Carole and Bill Bates are regular attendees at Art for Alzheimer’s, a program that gives individuals with Alzheimer's the opportunity to socialized and to explore art therapy as well as gives their  caregivers free time and the chance to connect locally with other caregivers.   Here's an excerpt of their story:

Carole lives in an Alzheimer's facility now. She's often unable to respond to questions these days. Bill visits often and takes her for car rides. They ... attend Arts for Alzheimer's, a creativity program that she looks forward to, even now. Still, Bill misses her smile. ...

Her lifelong instinct for compassion remains in place. One day Carole noticed a new resident become visibly and verbally dismayed to see the furniture from her home here in these new, unfamiliar surroundings. Silently, Carole approached her, then she reassuringly walked down the hall, arm in arm, with her new friend. -Frank J. Yuvancic

Bill is one of the 400,000 Alzheimer's caregivers in Georgia.  Research documents that in the state of Georgia alone, thre were more than 450 million hours of unpaid caregiving in 2009, valued at more than $5 billion in unpaid care (Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures 2010). 

The Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter provides critical services and support to caregivers, including helpline information and referral; care consultation; community support groups; Caring Connection, a telelphone support group; Caregiver Time Out, a respite reimbursement program; family education; and professional education. 

Please join us this season in thanking our caregivers and make a donation in their honor today.