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They are the silent angels in the world, the people who devote themselves to the unpaid care of chronically ill or disabled family members. They are also the people more prone to burnout. The demands of being a caregiver can often be tremendous, especially when that individual is an Alzheimer’s caregiver.

Alzheimer’s caregivers often have a hard time, especially since the Alzheimer’s patient in their care cannot be left alone. Providing care for such a family member in need is a centuries-old act of kindness, love, and devotion. And as life expectancies increase, and medical treatments advance, more individuals are finding themselves involved in the care giving process for even longer periods of time.

The Alzheimer’s Association defines Alzheimer’s as a progressive and fatal brain disease that is the most common form of dementia. The disease "destroys brain cells, causing problems with thinking and behavior that is severe enough to affect daily life," said Lisa Roberts, executive officer of the Eastern North Carolina chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, according to the association’s 2010 report. That translates into one in eight people age 65 and older. There is no cure, only FDA-approved medications that attempt to slow disease progression.

The highest risk factor for Alzheimer’s is age. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five years after age 65, making one’s chance of getting the disease between 40 and 50 percent after age 85.

There are currently 340,000 Texans that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and by 2025, that number is expected to rise to 470,000.

Almost 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, according to the association. Caregiver stress is a closely related issue of Alzheimer’s disease.

The good news is that you’re not alone. There is a place where you can seek the help and solace that you may need during these difficult times.

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group will be meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City. There is no charge for attending these meetings.

The purpose of the group meetings is to share some common experiences in a safe environment with other participants and hopefully learn from them. The group intends to discover and share creative solutions for issues pertaining to caring for someone with memory loss and to provide participants with an opportunity to feel more in control of their own life.

The meetings are put on by the Alzheimer’s Association – Capital of Texas Chapter. They serve to educate and inform participants about dementia and help caregivers develop methods and skills to solve problems. Support groups encourage caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health as well as optimally care for the person with dementia.

For more information contact JoAnn Routh at (830) 868-7414, or contact the Capital of Texas Chapter office at (512) 241-0420. You can also visit their website at www.alz.org/texascapital.