Lake County has a program for memory challenged adults which provides activities and meals in a social atmosphere.

This program offers respite for the caregivers as well as support group meetings. There are openings in all three programs countywide (see below).

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Many people are affected by this disease and many more are in the entrance stage.

A person with a memory problem may not remember when to eat or if they have taken their medications. Many of them wander away and get lost. They may get confused about where they live or how to get home.

They probably do not remember how to use the telephone. They can’t follow directions as they can’t remember them.

Some advance to not knowing who their spouse is or recognizing their children. It is not safe to leave them alone. When they can’t live alone they must have a full-time caregiver. This caregiver is responsible 24 hours a day.

Some of us caregivers have found a wonderful solution to help us through our days with a little bit of respite.

We take our loved ones to the Elder Day Care Program on Memory Lane in Clearlake. At the program, they are given breakfast and lunch, social conversation time, exercise, games, music and friends. They are welcomed and become part of the group.

The group meets from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in Clearlake, Thursday in Lucerne and Friday in Middletown.

We caregivers have this time to attend to our other responsibilities like grocery shopping, appointments and other projects. We also are part of a support group to help each other with ideas of how to handle our new found situations.

My husband has a memory problem. I am his caregiver. He needs me to fix his meals, give him his meds, watch over him to keep him safe.

We have had a beautiful marriage of 66 years. This new direction our lives have gone has been very tiring for me as it leaves me responsible for everything both of us used to do.

Another group friend’s husband has a memory-related illness. She has the same problems I have – but in addition her husband has gone for walks in the woods and been lost all afternoon. He also forgets where the bathroom is. He is “mister fix it” so takes working things apart to fix them.

Still another group friend’s wife has an Alzheimer’s situation. She is always on the move, going out the door, going into the kitchen, emptying drawers, packing suitcases. She has trouble sleeping so he must be up at night to keep her safe. He is exhausted taking care of her.

We also have in our group a couple who have brought the wife’s father to live with them as he is no longer able to live alone. This has altered their lives and they are making adjustments.

Also attending the program are moms who are now living with their daughter or son’s family, another life altering situation for both of them.

All of these folks have enjoyed many years of living wonderful, interesting and fulfilling lives, but now need care because of Alzheimer's or memory problems.

We caregivers are so thankful to be living in Lake County where we have a program for our loved ones for happy times to spend with friends.

There will be a pizza party fundraiser for scholarships for the Adult Day Care group in Clearlake on Dec. 14 at DJ’s Pizza in Lower Lake from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For information on the Day Care Program on Tuesday and Wednesday in Clearlake or Friday in Middletown call Jenny at 707-350-3030. For information on Thursday’s program in Lucerne, call Caroline at 707-263-9481

Dee Parker lives in Clearlake, Calif.