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Home Care Services President Rick Ferrante on KHTS AM-1220.

Home Care Services President: ‘Alzheimer’s Affects Youth, Too’

Rick Ferrante, the president of Home Care Services Santa Clarita, is encouraging the community to remember that seniors with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers aren’t the only ones affected by the disease; youth are too.


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“We’re always thinking about the adult children and the spouses,” Ferrante said. “The surprising one for a lot of people is youth… They’re dramatically affected, and it’s really heartbreaking.”

When Ferrante speaks to youth groups or high school classes, he asks them who has been affected in some way by Alzheimer’s disease, and noted that easily half of them raise their hands.

Related: Variety Of Resources Available For Those Dealing With Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia

Even those who don’t raise their hands seem to be unsure of their answer, according to Ferrante, who added the common reaction from youth is, “‘Yeah, but nobody’s asked me that.’”

Extensive resources are available for caregivers and adult children of those living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and Ferrante is working to bring age-appropriate resources and support designed for youth as well.

“These are people that need to be addressed,” he said. “I can’t tell you the times where we have been able to do that, and not a dry eye comes out of those places, and it’s really helpful. It’s really healing.”

As a spokesperson for the local committee of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Ferrante noted some of the dollars raised at the walk every year come back to the community in addition to aiding the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts to find a cure.

Ferrante believes offering support to youth today is not only beneficial for each individual in their personal struggles, but is critical in passing the torch of Alzheimer’s research and awareness to the next generation.

“Who are going to be the ones that are going to actually pick up this mantle and continue, because we’re not done right?” Ferrante said. “We can’t prevent, can’t slow it, we don’t have a cure. We have a long way to go, and youth are going to be that next charge. They’re part of the answer.”

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Feature story based on a recent radio interview with Home Care Services.

Home Care Services Santa Clarita provides in-home care for seniors in Santa Clarita, as well as others who need assistance in their home, and related products and services. In addition to professional caregivers in Santa Clarita, the knowledgeable staff at Home Care Services Santa Clarita also offer free resources, support and guidance to anyone who may need help caring for their own senior family member at their Caregiver Resource Center.

Home Care Services Santa Clarita

23340 Cinema Dr Ste 5

Santa Clarita, CA 91355-1686

661-412-0710

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KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Home Care Services President: ‘Alzheimer’s Affects Youth, Too’

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About Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch

Melissa Lampert-Abramovitch has been writing for KHTS since Feb. 2014. She currently writes “Community Spotlight” and feature stories, and coordinates all aspects of both the”KHTS Adopt a Pet” video feature series and “Top Things to Do in Santa Clarita.” She is the creator of “KHTS Adopt a Pet” and acted as News Editor from 2019-2020, as well as Features Director and Newsroom Manager from 2016-2018. A former Valley Publications Staff Writer, Melissa was a contributor to the Santa Clarita Gazette and Canyon Country Magazine from 2015-2016. She has published feature stories with Pet Me Magazine, The Pet Press, The Signal, COC's Cougar News, and KJAMS Radio.