Caregiver

In 2025, the Alzheimer’s Association says some 226,000 Missourians provided unpaid care to loved ones with dementia. But many caregivers live in rural areas where resources are scarce and could be in danger of further cuts in the state budget.

Doretta Kidd lost her husband, Johnny, to Alzheimer’s last November. She and her stepdaughter, Ashley Avery — who assisted with his care — spoke about what they learned from their years of caregiving and what they’re doing now to try and continue to make a difference.

Terri Lipe lives in Bolivar and has been caregiving for her mother for 11 years. To make ends meet, she began a take-and-bake casserole business out of her home.

Billie Baldwin lives outside of Bolivar and is a caregiver for her husband. She and friend Terri Lipe are co-facilitators of the Polk County/Bolivar area Caregivers Helping Caregivers support group, which meets once a month.

Maureen Templeman teaches gerontology — or aging — at Missouri State University in Springfield. She recently launched a new project called the Southwest Missouri CARE Collective that’s designed to create a new opportunity for mutual aid between caregivers.

What better way to combat the feeling of isolation - something that hits all too close to home for those caring for persons with dementia - than by tapping into your five senses (touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing). Advocate/volunteer LOIS LONG tells us how to do just that, and also shares an original, related poem she calls 'Blown Glass'. September 1, 2023

"There comes a time when a decision has to be made whether a person needs long-term care, to be in a nursing home - and the doctor is involved, and the caregiver is involved - but the significant thing about caregivers is that many times these are people 70 and 80 years old who have promised a spouse, you know, "you can stay at home, I'll take care of you"; and when that becomes impossible, I think it's important that caregivers know that they are able to have the support of an organization like Aging Best." -- LOIS LONG, advocate/volunteer March 3, 2023

It goes without saying that to be a caregiver for someone with dementia is a privilege, but that doesn't make the job any easier. Sometimes a caregiver…

Sometimes even the caretakers need caretakers. Alzheimer's Association of Greater Missouri volunteer advocate LOIS LONG tells us about a program that aims…

How do you know when it's time to take the keys away from someone whose symptoms of Alzheimer's/dementia are progressing? Among other reasons, LOIS LONG…