Serving on the Alzheimer's Task Force

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Serving on the Alzheimer's Task Force

It’s so wonderful to see people out and about these days, and there seems to be so much to catch up on. For me, 2021 feels as though it’s flying by. I wanted to pause though, and make time to share the latest news about an exciting initiative that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of. If you hadn’t heard, I was appointed last year to the Governor’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. This task force is long overdue. I’m embarrassed to say that when it was created, Ohio was the only state left to address this issue and plan accordingly for our senior community. You may wonder why I agreed to sit on such a task force. Well, the decision was easy. Professionally, I’ve seen the worst in those who prey upon seniors battling Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Personally, my family has a connection to Alzheimer’s that dates back to my elementary school years. It was then that my maternal grandfather was diagnosed. I remember Grandpa as a silly, goofy, and affectionate man who loved me immensely. I also remember life getting more and more difficult as his disease progressed. One time, Grandpa took off in his truck. In his mind, he was just going for a Sunday drive. To our family, however—panic! Grandpa was lost, and a search took place that ended up on the evening news. Luckily, he was found safe. Ultimately, Grandpa lived in a nursing home when my grandmother could no longer care for him. Looking back, I remember the emotional struggle for my family, and the added strain of limited services in a small town.

Fast forward to a few years ago—our family learned that Mom had early-stage Alzheimer’s. Almost 30 years later, and I found the same struggles, the same questions. What care options are available? Can Dad care for Mom full time? Should he? How will we handle safety and maintain Mom’s dignity as her disease progresses? How will we… how can we face this again? And finally, what can I do as a daughter? How can I assist others in my community?

So, you see, there really was no question when I thought about applying to serve on the Governor’s Task Force. For every family navigating these waters, for every person victimized because they suffer from Alzheimer’s or related dementias, I say yes. As difficult as these diseases can be, I am optimistic about Ohio’s renewed devotion and attention to them, and I am humbled to serve alongside experts in this field. COVID did delay us a bit, but so far in 2021 we’ve met monthly online, and have a lot to share. You can view meetings and read meeting minutes at aging.ohio.gov by clicking on About Us: Who We Are: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force.

I’ve been assigned to the Experience Committee, and am spearheading the effort to collect information from those affected.

As dark as these diseases can be, and as helpless as they can make us feel, it’s important to remember there a lot of people who care. I am excited to contribute to this task force. Our report is due this fall, so keep an eye out for our findings. If you need help navigating a diagnosis, or are a caregiver looking for support, SourcePoint (MySourcePoint.org) is an excellent resource. Other good resources are the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) and the National Institute on Aging (nia.nih.gov). Melissa Schiffel is the Delaware County Prosecutor.

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