Gulf Coast Dementia Services is a nonprofit (501 c3) here on the Gulf Coast devoted to caregiver services and resources for families dealing with dementia. I have worked with Gulf Coast Dementia Services on the board for the last year and in 2021 worked in fundraising for their efforts with the Gong Show which was a huge success. Having had family members affected by dementia, I joined forces with this organization in order to spread the word on the services they offer to those in our area. Gulf Coast Dementia Services offers a free resource guide, free support groups weekly, help with diagnosis and treatment, activities, information on exercise, nutrition and caregiving.
Caregiving for individuals with dementia can sometimes be a daunting task and it is important to know you are not alone. Support Groups are every Tuesday of the month at the offices of Gulf Coast Dementia Services which is located at 3263 Demetropolis Road, Suite 9B, Mobile, AL 36693. This is a free service with the meetings being held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m.
The board is comprised of individuals in the healthcare, legal, and professional fields related to dementia. While 33% of senior citizens will die with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, dementia can affect you before you reach age 65 and up.
If you find yourself facing a significant decline in cognitive functioning at a younger age, you could be found disabled under Listing 12.02 of the Social Security Act for your dementia in the form of Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia or dementia due to another medical condition. Social Security evaluates the severity of your dementia condition under Listing 12.02, and you have to have (A) and (B) of the listing to “meet” this criteria for disability. (A) is a medical documentation of a significant cognitive decline from a prior level of functioning in one or more of the cognitive areas: complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor, or social cognition. Additionally, to meet the (B) criteria you need to have an extreme limitation of one, or a marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning: understand, remember, or apply information, interact with others, concentrate, persist, or maintain pace, or adapt or manage oneself. You can also meet this Listing under (C) if you have a mental disorder that is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both (1) medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder; and (2) you have marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life. This is criteria (C).
There are a lot of questions when it comes to caring for your loved one with dementia or for your future if you find yourself facing a dementia diagnosis. Gulf Coast Dementia Services is there for those in need of resources, support and guidance. Gardberg and Kemmerly is there for those facing this diagnosis and needing to file for Social Security Disability benefits and we can help get you the benefits you deserve. Call one of the experienced disability representatives at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. today at 251-343-1111 for a free consultation. Gardberg & Kemmerly specialize in helping the injured and disabled in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana.