Caring for the Caregiver
South Florida’s First Leeza’s Place Opens at Memorial Hospital Pembroke
April 2006 — Consider these facts from a survey of caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients, conducted for the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP:
- 18 percent report that the constant demands of caregiving have made their own health worse.
- 41 percent say they are experiencing a great deal of emotional stress.
- 74 percent say they need more time for themselves, need help managing stress, and need guidance on dealing with challenging behaviors from the Alzheimer’s patient.
When two of her loved ones were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, noted television and radio host Leeza Gibbons witnessed many of these challenges firsthand. After the loss of her grandmother to Alzheimer’s disease and the subsequent diagnosis of her mother, Gibbons and her family created The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation to meet the growing needs of those impacted by memory disorders. Now the Foundation has opened South Florida’s first “Leeza’s Place” at Memorial Hospital Pembroke.
Leeza’s Place at Memorial Hospital Pembroke is a community-centered resource offering programs that educate and empower both caregivers and those recently diagnosed with any type of memory disorder — including ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, HIV/AIDS and traumatic brain injury, among others. Located on the campus of Memorial Hospital Pembroke and featuring its own, separate entrance, Leeza’s Place provides an intimate and safe setting where those affected by memory disorders can gather and support each other as they encounter new challenges.
“From the beginning, my family’s fight against Alzheimer’s disease has been fueled by my mother’s courageous insistence to inform, educate and heal the patient, caregiver and community,” says Leeza Gibbons. “I’m so excited that now we can share the outcome of our efforts, with the opening of South Florida’s first Leeza’s Place. We’ve created a stigma-free environment to help those feeling alone, frustrated and frightened by this thief of memories. There is life after diagnosis.”
Leeza’s Place at Memorial Hospital Pembroke offers a wide range of services that help to restore self-esteem, relieve symptoms, impart knowledge, reduce stress and ultimately improve the quality of life for caregivers and newly diagnosed patients. Caregivers also receive help with advocacy, coping and care-related skills.
“Leeza’s Place at Memorial Hospital Pembroke addresses a growing need in our community for services and programs that help individuals and families deal with issues related to memory loss,” says Martha Garcia, Administrator of Memorial Hospital Pembroke. “All of the programs offered here are the direct result of people listening to and understanding the needs, pressures and goals of caregivers and their loved ones. I am proud our hospital is partnering with the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation to bring Leeza’s Place to Memorial Hospital Pembroke. Now there is no reason for patients and families to suffer alone; they can come here for the information and support they need.”
Diagnosis and Treatment for the Patient
Leeza’s Place is a fitting complement to the services provided by the Memory Center at Memorial Hospital Pembroke. Under the direction of Jeffrey Steinberg, MD, the Memory Center is the only medical facility in South Broward dedicated to identifying and treating memory disorders. Services include comprehensive medical evaluations and testing, as well as psychological and cognitive testing — all provided by a multispecialty team of physicians, nurses, technicians and social workers. After a diagnosis, the Memory Center team creates a customized plan using a combination of medication, counseling and/or other resources, to reverse or stop the effects of memory loss and postpone the onset of a memory disorder.
“We can’t always control a memory disorder,” says Dr. Steinberg, “but we can control the social aspects of the disease and the effects on patients and their caregivers. It is vital that we as a community care for the caregivers. And Leeza’s Place will help us do that and more.”
To learn more about Leeza’s Place please call (954) 967-7240. The Memory Center at Memorial Hospital Pembroke may be reached at (954) 883-8023.
For referral to a physician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.