New academy started to help caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new program is underway in the Cape Fear area to help families with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association, Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, and the Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging came together to create “The Caregiver Academy.”

The academy will consist of various resources and even classes for caregivers to take part in.

One such class will focus on how to handle money as a caregiver, along with watching out for fraud.

Brooke Vallely is the program manager for the Alzheimer’s Association.

She said the academy is needed because Alzheimer’s disease affects people differently.

“When we receive a diagnosis with our loved one, unfortunately, there’s not a how-to manual,” Vallely said. “This disease doesn’t look the same on every person that’s diagnosed and the caregiver journey looks different for every family based off of family being in the immediate area, having enough family, finances.”

Lower Cape Fear Lifecare’s Director of Strategy and Program Development, Evan Dressel, said he hopes families looking for help will come to the academy to find it.

“Being willing to accept help. One of the things we see a lot is that caregivers, you know, they try to do it on their own,” Dressel said. “And this is one of those diseases where it really does take a wide array of resources to really help you effectively manage it and so I think one of the things I would suggest is that folks do take that first step and reach out.”

All of the resources and classes offered by the Academy are free and are available throughout the Cape Fear region.