Alzheimer’s Support Group At Hoboken University Medical Center

HOBOKEN, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of CarePoint Health in partnership with the Act Now Foundation of New Jersey. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, the impacts can be felt by not only the individual, but the entire family and those serving as caregivers. To address a growing need for Alzheimer’s caregiver support, CarePoint Health, in partnership with the Act Now Foundation of New Jersey, is launching a monthly support group at Hoboken University Medical Center, which is free and open to the public.

The group will meet for its first meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.

The group’s regular meeting time will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month, in the second-floor boardroom at Hoboken University Medical Center, 308 Willow Avenue.

“We are honored to work with the Act Now Foundation to provide support, information and education for the special needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as their caretakers,” said Ann Logan, Chief Hospital Executive for Hoboken University Medical Center. “Hudson County has the fourth highest percentage of older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease in the country.”

Alzheimer’s is a chronic neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia, and is associated with memory loss and the deterioration of cognitive abilities. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. There are approximately 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, with Hudson County having the fourth highest percentage of individuals affected by the disease.

An Alzheimer’s support group also meets at Christ Hospital on a monthly basis (the third Tuesday of each month from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.), and has been meeting for the past seven years. Seeing a growing need for Alzheimer’s caregiver support, CarePoint is expanding the program to its other two hospitals with Bayonne to be adding a group this year as well.

CarePoint Health is partnering with the Act Now Foundation, a grass roots not-for profit, that works to raise awareness, advocate and educate New Jersey about Alzheimer's disease, prevention, and early detection. The Act Now Foundation estimates there are 44 million people nationwide who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are pleased to have joined forces with CarePoint Health-Hoboken University Medical Center on a project that supports caregivers living with loved ones with dementia,” said Kristine Allen, president and co-founder of Act Now. “Support groups help caregivers maintain balance by also doing something for themselves in addition to caring for the loved one.”

For more information about Hoboken University Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Support Group or for the Christ Hospital Alzheimer’s Support Group, please contact 201-721-6721 or 201-341-1310.

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