But that is what Dr. Albert Meiburg had to do back in the early 1980s. His sister, Patricia, who was in her late 40s at the time, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Gone was her capacity to work as a social worker, to live independently and to remain in her home in South Carolina.

In 1980, Meiburg and his wife, Virginia, moved his sister to a Wake Forest nursing home to oversee her care. During the five years the Meiburg's cared for Patricia, the couple transformed themselves from uninformed caregivers into Alzheimer's advocates.

Together they learned about the unfamiliar disease, gathered literature and eventually founded Wake County's first Alzheimer's support group. That group evolved into the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, which now serves 51 counties.

"When we first faced this disease, we didn't know where to turn to learn what to expect. Now there are support groups around the state, where stress can be shared, where information is offered and hope is always present," said Meiburg.

Next week, the Meiburgs will share their memories of how their lives were touched by Alzheimer's during a week-long conference marking National Brain Injury Prevention Month. Entitled "Precious Memories: Caring for Flickering Light," the conference is being sponsored by Friendship Chapel Baptist and Wake Forest Baptist churches.

The Meiburgs will record their memories for StoryCorps, a nonprofit oral history project whose recordings are housed in the Library of Congress. Through grants for a memory impairment initiative, StoryCorps is offering free tapings for families whose loved ones have suffered pathologic (Alzheimer's, dementia) or traumatic (injury, concussion) brain injuries.

Anne Packett, the Health Ministries' educator at the Duke Divinity School, is helping to coordinate the events.

"We're hoping to promote human interest in brain injury prevention, in dementia care and in showing the value of storytelling as it builds a legacy and documents a history that is fragile for some," Packett said.

In addition to oral history recordings, the public can visit a brain injury exhibit on loan from the Alzheimer's Association or attend workshops about brain health and memory loss.

Carole Netherton, the program and family services coordinator for the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, will lead a workshop on brain wellness on Tuesday.

"People can make conscious lifestyle choices that protect the brain including diet, exercise, learning new things to stretch brain power and staying socially involved. We cannot prevent Alzheimer's disease, but we can minimize the effects of the symptoms," Netherton said.

According to Netherton, five million people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the United States today, a number which could quadruple by 2050. Events like next week's activities are vital for both caregivers and those diagnosed with the disease, because they offer a message of hope, she said.

"There is support for those who reach out in every step of the journey after diagnosis. You just have to give yourself permission to ask for help. Even the smallest step forward...a workshop or a phone call to a health agency...can provide peace of mind," Netherton said.