Morton Plant Hospital Starts New Support Group for Alzheimer's Caregivers
01/06/2005
CLEARWATER, Fla., (January 17, 2002)---Morton Plant Hospital recently started a new Alzheimer's support group. Offered to all caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the group meets the first Thursday of every month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the library on the second floor of the Sarah Walker Women's Center located on the Morton Plant campus, 300 Pinellas Street in Clearwater. The support group is offered free of charge and begins with a 15 to 20-minute educational lecture followed by discussion.
"The support group is dedicated to helping Alzheimer's caregivers find understanding, wisdom and support," said Anne Voncannon, nurse manager for the geriatric psychiatric unit at Morton Plant Hospital. "It is estimated that almost 1 billion people---patients and caregivers---are affected worldwide in some capacity by Alzheimer's."
Alzheimer's disease---the most common form of dementia---is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. Currently, approximately four million Americans have the disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 14 million Americans will have the disease by the middle of the next century unless a cure or prevention is found. More than seven out of 10 people with Alzheimer's disease live at home with almost 75 percent of care provided by family and friends.
For more information about the support group please call (727) 462-7500 or 1-888-MPM-8484.
Established in 1916, Morton Plant Hospital is dedicated to improving the health of all it serves through community-owned health services that set the standard for high quality, compassionate care.
