Alzheimer's Awareness Month: New Long-Term Care Facility to Bring Memory Care to Sublette County
November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, a time to learn more about this disease and to support those affected by it. Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia among older adults ¹.
Alzheimer's in Wyoming
According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are an estimated 10,100 people aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer's in Wyoming. This number is expected to increase to 13,500 by 2030 ².
Alzheimer's can have a significant impact on families and caregivers. In Wyoming, family caregivers provide an estimated 21 million hours of unpaid care to people with Alzheimer's each year. This unpaid care has an estimated value of $340 million.
New Long-Term Care Facility
Sublette County Health is getting a new long-term care facility that will include a secured memory care unit with 10 beds. This is a significant development for the community and will help expand on the existing beds within the Sublette Center.
The new long-term care facility will be hospital-based, which means that residents will have access to 24/7 medical care, including lab, diagnostic imaging, and emergency services. This is an important benefit for people with dementia, who may need to access medical care more frequently than the general population.
The new facility will also have more private rooms, which will provide residents with more privacy and dignity.
Why is a New Facility Important?
The new long-term care facility is important for a number of reasons. First, it will keep elderly residents in Sublette County close to their families, friends, and support systems. Second, it will provide much-needed memory care services to people with dementia in the region. Third, it will be a hospital-based facility, which will provide residents with access to 24/7 medical care.
How to Support Alzheimer's Awareness Month
There are many ways to support Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Here are a few ideas:
Learn more about Alzheimer's disease. The more you know about the disease, the better equipped you will be to support those affected by it.
Volunteer your time to help people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. There are many ways to volunteer, such as visiting people with Alzheimer's in care facilities, providing respite care to caregivers, or working at fundraising events.
Alzheimer's is a devastating disease, but there is hope. With your support, we can make a difference in the lives of people with Alzheimer's and their families.
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