Briarcliff Residents Not Alone With Dementia

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. – Daniel B. Kaplan said Briarcliff residents are not alone in dealing with dementia and they shouldn’t face the issue alone.

Kaplan, a New York City gerontological clinical social worker, spoke Tuesday night at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library as part of a Dementia Care Workshop. Kaplan spoke about diseases related to dementia and gave advice and suggestions for local residents on how to handle living with or knowing someone with dementia. For those that weren’t able to make it to Tuesday’s workshop, Kaplan shared a piece of advice.

“The most important thing to remember about dementia is that no two individuals with dementia experience the same phenomena,” he said. “So family members and caregivers need a broad array of skills, but most of all they need to have help. You cannot do this alone.”

Kaplan added that residents should seek as much information as possible because of how far reaching the effects of dementia can be.

“This is a fully devastating disorder,” Kaplan said. “Every aspect that is important for human life is affected by dementia. It is no wonder for someone being a caregiver or family member having to deal with this host of problems can be exhausting. There is so much to learn and manage and deal with.”

With that in mind, Library Coordinator Shelley Glick said she would make it a point to continue providing residents with necessary information on dementia.

“We know there is a need to get this information out to people,” Glick said. “I think almost everyone has been touched by either knowing someone or caring for someone with dementia.”

Glick said information on dementia and helpful links would be available on the library’s website in the coming week. She asked those with further questions and those that would like information on dementia to email her. 

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