Share or Print this page


During National Family Caregivers and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association and Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia are partnering to provide an awareness campaign on the impact of dementia-related caregiving. Both organizations hope to raise awareness in Hampton Roads of the physical, social and emotional tolls of dementia-related caregiving, as well as support and resources. The campaign will utilize radio, print and digital advertising and social media.

Currently, more than 11 million people in the U.S. are providing unpaid care to a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, with 150,000 here in Virginia. In 2021, caregivers nation-wide provided an estimated 524 million hours of unpaid care valued at more than $8.5 billion.   

“Providing care to someone living with dementia can affect one’s physical and mental health,” said Steve Zollos, CEO of Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia. “We want to make sure all caregivers understand the support and services available to them right here in Hampton Roads.”

Nearly half of all caregivers (48%) who provide help to older adults do so for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Among primary caregivers of people with dementia, over half take care of their parents, two-thirds of caregivers are women, and one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters. Approximately one-quarter of dementia caregivers are “sandwich generation” caregivers, meaning they care not only for an aging parent, but also for children under age 18.

Caregiving can also have a significant financial impact. In 2021, the lifetime cost of care for a person living with dementia was $377,621, and 41% percent of caregivers have a household income of $50,000 or less. The care provided to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is wide-ranging and, in some instances, all-encompassing. Caregivers for people with dementia tend to provide more time-intensive and extensive assistance and experience more difficulty than caregivers of individuals without dementia. This can also lead to a reduction of work hours or displacement from the workforce entirely. 

“Education and ongoing support are key when it comes to understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia,” said Katie McDonough, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern Virginia Chapter. Throughout this partnership we hope to bring awareness to this challenging role and ensure families connect to our organizations and the services we provide.”

The Alzheimer's Association provides in-person and virtual education, online services,  local support groups, and care consultations through our 24/7 Helpline 800.272.3900. ​​

Senior-Services-logo.png

About Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia
The staff at Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia include trained counselors and specialists who conduct thorough assessments of the individual’s and caregiver’s needs, using the information from the assessment to provide individualized services and supports in the following areas: care coordination, information and referrals, and linkage to internal or external supports and services which may include in-home respite care, support groups, non-emergency medical transportation, senior companions, Meals on Wheels or other nutrition services, and benefits counseling
 
Staff are trained under the “No Wrong Door” which helps to streamline access to services and supports across statewide, promoting persons centered practices.