St. John’s Dementia Caregiver Resources Featured in November 11 RBJ
A November 11 article in Rochester Business Journal cited that according to a report released in May 2020 by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, nearly 1 in 5 Americans (19%) are providing care to an adult with health or functional needs. Additionally, those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has risen from 22% in 2015 to 26% of the total population of caregivers in 2020.
A plethora of local resources were highlighted as answering the need for more support of caregivers in our area. Among those receiving special mention, was St. John’s online Dementia Resource Center and a recent grant awarded to St. John’s in partnership with Lifespan by Exhale, the Family Caregiver Initiative, in support of a 2023 project to establish a physical dementia resource center at 150 Highland Avenue, attached to the current buildings of St. John’s Home.
Within the article, St. John’s Vice-President of Marketing, said that the “pandemic illuminated the need even more for a center to support at-home caregivers.” Lesinski reiterated the value of the online resource, with it being an all-encompassing tool with articles, blog posts, videos, downloadable worksheets, and other content available to caregivers 24/7.
With respect to the Exhale grant, St. John’s and Lifespan were two of 12 new grantees that have been selected to kick-off Exhale’s 2022 program. Other grantees include Western New York’s Catholic Health Continuing Care Foundation, YMCA Buffalo Niagara, Cradle Beach, Inc., Healthy Alternatives Through Healings Arts (HAHA), Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, American Cancer Society, United Way of Orleans County, along with Regents of the University of Michigan – Silver Club, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels and Chelsea Senior Center, which are based in Washtenaw County, MI.
Funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, and managed by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), the 2022 Exhale initiative will involve a total of 58 partner organizations across Western New York and Washtenaw County, MI, who will work in teams led by the 12 grantees. Initiatives supported by the grant will include St. John’s Dementia Resource Center, along with neighborhood respite centers, a “mystery trip” program, care support to improve healthy living with chore support, home modifications, mobile respite care and more, and are expected to launch by early 2023.
Subscribers of the Rochester Business Journal can read the full article by clicking on this link.
