EAST TEXAS ALZHEIMER'S ALLIANCE

INFORMATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES BEGAN OUR FOURTH YEAR AT OUR HOPE & HELP DAY CLUB TO PROVIDE A SAFE, LOVING ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MEMORY LOSS SO THAT THEIR CAREGIVERS HAVE MUCH-NEEDED TIME FOR THEMSELVES. WE PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEERS. EVERY THURSDAY FROM 10AM-2PM, THE HOPE & HELP DAY CLUB IS IN FULL SWING WITH LIGHT BREAKFAST SNACKS, A FULL LUNCH, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, LOW-KEY EXERCISE, GAMES, AND ENTERTAINMENT, PRESENTED WITH MUSIC, HUGS AND LAUGHTER. EACH WEEK HAS A THEME AND PARTICIPANTS HAVE A PURPOSE. OUR THURSDAYS BRING THEM HOPE & HELP WITH THEIR JOURNEY. WE AVERAGE 25 DEMENTIA FRIENDS EACH WEEK, ALONG WITH 25+ VOLUNTEERS WHO PROVIDE 1:1 SUPPORT.

PROJECT LIFESAVER INTERNATIONAL THE PROJECT LIFESAVER PROGRAM COMBINES RADIO TECHNOLOGY WITH RESCUE TEAMS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, AS A MEANS OF EXPEDITING THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR A WANDERING DIAGNOSED INDIVIDUAL. IN THIS PROGRAM, THE CLIENT WEARS A PERSONALIZED WRISTBAND THAT EMITS A TRACKING SIGNAL. WHEN A CAREGIVER NOTIFIES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS THAT A CLIENT IS MISSING, A SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM RESPONDS TO THE WANDERER'S AREA AND BEGINS SEARCHING WITH THE MOBILE LOCATOR TRACKING SYSTEM. THIS PROCESS REDUCES SEARCH TIMES FROM HOURS AND DAYS TO ONLY MINUTES. THE PROJECT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN GREGG, HARRISON, AND MARION COUNTIES IN 2019 AND 2020; AND UPSHUR AND PANOLA COUNTIES WERE ADDED IN APRIL AND AUGUST OF 2021. WE ADDED RUSK COUNTY IN 2022. ETAA CURRENTLY MANAGES AN AVERAGE OF 25 ACTIVE CLIENTS PER MONTH WITH SOME BECOMING INACTIVE DUE TO DEATH OR BECOMING BED BOUND AND NEW CLIENTS BEING ADDED. ETAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS NOW A CERTIFIED PLS INSTRUCTOR AND HAS TRAINED WOOD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ON BASIC SEARCH AND AS INSTRUCTORS, MEANING THEY CAN NOW TRAIN OTHERS IN WOOD COUNTY TO SEARCH FOR WANDERERS, AS WELL. WE HELD OUR FIRST ANNUAL BASIC SEARCH RENEWAL CERTIFICATION TRAINING IN OCTOBER 2024 GETTING ALL SEARCH SPECIALISTS RECERTIFIED IN ONE DAY. SINCE 2019, WE HAVE HELPED 93 FAMILIES AND AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING 32,550.