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When there was a change in her father’s behavior, Belva Tibbs feared what the diagnosis could be.
David Denmark, 91, had suddenly begun hallucinating, says his wife, Reba, also 91. Reba and Belva suspected that dementia was the cause of David’s new symptoms and behavior changes.
Belva reached out to caregiving advocates affiliated with the Golden Buckeye Center for Dementia Caregiving at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, and soon after, her family had answers.
On the advice and education provided by staff, Belva had confidence when advocating for her dad to be screened by his doctor for a possible urinary tract infection (UTI). Once it was found and treated, the hallucinations stopped and her dad’s mental state returned to normal.
“They really helped me first by giving me a lot of data on the symptoms,” Belva says. “They sent me videos on how to interact with individuals who have dementia. Most importantly, they sent me a checklist.
“At that time, I wouldn't have known to ask for a UTI. I wouldn't have asked to do a urine analysis if I had not spoken to the care consultant.”
Left: David Denmark with his wife, Reba. Right: David Denmark's daughter, Belva, by his bedside.
David Denmark's wife, Reba, with her two daughters.
A growing need for dementia care support
The center launched at a time when the need for supporting dementia caregivers is increasing. About 236,000 Ohioans were living with Alzheimer's in 2020, a number that is projected to increase by more than 13% by 2025, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
That toll is felt not only by those living with the disease, but also by their caregivers. Nearly 414,000 family members cared for a dementia patient in Ohio in 2020, supplying $11.4 billion worth of unpaid care.
“Caregiving is not for the faint of heart,” says Belva Tibbs.
The impact of caring for a dementia patient can play out in a number of ways, says Mary Beth Happ PhD, RN, co-director of the Golden Buckeye Center.
“During the progression of the disease, it’s not uncommon for caregivers to feel like they can’t leave the person living with dementia unattended,” Dr. Happ says. “That restricts and can really shrink a person’s world.
“We help people be creative in thinking about how they can expand their network of caregivers, how they can access help in the home.”
Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN, left, is co-director of the Golden Buckeye Center along with Karen Rose, PhD, RN, center, who also serves as dean of the College of Nursing. At right is Morgan Fitzgerald, MPH, assistant director of the center.
A mission to help Ohio families dealing with dementia
The guidance provided to Belva and her family illustrates some of the real-world impact of the Golden Buckeye Center. The center opened in November 2023 as a partnership among numerous state and local agencies that assist people living with dementia and their caregivers. The mission is to develop and strengthen knowledge, skills and support for families, friends and others across Ohio who are caring for people with dementia.
While the Golden Buckeye Center is physically located in Columbus, its resources, trainings, referrals and supports are available to all Ohioans living with dementia and their caregivers. Regular trainings, offered both in-person and online, offer guidance for caregivers on issues such as communication and finances, and even include tai chi classes for caregiver wellness.
The project originated with the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), and the vision was always for there to be virtual access to services as well as partnerships with other agencies across the state, says Karen Rose, PhD, RN.
“This is kind of a dream come true,” says Dr. Rose, dean of the College of Nursing and co-director of the Golden Buckeye Center. “Several years ago, the ODA embarked on taking a focused look at Alzheimer’s [and other dementias] across the state.”
Ohio State partners with the following statewide entities to offer resources, trainings and support through the center:
- Ohio Department of Aging
- Alzheimer’s Association – Central Ohio Chapter
- Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
- MemoryLane Care Services
- Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center
- Ohio Council for Cognitive Health
- Summit County Public Health
The Golden Buckeye Center’s physical location is in Columbus, but its mission is to serve all Ohioans.
Hope for the future
Another aspect of the center’s mission is to advance research on interventions and cost-effective outcomes to support caregivers of people living with dementia.
“We want to be a hub to garner participants for research. It’s a challenge in the Alzheimer’s world,” Dr. Rose says.
With The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center as a premier teaching hospital, the university community is uniquely positioned to help in this capacity.
“We have plans to engage interprofessional students, particularly from the health sciences colleges, and certainly those in neuroscience,” Dr. Happ says. “In programming, we have students at Ohio State who have formed clubs in support of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”
The goal is for the center to function as a portal for Ohioans to access first-rate care for dementia patients and first-rate support for those who care for them.
“We have broken down silos for the good of the people of Ohio,” Dr. Rose says. “That’s the message. For me, it resonates with our land grant mission.”
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