The Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter has joined with the Ohio Department of Aging and the Benjamin Rose Institute to implement a free program that will help both individuals with memory problems as well as their family members who are caring for them. This new program is called Reducing Disability in Alzheimer’s Disease (RDAD).
The RDAD program is designed to help teach older adults who may suffer from memory problems how to do some simple exercises to improve their overall health. The program also teaches family members about symptoms to watch for and how to care for persons with memory problems. This program hopes to improve the ability of the person with memory problems to carry out activities of daily living while also helping family members provide assistance to their relative.
A specially trained professional will come to the home for 15 sessions, each session lasting about one hour to teach exercises to the person with memory problems to help improve strength and balance and trained professionals will also teach family members how to assist their relative with these exercises. Family members will also be asked to keep a record of their relatives’ exercise progress and to complete 3 brief surveys about the sessions that will be mailed back to the Benjamin Rose Institute.
All information will be kept completely confidential. Participation in this program is completely voluntary, deciding to stop participating in the program will in no way affect any services that you receive or may receive from the participating organizations.
For more information, you, a family member or friend can call the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419-537-1999 or 1-800-272-3900. You can go to the Alzheimer's Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter website at: www.alz.org/nwohio
