When Michele Boyle’s husband Terry was diagnosed with dementia, she faced a difficult transition to becoming a caregiver. Managing the daily routines, financial responsibilities, and emotional toll felt overwhelming until she found the support through the Caregiver Coaching program at Institute on Aging (IOA). Through Caregiver Coaching – offered through IOA’s Companioa dementia support program – Michele gained the knowledge and confidence to navigate the challenges of caregiving.
Dementia changes relationships, routines, and entire lives. After Terry was diagnosed, Michele struggled to find the support she needed, and felt the internal pressure negatively affecting her own well-being.
“I went to the neurologist and said, ‘I can’t take it anymore. I’ve had it; I’m a basket case.’ One of the primary care physicians gave me some referrals, one of which was Institute on Aging.” Michele says. Unfortunately, this type of stress is common, as studies show more than 60% of caregivers experience symptoms of caregiver burnout.
IOA paired Michele with IOA’s Lead Caregiver Coach, Alexandra Kaplan (MA, Gerontology), whose guidance brought structure. Through biweekly support group meetings, educational sessions, and one-on-one sessions, Alexandra became a trusted source of information and reassurance. “Having someone at IOA I can call has had such a positive impact on my mental health,” Michele says. “I always know I can rely on Alex, and she’s been incredibly helpful as a steady point of contact.”
Michele says the online and in-person support groups and educational sessions that IOA’s Caregiver Coaching provided were “almost a lifesaver” for her coping with the challenges of her husband’s dementia diagnosis. The online options made a larger community accessible, and she appreciated the conversations she found in the moderated support groups.
However, Michele’s search for support didn’t start with IOA but began with frustration. “The problem with dementia diagnosis is that our primary care physicians didn’t know what to look for,” Michele says. “They told us every person after 80 has cognitive issues, it’s all normal.”
Her concerns were brushed aside, delaying her husband the specialized support he needed. This is where IOA’s Caregiving Coaching and Companioa program make a real difference, giving family members like Michele the precise resources and guidance necessary to provide care for their loved ones… and also to care for themselves.
Michele’s husband Terry now regularly attends programming at the Enrichment Center in the Presidio. On these scenic grounds, activities for social, cognitive, and physical health are held for individuals living with dementia to help them stay engaged and connected to the community.
Beyond empowering individual caregivers, IOA is working to improve the broader dementia care system through education, advocacy, and collaboration with healthcare providers. By collaborating with healthcare providers, IOA helps ensure families receive earlier diagnoses, timely referrals, and access to a community-based support network.
With IOA’s Caregiving Coaching and Companioa program, no caregiver needs to face the journey of a dementia diagnosis alone, because help is always within reach.
If you’re feeling uncertain about where to begin after a loved one’s dementia diagnosis, Companioa can help. Learn more at www.ioaging.org/companioa/ or call us today at 415.918.6620.
