New Alzheimer's Association Monthly Support Group Formed in Gordonsville

The Village at Gordon House
September 11, 2007

The Village at Gordon House Hosts Support Group for Alzheimer's Disease

GORDONSVILLE, VA September 11, 2007. The Village at Gordon House, an assisted living facility located in Orange County, is now hosting a monthly support group for the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Virginia. The Village at Gordon House will host the support group on the third Tuesday of each month, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon. The support group is facilitated by Ann Anderson, Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Virginia, and is free and open to the public.

This initiative marks the first expansion of the Alzheimer's Association support group to Gordonsville and Orange County, said Tom May, administrator of The Village at Gordon House. We welcome families and friends in the surrounding communities affected by the disease to participate in this important resource.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking, and behavior. According to the Alzheimer's Association:

• More than five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease.
• Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.
• There is no cure, but treatments for symptoms, combined with the right services and support, can make life better for people living with Alzheimer's disease.

No two people experience Alzheimer's disease in the same way. As a result, there is no one approach to caregiving.

A caregiver's life is around-the-clock commitment that drives thousands of caregivers to physical, emotional, and financial bankruptcy.

• More than seven out of ten people with Alzheimer's disease live at home and are cared for by family members.
• Approximately 80 percent of caregivers report high levels of stress-induced psychological and physical ailments.
• Approximately 20 percent of caregivers have had to stop working in order to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
• One in three caregivers dies before the loved one with Alzheimer's disease.

More than 42,000 citizens in central and western Virginia have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Virginia has been a resource in the region for more than 25 years, providing information and support to family caregivers and others impacted by the disease. For more information, contact Ann Anderson at (540) 832-7806, or visit the Web site at www.alz.org/cwva.

About The Village at Gordon House

The Village at Gordon House is an assisted living facility that offers an ideal solution for people who may need assistance with daily activities. The Village at Gordon House offers multiple levels of care ranging from residential, assisted living, and intensive assisted living, to short-term, respite care. For more information, call (540) 832-2286, or visit www.GordonHouseVillage.com.

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