Larry Ruvo, founder and chairman of Keep Memory Alive, the non-profit foundation that established and supports the Center, understands the challenge of care giving firsthand. His mother, Angie Ruvo, spent years as the primary caregiver for her husband, Lou, at the expense of her own physical health.

Those who are called upon to be the primary caregiver for family members with Alzheimer’s and other neurocognitive disorders often experience frustration and feelings of isolation in addition to physical strain. Here in Nevada, an estimated 260,000 caregivers provide more than 280 million hours of care annually. Reaching out to this often-overlooked population, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health offers social work programs on an individual basis to help develop a plan for the care of a loved one over the course of the illness.

CAREGIVER RESOURCES: The Center also provides tips, educational programs, and resources to increase the knowledge and skills of caregivers. The weekly support group offers caregivers a place to share experiences and offer hope to one another. Additionally, the Center’s caregiver library is open to the community Monday-Friday, 10am to 2pm.  For more information, contact Susan Hirsch at 702-483-6000 or e-mail hirschs2@ccf.org.

Photograph: Angie and Lou Ruvo, parents of Larry Ruvo, founder and chairman of Keep Memory Alive