Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.4 million people in the United States may have Alzheimer’s disease. The number of Coloradans living with Alzheimer’s disease has reached an all-time high of 76,000, a 4.1 percent increase over the previous year, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2020 “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report.

The Alzheimer Association and their regional director Angel Hoffman are offering help to local area caregivers for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Starting last month, Hoffman began offering an Alzheimer’s support group that meets from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. These get-togethers are mainly for family members and friends of those affected by the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association has support groups in Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and Estes Park.

The group meets at the Outpost building on the Grace Place church campus located at 375 Meadowlark Drive in west Berthoud. This serves as the Berthoud location for the House of Neighborly Service Berthoud on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the organization moves to its new stand-alone building set to be finished in 2024. Hoffman says the goal is to be in the new location by then.

She says that research shows that, “The more support and encouragement family members have, the more resilient they are through their journey.” The group offers a chance to be with people going through the same thing you are, Hoffman said, “you are talking with people that get it.”

A group can help caregivers discuss and learn from others about transitioning the person with Alzheimer’s from the home to a professional care facility. Some come to groups such as this since they are providing support from another city or state.

Hoffman said that once a group forms, “people come for quite a long time.” The gathering can become a social network, as well. Others only attend periodically or when a crisis is happening in the family. Hoffman noted that some come to meetings even after the loved one with Alzheimer’s dies.

Hoffman needs to get the word out about this much-needed new Alzheimer’s support group. Hoffman cites a community forum held by her and the Larimer Office on Aging that found people expressing a desire for a support group like the one being formed now.

During the interview, she also expressed her appreciation to the House of Neighborly Service Assistant Director Jinger Tomassi for all the help given to the Alzheimer’s program.

Anyone who is caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s may drop into the support group sessions. The meetings along with literature about Alzheimer’s are available free of charge. Hoffman is also available to speak at civic groups, churches, etc. Go to www.alz.org for more education on the disease. Contact Angel Hoffman at [email protected].