Scrapbooking helps Alzheimer's patients and caregivers connect - AmericaNowNews.com

Scrapbooking helps Alzheimer's patients and caregivers connect

When America Now host Leeza Gibbons' mom came down with Alzheimer's disease, Leeza says she realized how much memories matter.

So, she decided to document her mom's life as best as she could through scrapbooking. And through that journey, Leeza says she found that it eases the burden of both patients and the people caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's.

Scrapbooking, memory keeping, legacy writing, journaling. Whatever you call it, it helps us honor our emotions, and celebrate our lives.

Leeza's Care Connection is a place designed to assist Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. An important part of the program is scrapbooking classes, where Alzheimer's patients work with photographs from their lives and reconnect with their memories.

But the scrapbooking is only part of the story. Getting out and being with people is not only good for the patients, but for their caregivers as well.

"It's such a tough journey and caregivers get depressed and they isolate, they get frustrated and overwhelmed," says Leeza.

Caregivers just need to be validated sometimes and as they go through this process, to see that they are showing up and they're doing the best they can with what they've got. Leeza says that giving them the resources and tools and connecting them to other caregivers is also important so they don't feel so isolated and alone.  

"I am always inspired by the breakthroughs and family moments that I witness each time I visit the Care Connection. If you are caring for a loved one, and need some support, check out my caregiver tips on this web site," says Leeza.

Copyright 2013 America Now. All rights reserved.

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