John Yang:

A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can turn loved ones into caretakers. Each year, according to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 11 million Americans look after family or friends with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia unpaid and usually untrained, many up in their lives to devote themselves to the task. That lack of proper training can affect their own health. The CDC says that these caregivers have an elevated risk of depression, weakened immune systems, and early death.

Teepa Snow is the Founder and CEO of Positive Approach to Care, which offers training for dementia caregivers. Teepa, do we have to rethink our approach to caring for people with dementia?

Teepa Snow, CEO, Positive Approach to Care: Yeah. So, if we get an early recognition of what we're looking at, it helps us get ready for this transitioning. And if I then get of training so that when somebody says to me, I never talked to you, and it's like, well, we just talked 20 minutes ago. If I'm trained to say, oh, so I've not talked to you lately, it tends to result in less stress and distress in the engagement. And as the condition changes more, we're better prepared to be in the right place at the right time or know when I need help. I'm not able to do this without greater amounts of training, or I need to switch places. I'm not meant to be a hands-on person, I can guide, and that's what I'd best at.

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