TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Carol Cordrey would like to keep her husband, who has Alzheimer's disease, at home with her. But, his advanced stage keeps her from shouldering the care alone, and she's had to place him in a Shafter facility.

"Home care makes more sense," she said Tuesday, at a Bakersfield meeting hosted by the Alzheimer's Association.

Cordrey, 64, shared her experiences as part of the association's nationwide effort to gather citizen input for the federal government. Through the National Alzheimer's Project Act, the government is developing a coordinated approach to the disease.

As baby boomers age, the number of people affected by Alzheimer's -- either themselves or as a caregiver -- is expected to soar. Already, about 38,000 families in Kern County are affected by the disease, the association said.

At Tuesday's meeting, community members, medical professionals and caregivers spoke about the challenges of the disease, and how they hope the government will address the growing need. One theme that emerged was a desire to keep individuals at home, with the help of experienced caregivers.

"Home care and comfort is the way to go," said local resident Phil Rudnick. "We need support for families who could maintain people in their homes."

For Carol Hatton, president of Senior Care Management, the key issue is education, especially for those in the medical field. More training on the signs and symptoms could help medical professionals better recognize and distinguish Alzheimer's from mental illness.

"This is the disease that no one gets cured from," she said. "The only risk for this disease is getting older, and that includes everyone."

Others spoke of the psychological struggles for family members, such as spouses whose husband or wife suddenly become unfamiliar. People suffering from early stages of the disease often forget to eat or pay their bills. If someone doesn't have family nearby to pitch in, it's even harder to stay self-sufficient.

"Folks get very emotional about this --this really impacts their lives," said Andrew Peake, advocacy and public policy manager for the association's Central Coast chapter. "They need to figure out how they're going to get through next week."

The government act represents the first step in creating a framework to approach the disease, emphasizing areas that should be prioritized. While it does not allocate specific funding, an increase in research money is expected to result.

The association is planning to compile Tuesday's feedback along with information they gather at Bakersfield's Sept.10 "Walk to End Alzheimer's." Nationwide, the Alzheimer's Association will conduct 200 meetings during August, a time when government representatives are often back in their districts.

The local feedback will be delivered to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as to Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.

"This isn't a disease people are talking about," Peake said. "We need to let him know this is a serious problem. These are the issues his constituents face every single day."