Martha Neal’s journey into caregiving began when her mother developed Alzheimer’s and required full-time support. With no prior experience, Martha sought training to provide the best possible care, leading her to the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA).
Prior to enrolling in the six-week Alzheimer’s program for in-home caregiver training, Martha had taken multiple CCA courses, including the Emergency and Disaster Readiness training. These classes provided her with invaluable caregiving skills.
CCA’s Emergency and Disaster Readiness course is incredibly helpful! After that course, I was able to build emergency kits and prepare disaster communication plans to help me manage future emergencies.”
Martha Gained Vital Skills and Insights That She Now Uses When Caring for Her Mother, Who Has Alzheimer’s
The CCA training coursework and teachers were great, but what Martha found most impactful about her courses were the real-life tips shared by fellow students. Simple insights—such as keeping keys out of reach to prevent an Alzheimer’s person from leaving the house and wandering—helped her navigate the unique challenges of caring for someone with dementia.
The Alzheimer’s course was particularly transformative for Martha, equipping her with crucial safety measures to protect her mother. She learned to lock away sharp objects, remove tripping hazards like rugs, and adjust the lighting to minimize shadows that could confuse her mother. One especially eye-opening tip was covering mirrors to prevent distress caused by reflections, which some individuals with Alzheimer’s perceive as strangers in the room. These small but significant changes have made her home a safer and more comfortable environment for her mother.
Patience Is Essential When Caring for Someone with Memory Loss
Beyond safety, the course also reinforced the importance of patience and emotional connection. One of the biggest adjustments Martha made was learning to embrace her mother’s memory loss with compassion.
They have always enjoyed watching movies together, and despite repeatedly watching the same films many times, Martha’s mother had no memory of having seen the movies before. At first, Martha was frustrated by this, but she has learned to go along with it.
My mom forgets the movies and watches them as if for the first time every time. I have learned to just let her watch the same movies we used to watch and let her experience them anew each time.”
A particularly meaningful moment came when she reflected on “The Vow,” a movie based on a true story about a man helping his wife rediscover their love after she experiences memory loss. This movie reminded Martha that caregiving is about meeting her mother where she is, with patience and understanding.
Training in Proper Caregiving Skills Has Eased Martha’s Stress and Brought Her More Fulfillment
Although caregiving for a loved one is challenging, Martha has found fulfillment in the knowledge she gained through CCA.
Caregiving for someone you know is very difficult and is probably the hardest job you will ever do, but it is so important. The best thing you can do for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia is to take the CCA Alzheimer’s class. It will help you in so many ways!”
Looking ahead, Martha hopes to transition into nursing or become a mentor for other caregivers, recognizing the emotional toll this role can take. She passionately encourages others to take CCA’s Alzheimer’s caregiving and disaster preparedness courses, emphasizing how these programs provide essential skills that can ease the caregiving journey. For Martha, CCA has not only helped her care for her mother, but it has also inspired her to support other caregivers in their own journeys.
