Eisai and Pfizer Join National Alliance for Caregiving and Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Magazine to Connect and Educate Families Facing Alzheimer's Disease
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A new education program will help caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease preserve treasured family memories through the art of scrapbooking. The program, called Memories to Treasure, was introduced today by Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving and Creating Keepsakes scrapbook magazine. The campaign is designed to help caregivers connect with their loved ones and to educate them about caregiving.
A majority of the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family and friends provide most of the daily care. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, characterized by a decline in memory and cognition, function and behavior. As the disease advances symptoms worsen, increasing the amount of time and emotional energy caregivers and families spend taking care of their loved one.
"Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be emotionally and physically challenging," said Gail Hunt, president and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving. "In addition to needing knowledge about how to address the medical aspects of the disease, caregivers need activities that help foster positive interactions with their loved one."
The Memories to Treasure program offers scrapbooking to engage families in a positive environment. The program includes a Web site, http://www.memoriestotreasure.com, educational materials for Alzheimer's caregivers and a free scrapbooking starter kit.
The activities involved in scrapbooking, such as collecting old photographs and keepsakes, can benefit people with Alzheimer's disease. While people with Alzheimer's disease often have problems with short-term memory, they may be able to recall past experiences. Scrapbooking can lead to a conversation about people and events. Reminiscing about the past can be enjoyable for people with Alzheimer's disease and can help facilitate interaction between Alzheimer's sufferers and their caregivers.
"Making time for enjoyable activities like scrapbooking is one way for caregivers to stay positive and connect with their loved one," said Daniel Kuhn, MSW, author of Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers.
While scrapbooking can benefit families facing Alzheimer's, finding a treatment to help slow the progression of the symptoms of the disease is another important aspect of caregiving.
"It's important for families to understand that while there is no cure for Alzheimer's, we do have effective prescription treatments available," said Benjamin Seltzer, M.D., director of the Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorders Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. "For example, Aricept has been shown to improve cognitive function and behavior in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease."
Caregivers and family members who want to learn more about Memories to Treasure can visit http://www.memoriestotreasure.com. They will find tips on caregiving, information about Alzheimer's disease and a prescription treatment, a Memory Checklist to help guide discussion with a physician, and instruction on how to create a scrapbook to preserve treasured family memories. The free Memories to Treasure scrapbooking kit and educational materials can be ordered online.
SOURCE: PR Newswire, Eisai Inc.; Pfizer Inc
Web Sites: http://www.memoriestotreasure.com, http://www.aricept.com, http://www.caregiving.org,
http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com
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