Riverview — While Judy Petterle has no background of dementia in her own family, she knows the need for resources to help those who do is great.

“Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s,” Petterle said. “It is going to become a worldwide epidemic … the only cure is prevention right now.”

So to help meet a growing need, Petterle and other Christian service directors at parishes in the Downriver Vicariate are working to provide resources for dementia caregivers and patients through a yearlong presentation series.

Petterle, Christian service director at St. Cyprian Parish in Riverview, spearheaded the series after working with other Downriver Christian service coordinators.

“We think we have stumbled onto something very positive here,” said Petterle of the series, which began in August and will continue through spring 2015. She said being able to offer the presentations “has been amazing; comments have been overwhelmingly positive.”

Petterle explained that the presentations have helped clear up a lot of confusion surrounding dementia diagnoses, such as people saying “She only has dementia, not Alzheimer’s. That’s better, right?”

However, “dementia is not a disease,” said Petterle, pointing out that dementia is rather an “umbrella term” for the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal and Parkinson’s diseases.

“When you have that kind of info, you can approach the patient differently,” said Petterle.

Each two-hour-long presentation is given by medical social worker Carol Waarala, MSW, LMSW, a frequently sought local presenter specializing in aging and dementia education.

“(Waarala) felt it’s through grassroots efforts through churches that caregivers and patients are going to get the best attention,” said Petterle, since Waarala’s presentations include spiritual reflections and Bible excerpts.

Petterle said St. Cyprian’s parish nurse had introduced the idea of bringing Waarala to speak at their parish several years ago, after attending a conference in which she was featured.

Waarala came back to St. Cyprian repeatedly, and audience numbers grew. It was then that Petterle realized the presentations needed to be shared with the rest of the Downriver community.

“So I went to the Christian Service coordinators and they said ‘Yes, that would be great,’” she said.

The nine parishes offering the presentations applied for and received a $2,500 grant from the Downriver Vicariate to cover the speaker fee and booklets. But because of the number of participants, Petterle said parishes may also take freewill donations to offset the cost of additional booklet copies.

Petterle said Waarala’s presentation style makes the sessions very accessible by giving many applicable examples, such as personal experience: Waarala’s father died of dementia, predeceased by her mother who had taken care of him.

“When you start to enlighten the caregivers into looking out for these things, it could make the experience of the patient different and the experience of the caregiver different,” she said.

Additionally, Waarala coordinates with a social worker to offer support groups following the presentations.

She added that each dementia case is highly individualized.

“(Waarala) says that ‘if you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s, you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s,” said Petterle.

Petterle said the presentations offer guidance for recognizing the early onset of dementia: “Some say Dad’s not paying attention to Mom anymore. Then what they’re finding out years later is that those were the early symptoms. He couldn’t remember how to use the shrub trimmer so he just didn’t do it.”

Petterle said the need is clearly there for proper dementia education.

“I don’t see it as a lost cause,” she said. “I see any kind of information we can get out to people has got to help in one way or another.”

 

Next session

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 “A Caregiver’s Travel Guide: the Alzheimer’s Journey” at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, 6441 Pelham Rd., Taylor, 48180. 10 a.m.-noon. Call (313) 381-3000.

To find out more about Downriver Vicariate’s dementia ministry, contact Judy Petterle at (734) 283-1366, ext. 114, or email [email protected].