MapHabit to Help Caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients

Monday, January 31st, 2022 -- 9:01 AM

(WBAY) Every day about 10,000 people become over 65-years-old which raises their risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease significantly.

However, the growing problem of educating caretakers for the aging population of Wisconsin is getting a modern day update with a technology called MapHabit.

MapHabit is a national interactive care management platform that provides support for both professional and family caretakers who help people living with different forms of dementia.

Tools like instructional videos on how to approach someone without upsetting them or how to hand them items in their left versus their right hand after having a stroke are now at caretaker’s fingertips.

It’s a new program in all 17 locations of Heritage Senior Living throughout the state. Co-founder and CEO of MapHabit, Matt Golden, said that oftentimes there are at least three caregivers associated with any one person dealing with dementia.

Many of those caretakers are unpaid and need to leave work to provide support for their loved one. Which is one of the motivators behind a video platform that can help them feel less alone. MapHabit is funded by the National Institute of Aging which is part of the NIH.

Their goal is to help the estimated 6.2 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the country. Within that statistic is of course many beloved parents, grandparents, or friends.

Being a family or professional caretaker for one of those millions of people with a form of dementia can also be extremely taxing.

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