COEUR d'ALENE — Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and dementia must often juggle multiple roles, from guardian and nurse to cook and home repair specialist, according to presentations at Friday's Alzheimer's Association conference at North Idaho College.

Dr. Susan Melchiore, who works at the North Idaho Memory Clinic as a geriatrician and co-founded One Site for Seniors, delivered the keynote speech at the conference themed "A Caregiver's Journey."

"Caregiving is a team sport," Melchiore said. "Don't try this alone. There is a way forward."

As Alzheimer's and dementia progress, symptoms often start small with task forgetfulness before developing into larger memory gaps affecting major life milestones. During this progression, caregivers can become increasingly isolated.

"It takes a lot of energy to anticipate someone else's needs, and we need to anticipate our loved ones needing us a lot more," Melchiore noted.

In Idaho, approximately 65,000 family caregivers provide direct support for people with Alzheimer's. Melchiore emphasized that caregivers should reach out to their support networks and community resources to prevent burnout.

"We've got to make sure we start team building. As the disease progresses, our goal as caregivers changes," she said.

She recommended contacting North Idaho Senior Companions through Panhandle Health District and the Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho for community resources and respite care.