Counseling has benefits for Alzheimer's caregivers
By: Sandee LaMotte, CNN

  "For 67-year-old Joe Fabiano, every morning is the same. After helping his wife, Anita, also 67, out of bed, he helps her bathe and dress, then guides her through their home of 45 years to the kitchen...

"Anita stopped working within six months of her diagnosis, and Joe took early retirement to stay home to care for her. At first, they were able to get out and do things they both enjoyed, like singing in "The Unforgettable' s Chorus," a choir for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers started by Mary Mittelman, an NYU School of Medicine research professor. "When I started the chorus the only requirement was a close friend or family member had to be present at all of the rehearsals and concerts in order to participate," says Mittelman. "What that meant was that the caregivers developed a social network, which is the key ingredient in maintaining the well-being not only of the caregiver but of the person with dementia."

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