More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member or friend living with dementia.

As specialists in Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias, Camarillo Health Care District understands the challenges and adjustments families experience while living with this diagnosis. In the role of family caregiver, making decisions about such things as daily care, home safety and wandering, difficult behaviors, or the timing of other hard decisions, can be overwhelming.

Working through innovative partnerships with the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, and the Administration for Community Living, District staff are trained and certified in the Dealing with Dementia program. This program, developed by RCI, provides practical strategies and best practices for caregivers, which assists them in providing care for their loved ones and themselves. The goal is for Alzheimer's and dementia family caregivers to gain a better understanding of dementia, utilize strategies to effectively manage problem behaviors, and handle caregiver stress and burnout.

The District offers this program as a four-hour workshop, set 10 a.m. to noon on June 11 and 18, highlighting topics such as the caregiving experience with an easily understandable explanation of dementia, best practices in caregiving, and problem solving with dementia behaviors. Learn tips for caregivers to find time for self-care and stress management. Completed workshop participants will receive a comprehensive manual for dementia caregivers.  Cost for materials is $35, or $39 for Non-District residents.

Additionally, the District provides a broad range of other programs and services that offer professional and practical help for you and your family. We offer Care Consultations for family caregivers, Caregiver Support Group, Depression and Caregiver Well-Being Screening, and we have two Wellness Hours scheduled at 10 a.m. on May 16 and June 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. 

On May 2, we are offering Dementia Live, a high-impact, dementia simulation experience that immerses participants into life with dementia, resulting in a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with cognitive impairment and sensory change. As part of this free experience, participants are outfitted in specialized gear and given a series of tasks to perform. The challenges and struggles one faces become very real to the participant, triggering heightened empathy and understanding, creating a catalyst for meaningful communication and improving quality of care. We currently have three offerings from 9 to 10 a.m., 10 to 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon.

The District also offers SHARE, a program for people experiencing early- to mid-stage dementia, and their caregivers. The acronym stands for support, health, activities, resources and education. A trained health coach engages in discussions about symptoms, communication and healthy activities, while helping clients plan for the future, keeping the client’s own values and preferences in mind for their life as the disease progresses.

The program, based on research by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and funded through a grant from the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation, consists of five sessions with a trained health coach, with an optional sixth session for family to be included. They work on specific goals, topics and exercises that help build a shared plan that they can walk away with at the end. A care plan will be developed that reflects the person's personal preferences.

If you are a family caregiver in need of respite or looking for an opportunity for socialization and stimulation for your loved one living with dementia, the District has an Adult Day Program. Take a virtual tour and learn more on our website. Activities include games and puzzles, pet therapy, music and singing, stimulation to improve mental and physical health, Magic Table games created for a range of cognitive abilities with varying levels of complexity, and nutritious meals and snacks.

Consider becoming a "Dementia Friend" by watching a series of short videos created by Dementia Friends USA, part of a global movement that is changing the way people think, act and talk about dementia. A Dementia Friend is someone who learns what it's like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends program to visiting someone who is living with dementia, every action counts. 

To register for the District's classes, services or programs, call 805-388-1952.