There is help for residents with Alzheimer's disease. In fact, there's an entire unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) dedicated to treating people with the illness and answering queries from the public.

Nurse Kathy Albouy was surprised to read about the problems Judith and Elisabeth Stewart faced as detailed by reporter Jessie Moniz in The Royal Gazette on January 15.

In that article the pair said they were offered no help or guidance when Judith was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago. "I found that when my mother was diagnosed, it was very tough to get information from anyone," said Ms Stewart. "I would ask the doctors repeatedly 'is there any help available for people?' They said 'no, you have to do it all yourself'."

In fact the Alzheimer's & Dementia Unit opened in 1988 at KEMH.

And as its administrator, Ms Albouy said she receives calls every week from persons in need of information about the disease.

"I always give them the information and answer their questions," she said.

She insists she has never once turned anyone away or suggested they call another agency without first helping as much as she can. Ms Albouy said she also gives public talks when invited to do so, and she said she is often at health fairs, church health programmes and on radio talk shows. In fact, she said she is a frequent guest on Age Concern's radio show.

She said she also meets with local physicians apprising them of the work being done at the Alzheimer's unit at KEMH as well as staff in the hospital's Emergency Department.

"I'll get a call from Emergency requesting that I consult with the family member," said Ms Albouy. "I go over with some pamphlets and sit and talk to them about the disease, its progression and what to expect."

In addition to the Alzheimer's unit at KEMH, there's an Alzheimer's family support group that meets once a month and a Geriatric Assessment Placement Programme (GAAP) whose members meet regularly to decide the best option in cases where families are having difficulty.

"If a GP feels his or her client needs to be placed, then the GP refers that client to GAAP," she said.

The GAAP team is interdisciplinary, featuring representatives from The National Office for Seniors, community nurses, medical social workers and Ms Albouy. They look at each case, determine the needs of the client and devise a solution that will work. "This may include getting some help at home for them," Ms Albouy said.

But the shortfall of the model in place is that it only provides assistance to those who are financially needy.

Ms Stewart said her mother's doctors told her she would be considered too wealthy to be afforded any of the professional advice available.

And she said this left her completely in the dark as to where to go to even find out what she could be doing and what to expect she might need to do in the future.

Additionally, she said her mother was having difficulty coming to terms with what was happening to her and she had nowhere to go for support.

When it reached the stage where her mother could no longer even prepare a meal for herself, Ms Stewart said she had to employ someone to care for her full-time.

"It costs me $160,000 a year to have my mother cared for," said Ms Stewart.

And even spending that, she said she still has regular shifts where she has to care for her mother herself.

Ms Stewart is now setting up a website (www.alzbermuda.com) to help residents in similar situations navigate their way through care options and general education about the illness, and where to go for help.

Ms Albouy can be reached on 239-1943 or Kathy.albouy@bhb.bm.