“My wife’s father was diagnosed in 2013 with early-onset Alzheimers. At the time, we were still in college getting ready to graduate,” said Cody Medina, community engagement manager, diversity specialist for the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter. “I didn’t have much support. I felt like there wasn’t enough conversation about this topic at college. So I thought there have to be so many younger caregivers in my position that feel the same way.”
Medina is the organizer of the Hudson Valley Chapter’s younger caregiver symposium, “A Glimpse into the Life of a Younger Caregiver,” which will be held virtually from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7. Medina said it is a common assumption that younger people are less affected by dementia. “Whenever people think of caregivers, they automatically assume it is someone who is a bit older…generally individuals over 45,” Medina siad. “With the younger symposium, we’re essentially tailoring our focus to individuals 18-45.”
“The overall purpose is letting people know that they are not alone. There’s a community of people around them going through similar situations,” he added, noting that the event will also seek to make younger caregivers aware of the programs and services offered by the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter.
The virtual symposium will include presentations from three featured speaker-panelists. Amy LaFleur, a speech language pathologist
for the New York City Department of Education, will talk about the millennial caregiving experience; Teresa Santos, behavioral health care manager for the Memory Disorders Center and Montefiore Center for the Aging Brain, will speak on fears millennials have about
Alzheimer’s; and Dr. Jessica Zwerling, associate director of neurology for Montefiore Center for the Aging Brain, will speak about healthy aging and caregiver stress.
There will also be an educational presentation on Healthy Living for the Brain and Body. LaFleur got involved with the symposium through her work as president of the Young Professionals Alzheimer’s Council, YPAC, an organization affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter for people under 40 who are devoted to the cause. YPAC holds networking events, fundraisers and other activities to help those living with dementia and their caregivers.
LaFleur’s presentation will highlight demographic information on millennial caregivers as well as some of the challenges younger caregivers face socially, financially and educationally. Caregiving became important to LaFleur, both from a personal and career standpoint in 2012, when her mother was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Since then, she and her father have been active caregivers. LaFleur said it can be difficult for younger caregivers to find a balance between their life and caregiving for a loved one in
need.
“Millennials are most likely to be working while caregiving.” LaFleur said, “Younger caregivers are less likely to share with their employer that they are spending all this energy and time—on average over 20 hours a week—caring for someone in their family.” She added that this can result in decreased time management skills, leading to negative feedback professionally, such as being passed over for promotions.
But she also noted that millennials are resilient and comfortable finding assistance online.
“As a whole, millennials are more willing to seek out resources, look for more information and formulate their own social circles,” LaFleur said. Since the symposium is virtual for the second year in a row, younger caregivers are able to easily access it on the web. “You can access the event on your phone, laptop, iPad. It’s a very adaptable type of platform to utilize,” Medina said. “I can’t wait for that day.”
To register for the symposium, call the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter at 800.272.3900 (Submitted)
