Grant will help family dealing with Alzheimer's disease

CHESTER - A Chester family has been selected to receive an Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Relief Grant from Hilarity for Charity, a movement established with the Alzheimer's Association and led by actors and writers Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen to inspire change and raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease. Last year, Hilarity for Charity announced its partnership with the local Home Instead Senior Care office to offer grants to eligible U.S. and Canadian families for in-home care services provided by professionals trained in how to most effectively and compassionately assist individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

"Currently, there is no cure or effective treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease - there is only care," says Rogen, co-founder of Hilarity for Charity whose mother-in-law was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at the age of 55. "Until there is a cure, my wife and I are committed to also fighting to improve the access to quality care for families."

A devastating disease for the patient, Alzheimer's can also be a traumatic, life-altering experience for the estimated 15 million friends and families in the U.S. who provide care for their loved ones while juggling full-time jobs, raising children and maintaining their own health.

"Alzheimer's is a family disease, and we see firsthand the overwhelming impact that this diagnosis has on both the diagnosed and the family caregivers," said Jenna Marchi, owner of the Home Instead office serving Mid-Shore that will be providing this much-needed care to the grant recipients. "Whether it is applying for one of the many grants still available or exploring other free support resources such as caregiver trainings, we encourage families coping with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias to seek out the help they so desperately need."

Grant recipients are given a designated number of hours of in-home care from a Home Instead CAREGiverSM with training and experience caring for those living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. These hours may allow a family caregiver to spend time on neglected personal needs, such as errands or appointments, or even just a chance to relax and spend time with family and friends - all while they can have the peace of mind that their loved one is being cared for by a highly skilled, professional Home Instead CAREGiver in the comfort of his or her home.

Family caregivers are in dire need for additional support as they face increased fiscal, physical and mental challenges. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than one-third of Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers report symptoms of depression, more than 70 percent of working caregivers suffer work-related difficulties, and more than half of caregivers report declining health since they've prioritized the care of their loved ones and neglected their own health. As a result, many chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes occur at nearly twice the rate among family caregivers.

"Seth and I are fortunate enough to be able to provide round-the-clock care for my mother, which has been one of the only things that has made this heartbreaking disease even somewhat manageable," said Miller Rogen. "We are determined to provide other Alzheimer's families with the care and support that they so desperately need, and this program is an important step in doing just that."

The Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Relief Grant Program is funded by Hilarity for Charity donations, including the organization's annual variety show fund-raiser in which nearly $1 million was raised in 2014. To supplement this funding, United States-and Canada-based Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners have pledged more than 37,000 hours of in-home care services. Individuals living in Canada or the U.S. and providing care to one of the estimated nearly six million loved ones in North America living with Alzheimer's disease are eligible to apply.

For more information about the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Relief Grant Program, including how you can donate or apply for a care relief grant, visit www.Help ForAlzheimersFamilies.com.