TheCaregiversVoice.com--your non-sponsored independent voice for caregivers.

During the past decade, we've witnessed a 25% increase in Alzheimer's. Today, reports estimate that 5,000,000 Americans live with this disease, up from 4,000,000 a decade earlier. Projecting these numbers forward, we're looking at 6,250,000 Americans being diagnosed with Alzheimer's by 2017 ... unless there's a cure.

As a member of the Baby Boom generation, I cannot imagine a more active group of people being stricken with this disease. Yet, this figure will reach epidemic proportions. Each of us will be affected--as a caregiver, as a family member, or even, as one who receives the diagnosis.

Worldwide, the figure is estimated at 26,000,000. We cannot postpone addressing this epidemic. It won't go away, not until there's a cure. Research has made great strides over the years, but until this disease is stopped, ask yourself: Can it happen to me? YES. Am I prepared? Are the families I serve prepared? Do I know where to turn for help?

After my father was diagnosed with dementia, and unable to live independently, my husband and I moved him from his Wisconsin home of forty-five years into our Los Angeles-area home. We were totally unprepared for caregiving; living fast-paced career-oriented lives and slowing down enough to eat one meal a day and to take care of our cats. What we needed most was to be able to call someone who could answer all our medical, legal, emotional, nutritional, physical, and ethical questions. At each step, we questioned ourselves: What do we do? Are we making the right decision? Is this what my father would want?

Today, much more is known about dementia. The Caregivers Voice offers you easy-to-digest information. Send us your questions and visit our regularly updated blog, Monthly Advice Column, and our Events Calendar. Our Endorsed Links (see left margin) features sites we find helpful. Ask The Caregiver's Voice Your Question. When your organization needs an attentive and accessible speaker to inform, uplift, and give your audience strength, contact us and I will personally contact you, to learn your organization's needs.

Genuinely Yours,
Brenda