UNLV announced recently the opening of the Nevada Caregiver Support Center (NCSC), located at the University of Nevada School of Medicine Patient Care Center, 1707 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 200.

Funded by a grant from the State of Nevada Division of Aging Services, the NCSC offers behavioral health care services to the individuals, families, and health professionals who care for patients with dementia.

"Dementia patient caregivers are often at risk of experiencing high levels of stress and exhaustion because the nature of the illness requires them to be on duty 24 hours a day," said Mark Floyd, a UNLV professor and director of the NCSC. "The center offers services to help maximize the quality of life for the individuals and families who serve as caregivers, as well as for the individuals who receive the care."

Dementia can be a particularly devastating illness, Floyd said, because most people are unaware of what to do when a loved one begins to experience the symptoms of the condition, which can include memory problems, confusion, and dramatic changes in personality.

Among the services that NCSC offers are training classes that focus on topics such as frustration management, problem solving, behavior management, and stress reduction. Individual caregivers and families can also meet with behavioral healthcare specialists at NCSC to discuss specific problems and solutions.

All services at the NCSC are provided on a sliding scale and are based on the individual's or family's ability to pay. No one will ever be turned away due to lack of financial resources.