As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact America, many things are changing. One thing that does not change is ADAWs commitment to you. We will continue to do everything we can to help families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. To that end, we wanted to share the following information with you:
- There are steps family caregivers can take to help protect their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. You can access that information here.
- People living with dementia may need extra and/or written reminders and support to remember important hygienic practices from one day to the next. Consider placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind people with dementia to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds.
- Demonstrate thorough hand-washing. Use a soothing tone to encourage washing and understand that you may need to explain what to do slowly and step by step. Some people with dementia are no longer able to sequence (i.e., they can’t anticipate what step is coming next.). You may want to say, “First, let’s wet our hands under the water.” When that is done, “Then we will use the soap dispenser to squeeze out some soap into your hands.” Then, “Rub your hands together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands…. Lather between your fingers…. Lather under your nails.”
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be a quick alternative to hand-washing if the person with dementia cannot get to a sink or wash his/her hands easily.
- Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
- Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks
- Stay in touch with others by phone or email. You may need to ask for help from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, etc. if you become sick.
- People living with dementia may need extra and/or written reminders and support to remember important hygienic practices from one day to the next. Consider placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind people with dementia to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds.
More Home Engagement Opportunities. If you have relied on outings as a way to keep your person pleasantly occupied during the day, then removing them from the schedule means you have to fill in those times with other engaging tasks and activities. Consider the kinds of at-home activities that seem to please and engage your person. Are there ways to repeat such activities over the course of a day? Are there similar kinds of activities you might try (if the person enjoys helping with cooking, might s/he enjoy helping with the laundry)? Try new things out and add those you see to be working well to your toolbox.
We encourage you to regularly visit our Facebook page, where we post safety tips and informational videos to serve individuals who either cannot or are advised not to leave their homes.
The coronavirus is something that everyone should take seriously. The best ways to combat it are by being informed and proactive. We will continue to keep you updated with information that can be helpful.
“Be sure not to spread unnecessary alarm about coronavirus to the person you care for. The best way to prevent illness is simply to avoid being exposed to the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The next best thing is to encourage everyday preventative measures to avoid the spread of respiratory disease.”
Allison B. Reiss, M.D., AFA Medical, Scientific & Memory Screening Advisory Board Member.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU,
YOUR DEMENTIA OUTREACH SPECIALISTS BY COUNTY
- The ADAW helpline remains open with its normal hours of operation 8:30 am – 4:30 pm CT on weekdays. Calls after that period will be directed to our voice mail in which we will return your call as soon as possible. You can connect with your local Dementia Outreach Specialist by phone or email by referring to the staff list at the bottom.
- For the safety of our employees and those we serve, ADAW’s staff are currently working remotely with regular business hours. We can be reached at 888-308-6251 or support@alzwisc.org
MAIN OFFICE: 888-308-6251 support@alzwisc.org
DANE COUNTY:
Noreen Kralapp, 608-661-0463, noreen.kralapp@alzwisc.org
Shelly Slama, 608-232-3404, shelly.slama@alzwisc.org
Barbara McKinney, 608-204-9789, barbara.mckinney@alzwisc.org
City of Middleton www.cityofmiddleton.us
City of Madison https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/community-spread-of-coronavirus-covid-19-occurring-in-dane-county
CRAWFORD, GRANT, IOWA, & LAFAYETTE COUNTIES:
Heather Moore, 608-723-4288, heather.moore@alzwisc.org
COLUMBIA & SAUK COUNTIES:
Janet Wiegel, 608-742-9055, janet.wiegel@alzwisc.org
GREEN LAKE, MARQUETTE, & WAUSHARA COUNTIES:
Kristine Biesenthal, 920-294-4100, kristine.biesenthal@alzwisc.org
Marquette County ADRC https://adrcmarquette.org/ 1-855-440-2372
Adams, Green Lake & Waushara County ADRC: https://www.adrcinformation.org/ 1- 877-883-5378
GREEN & ROCK COUNTIES:
Teena Monk-Gerber, 608-843-3544, teena.monk-gerber@alzwisc.org
ADAMS & JUNEAU COUNTIES:
Nancy Thacker, 608-516-6248, nancy.thacker@alzwisc.org
Adams, Green Lake & Waushara County ADRC: https://www.adrcinformation.org/ 1- 877-883-5378
RICHLAND COUNTY:
Becky Debuhr, 608-732-3131, becky.debuhr@alzwisc.org
Additional sources about the coronavirus (COVID-19):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
https://www.nih.gov/
State wide ADRC office locator: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc/index.htm
Dept. of Health Services for updates on COVID-19 & other topics: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/
