Meet the support system for Idaho’s 26,000 Alzheimer’s patients. They are, by and large, your neighbors. Some 80 percent are women. The caregivers are themselves an aging cohort, with an average age of 59.
For family caregivers, this labor of love is physically and mentally exhausting labor. Fifty-five percent of caregivers devoted at least 40 hours a week to home care. This portrait comes from a study completed in August by the Idaho Alzheimer’s Planning Group. It’s a window to what the future could hold — for tens of thousands of Idaho patients and their loved ones. Because, even if Idaho does nothing to change the way it addresses Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, one thing will inevitably change. The caseload/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Has your family been affected by Alzheimers?

Eighteen can be an exciting age. Many young people anticipate attending college, while others plan to work or join the military. And most are eager to move out from under their parents’ wings and try to fly on their own. But for teens aging out of the foster care system, turning 18 can be frightening. Bridget Cannon, director of youth services at Volunteers of America, said, “Statistically, the majority end up homeless”/Cindy Hval, Washington Voices. More here. (SR photo/Christopher Anderson: Mark Casteel stops for a portrait en route to one of his classes at EWU on Tuesday. Casteel is a teen who has been helped by Safety Net after his foster care support ended at 18.)

Question: How old were you when you left home?