New Alzheimer’s support group meetings

Café Purple is a new support group for those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. The group is held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Decorah Lutheran Church.

Café Purple is facilitated by Brecka Putnam and Debra Masek, who both help create a safe, confidential, and supportive environment and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships.

“No family should have to navigate Alzheimer’s alone. Café Purple is here to make all of us stronger by providing a space to share with and learn from others who are facing the same thing,” said Putnam.

Alzheimer’s is a disease near and dear to Putnam’s heart. Her father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 57. That is when Putnam and her sister formed Trails for Dale, a 24-hour biking event, as a way to celebrate and honor their dad.

The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is growing - and growing fast. An estimated 5.5 million Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017, including 64,000 Iowans.

Of the 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s dementia, an estimated 5.3 million people are age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals are under the age of 65 with early-onset Alzheimer’s.