Coming Soon in Print - follow us on Facebook & Instagram for Local Stories, Photography & Community!

(L to R): Dr. Randall Williams, M.D., FACOG, Dr. Clyde Brooks, MD, PKS Police Chief Eric Tellefsen, and moderator Sarah Bedard, PA-C, MPAS discussed the issue of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease in Pine Knoll Shores on Oct. 15.

Health & Wellness: Facing Dementia Together, One Neighbor at a Time

At a Pine Knoll Shores community forum, conversations about memory loss, new treatments, and caregiving returned to one essential message: families need people beside them.

For Pine Knoll Shores Police Chief Eric Tellefsen, understanding dementia can begin with something as simple as knowing the person who lives down the street.

During a recent walk with his dog, he encountered a neighbor who began describing troubling events. Because Tellefsen knew the man and understood that he was experiencing cognitive changes, he approached the conversation with patience, listened, and helped redirect him toward something familiar.

“Me knowing my neighbor made a difference in the interaction
that I had with him the other day,” he said.

That experience captured the spirit of “Facing Dementia Together: Conversations with our Healthcare and Service Professionals,” hosted October 15 by the Pine Knoll Shores Council on Successful Aging in the Betty Carr room at Town Hall.

Cindy Schersching, chair of the Council on Successful Aging introduced the program and later offered the closing remarks. In her opening comments, she described the effort as “an outreach from neighbor to neighbor” and said, “We want to continue the conversations if they will help us do that.”

Sarah Bedard, PA-C, MPAS, a board-certified physician assistant specializing in general orthopedics and sports medicine, moderated the discussion. The panel included Dr. Clyde Brooks, MD, Carteret Health Care’s chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs; Dr. Randall Williams, M.D., FACOG, Carteret County’s consolidated health and human services director and a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with more than 30 years of patient-care experience; and Pine Knoll Shores Police Chief Eric Tellefsen, who brought more than 40 years of law-enforcement experience. Local service providers also shared resources for families navigating memory loss.

Questions ranged from how dementia is diagnosed to when to ask for help, how to preserve a loved one’s independence, and where caregivers can find time to rest. Throughout the morning, the discussion remained personal. These were professionals who serve the community, neighbors who live here, and, in some cases, family members who have experienced dementia themselves.

A reason to start the conversation

Dr. Brooks described an evaluation that begins with listening: to the patient, to family members, and to the changes they have noticed. Brief cognitive assessments can help identify concerns, with additional testing guided by the person’s history and examination.

The panel distinguished occasional forgetfulness from changes that interfere with familiar activities and everyday life. The message was to bring concerns to a primary care provider, rather than trying to settle the question within the family.

Dr. Randall Williams, M.D., FACOG, Carteret County’s consolidated health and human services director and a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist

Dr. Williams pointed to advances in blood-based biomarkers and treatments as reasons to seek evaluation earlier. Blood tests can now help clinicians assess Alzheimer’s-related changes, although results must be interpreted alongside a clinical evaluation. The FDA’s first cleared Alzheimer’s blood test, for example, is not intended as a stand-alone diagnosis or general screening test.

Newer treatments can slow decline in some people with early Alzheimer’s disease. They are not cures, and careful assessment and monitoring are essential because risks can include brain swelling and bleeding.

Brooks urged listeners to understand both the promise and the limits.

“Think of this as a journey that we’re early on the road with,” he said.

Williams also described work with UNC specialists aimed at strengthening local evaluation and bringing infusion treatment closer to Carteret County residents. He presented those services as an effort underway, with the goal of reducing the burden of traveling for care.

For families, the immediate step was more straightforward: make the appointment and begin the conversation.

Dr. Clyde Brooks, MD, Carteret Health Care’s chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs

Caring without taking over

One audience question touched on a difficult balance: How can a caregiver help without taking away everything a loved one can still do?

Brooks acknowledged that there is no single answer. A person’s abilities, the stage of illness, the family relationship, and the level of risk all affect the approach.

“You want to keep them able to have their own autonomy,” he said.

At the same time, concerns such as unsafe driving or leaving a stove burner on may require greater involvement. The panel discussed bringing a trusted physician or other healthcare professional into conversations that have become difficult at home.

For Brooks, the subject was personal. He shared that both of his parents lived with dementia and died at age 90. Their gradual changes gave the family time to recognize needs and plan for additional support.

“Preparation is probably the key principle,” he said.

That preparation includes discussing wishes, identifying who will help with decisions, and anticipating changes in care. It also means paying attention to the person providing that care.

The forum’s moderator compared caregiver self-care to the familiar airplane instruction to put on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else. Caregivers need support to continue supporting the people they love.

Four hours that can make a difference

One local resource offers families a regular opportunity for that breathing room.

Rachel Comer, respite program manager at the Leon Mann Jr. Enrichment Center, described Carteret County’s program for people living with memory loss. Participants gather on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for activities and companionship while caregivers have time for appointments, errands, or rest.

“We do activities. We do music. We do games. We have lunch,” Comer said.

The cost is $40 per day, including lunch, snacks, and activities. The program provides structured social engagement, not medical care or personal care assistance. Families meet with staff to determine whether it is appropriate for their loved one.

Comer explained that participants need to be able to feed themselves and use the restroom independently, although reminders are provided.

Volunteers help make the program possible. They complete screening and training, and county staff remain on site.

An open house on Wednesday, October 21, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. will give families and prospective volunteers a chance to meet Comer and learn more at the center, 3820 Galantis Drive in Morehead City. For information about participating or volunteering, call 252-247-2626.

Pine Knoll Shores Police Chief Eric Tellefsen and Sarah Bedard, PA-C, MPAS, a board-certified physician assistant specializing in general orthopedics and sports medicine.

Understanding what is behind the behavior

Tellefsen spoke about the importance of recognizing that a frightening or confusing interaction may have a medical explanation.

Officers need to consider what is driving a person’s behavior, he said, and respond with patience, awareness, and an understanding of their own limits.

“They don’t have to solve every problem by themselves,” he said of officers, explaining that other professionals and community resources can help.

Families can also help responders by sharing a loved one’s diagnosis and relevant concerns. In a small community, advance conversations can provide useful context, although Tellefsen encouraged caregivers to explain the situation again when officers arrive.

He discussed door alarms for families concerned about wandering and limiting access to firearms or other immediate hazards. He also reassured residents that they can call 911 when a situation becomes unsafe or out of control.

The goal, he explained, is to bring calm and help families find a way forward.

“There is help, there is hope,” he said.

Compassion includes letting go of blame

Near the end of the discussion, Williams addressed another burden families may carry: the belief that they should have done something differently.

He cautioned against promises that a particular food or simple lifestyle change can guarantee protection from Alzheimer’s disease. His concern was that people already coping with a diagnosis might add guilt to their grief.

“I don’t want to compound the sadness with guilt,” he said.

It was a reminder that support involves more than appointments and services. It also involves how people speak to one another, how they respond to uncertainty, and whether a caregiver feels able to ask for help.

Cindy Schersching, chair of the Council on Successful Aging welcomed attendees and offered the closing remarks.

Tellefsen’s closing advice brought the conversation back to the neighborhood.

“Know your neighbors,” he said.

Know what they are facing. Be patient. Pay attention with care.

Sometimes, the first step toward helping a family is simply understanding a little more about the person next door.

Need help? The primary number for the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline is 1-800-272-3900.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse