Health and Fitness Guide
Broyles Family Continues To Tackle Alzheimer's Disease
Frank
Broyles, legendary college football coach, understands first-hand what it's
like to be a caregiver for someone suffering with Alzheimer's disease - he
was the caregiver for his wife before she died from the disease in 1999. Now
college football legend Frank Broyles is retired, his eldest son Jack is
following in his father's footsteps as the elected Chairman of the Board for
the Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
"These are big shoes to fill," says Jack. "But we have to fight this disease now - more so than ever." Jack Broyles knows how to tackle an opponent. He's done it many time on the football field and had a long and successful career in financial services. Jack knows how intimidating of a opponent Alzheimer's disease can be first hand because his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1999. He was there with his father, Frank, who overcame many obstacles on the football field as the winningest coach in Arkansas Razorback history.
Now Jack is inheriting the mantle of leadership in dementia advocacy established by his father. "We have better research and understanding of the disease now than when my mother had it, but we still don't know enough," says the younger Broyles, age 62. "And more importantly, family caregivers don't know enough about where to turn when a loved one receives the diagnosis."
There are almost 11 million Americans caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, the most common and severe form of dementia. National estimates are that 5.3 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide currently have some stage of the disease. And those totals are projected to skyrocket in coming years. However, Broyles says the sooner families are educated and begin to utilize community resources, the sooner they can make a difference for their loved ones and themselves.
"The most important thing caregivers can do is take care of themselves," says Broyles. "My dad led the way, and now we need to build on his legacy." Jack is working with the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, which provides a number of programs and services that help people affected by Alzheimer's at any stage of the disease. Just like the other chapters of the Alzheimer's Association, the services available for assistance include educational programs, support groups, professional training, advocacy and special events.
Learn More: To learn more about the programs available through the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and offer your support visit http://www.alz.org/greaterdallas/.
To find a Alzheimer's Association Chapter in your area for advise and assistance visit http://www.alz.org.
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