Thomas Jurbala, the director of senior housing at the Calida Group, identifies and manages the development and acquisition of senior living facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada. A graduate of Purdue University, he possesses more than two decades of experience in the field. Outside of work, Thomas Jurbala helps the Las Vegas community by supporting such organizations as the Alzheimer’s Association.
A recent survey completed by the Alzheimer’s Association (an organization that improves care and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s) revealed that Alzheimer’s disease has a huge impact on families. The report was released in conjunction with Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.
According to the survey, more than 90 percent of individuals agree that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s requires the involvement of numerous individuals. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of caregivers operate on their own. Roughly 64 percent felt isolated in their situation and 84 percent wanted family members and other individuals to provide more support when it came to home-based caregiving tasks.
The survey also looked at the reasons why family members did not provide caregiving support to a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Just over 70 percent said that they did not help because they felt another family member was already responsible for providing care. Meanwhile, 62 percent of respondents said they were unavailable because they lived in a different area.
Based on these findings, the Alzheimer’s Association highlights the importance of planning caregiving costs and decisions early on and of maintaining family strength. Currently, most individuals remain fearful of having to care for a loved one as they age, yet they do not financially plan for caregiving needs in the future. Further, the stress of caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s may strengthen family ties among certain families while tearing others apart.
