STAY CONNECTED
For Lise Grace, Assistant Director of CJFS CARES respite program, the work is personal. When she first joined CJFS, she was quietly navigating one of the most challenging chapters of her life: her husband Dan was living with early-onset Alzheimer’s. “Before Dan’s diagnosis, his personality changed drastically,” Lise shares. “He became paranoid and verbally abusive, […]
Caring for a loved one with memory loss or a movement disorder is an act of profound love—but it can also be isolating, exhausting, and overwhelming. Caregivers give so much of themselves, often putting their own needs aside to ensure their loved ones receive the support and attention they need. At CJFS, we understand that […]
Socializing with others makes most of us feel better about ourselves and about the world. For people affected by dementia, social interaction has a proven additional benefit: improved communication and cognitive function. This is certainly the case at CARES, CJFS’ respite program for people affected by memory and movement disorders such as dementia and Parkinson’s. […]
Family caregivers now can receive one-on-one support and guidance at no cost from CJFS, through generous grants provided by the United Way of Central Alabama and Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. “The pandemic only heightened the stress that many family caregivers were already experiencing,” said Pam Leonard, LBSW, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Program Director […]
