Star-C program offers free support to people caring for Alzheimer's sufferers | Multnomah County

About a week ago, I went to a presentation at Providence Medical Center for people who work with or care for Alzheimer's patients and their families. My biggest takeaway from the morning was what a difference an hour a week can make in the life of a family caregiver dealing with a loved one who has dementia. That's all made possible by a Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services Division grant and pilot program called Star-C.

Star-C is designed to help caregivers solve challenging situations that are endangering their ability to keep their loved one at home. It is a clinically tested and evidence-based model to lower depression in caregivers and decrease problem behaviors in the person with dementia. The program consists of eight weekly in-home visits. Star-C is free to participating families. In fact, right now the project coordinator is looking to fill slots left open by families who have recently completed the program.

At one point in the presentation, four of the Star-C in-home consultants sat in front of the audience and shared their caregiver-client's biggest "aha moments" with us. What struck me about their reports was how huge the caregiver's problems felt to them, how simple the solutions seemed to be, and how much the solutions improved the day-to-day lives of the caregivers and their ill family member.

The types of behaviors the consultants help the caregivers solve are related to sadness and depression, anxiety, sleep issues, the ill person's resistance to care and wandering behaviors, verbal and physical aggression and caregivers' social isolation.

One consultant told the audience about a client whose spouse refused to take a shower. It was a huge problem for the caregiver. The consultant and the caregiver put their heads together, and they tried about three different strategies that simply didn't work. After all, we all respond to different stimuli in our own unique way. In this case, what worked for this couple was having the caregiver turn on the water in the shower and let it warm up before taking her husband into the bathroom. The fact that the water was hot and inviting was what turned this daily tug of war into an ordinary, easily accomplished routine.

A video documentary about Star-C is available at OregonLive.com. For more information about the program or eligibility requirements, call Bethany Chamberlin at 503-988-3620, ext. 22020 or e-mail her with your questions at bethany.chamberlin@multco.us.