Jack Broyles knows how to tackle an opponent. He’s done it many time on the football field and had a long and successful career in financial services. But now he’s taking on the most intimidating opponent ever: Alzheimer’s disease. Jack is inheriting the mantle of leadership in dementia advocacy established by his father. “These are big shoes to fill,” says Jack. “But we have to fight this disease now - more so than ever.”
Jack Broyles is the eldest son of college football legend Frank Broyles, who was the winningest coach in Arkansas Razorback history. His teams won seven Southwest Conference titles and the National Championship in 1964. As Athletic Director of the school, however, he faced a different challenge in 1999 when his wife Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He became her primary caregiver.
After her death in 1999, Coach Broyles assembled all the notes he had made about her care and treatment to write a book called Coach Broyles Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers. Now in retirement, Coach Broyles has handed off many of his speaking and advocacy duties to his oldest son Jack, who serves as Chairman of the Board for the Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We have better research and understanding of the disease now than when my mother had it, but we still don’t know enough,” says the younger Broyles, age 62. “And more importantly, family caregivers don’t know enough about where to turn when a loved one receives the diagnosis.”
There are almost 11 million Americans caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, the most common and severe form of dementia. National estimates are that 5.3 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide currently have some stage of the disease. And those totals are projected to skyrocket in coming years. However, Broyles says the sooner families are educated and begin to utilize community resources, the sooner they can make a difference for their loved ones and themselves.
The Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association provides a number of programs and services that help people affected by Alzheimer's at any stage of the disease. These services include educational programs, support groups, professional training, advocacy and special events. The website (http://www.alz.org/
"The most important thing caregivers can do is take care of themselves,” says Broyles. “My dad led the way, and now we need to build on his legacy.”
Jack Broyles is the eldest son of college football legend Frank Broyles, who was the winningest coach in Arkansas Razorback history. His teams won seven Southwest Conference titles and the National Championship in 1964. As Athletic Director of the school, however, he faced a different challenge in 1999 when his wife Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He became her primary caregiver.
After her death in 1999, Coach Broyles assembled all the notes he had made about her care and treatment to write a book called Coach Broyles Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers. Now in retirement, Coach Broyles has handed off many of his speaking and advocacy duties to his oldest son Jack, who serves as Chairman of the Board for the Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We have better research and understanding of the disease now than when my mother had it, but we still don’t know enough,” says the younger Broyles, age 62. “And more importantly, family caregivers don’t know enough about where to turn when a loved one receives the diagnosis.”
There are almost 11 million Americans caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, the most common and severe form of dementia. National estimates are that 5.3 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide currently have some stage of the disease. And those totals are projected to skyrocket in coming years. However, Broyles says the sooner families are educated and begin to utilize community resources, the sooner they can make a difference for their loved ones and themselves.
The Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association provides a number of programs and services that help people affected by Alzheimer's at any stage of the disease. These services include educational programs, support groups, professional training, advocacy and special events. The website (http://www.alz.org/
"The most important thing caregivers can do is take care of themselves,” says Broyles. “My dad led the way, and now we need to build on his legacy.”
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