Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay

Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay serves individuals with early-to-late stage Alzheimer's disease, their families and the community through day care, support, counseling, care management, education and training.

Why do we exist?

Approximately 10% of individuals over the age of 65 and 35% of individuals over the age of 85 have some form of irreversible dementia, according to Alzheimer's Association epidemiological studies. Currently, a minimum of 13,000 Alameda County residents, and over 3,000 people in Oakland-the largest city in our service area-have Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Current participants in ASEB's day program live in a household with an average of 2.6 other members. These numbers suggest that at least 33,800 caregivers in Alameda County are currently living with and assisting someone with Alzheimer's disease in order to allow them to live at home.

Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay has been serving Alameda County for over 11 years with programs that enhance the lives of individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease. Last year, 1,000's of individuals in Alameda County directly benefited from our activities, and 1,000's of others receive the indirect benefit of living in a community where efforts such as ours improve the quality of life for all. ASEB's goal is to prevent premature institutionalization by helping individuals with dementia maintain their highest possible cognitive, physical, and behavioral level of functioning, and by offering extensive support to caregivers.

ASEB's current service base includes two adult day health care centers, one at 561 A Street in Hayward, and another at 2320 Channing Way in Berkeley which serve most communities in Alameda County because of door-to-door van transportation; an innovative program for individuals in the early stages of dementia; supportive services for caregivers; and an extensive training and education program.

What have you accomplished?

Over 69% of ASEB's current day care participants are low income, 70% are minorities, 70% are female, and 75% are over the age of 75 years. Since 1989, ASEB has provided therapeutic and supportive activities to over 1,000 Alzheimer's day care participants; counseled over 6,000 individuals and families; delivered 8,165 hours of physical, occupational and speech therapy; facilitated 500 hours of family support groups; provided over a half-million families with information and referral; and trained and educated 6,375 professionals and community members.

Mr. and Mrs. S. entered Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay's day program last year. The couple, now in their 70's, lived and raised their five children in Alameda County. Over the past year, Mr. S. then Mrs. S. were each given a dementia diagnosis. At first Mrs. S., a retired nurse, cared for her husband, a retired human resources manager. One night he wandered from home for hours in search of his keys. When he walked into a hospital down the road, staff members recognized him as a former volunteer. Then there was a time Mrs. S. mistakenly switched her pills with her husband's.

Their children, seeing their gradual decline, were concerned about the coordination of care and finances. One son who worked at home and lived nearby stepped in and became the primary caregiver. Their daughter investigated community resources and found us. At first Mr. and Mrs. S. were hesitant to participate. Mr. S. headed for the door often and he needed reassurance almost hourly. Now they are painting, cooking, singing, and exercising with the other participants and staff. The family is relieved that their parents are safe and cared for during the day. The children are working on a plan for when the disease takes its unfortunate course, and know they will have support and respite along the way.

	How do you help people in my community?		Why do you need my support?
	How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?		Can I Volunteer? How?