This June, the Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring “Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month”.
The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to ending Alzheimer’s disease, and finding a cure to stop this deadly disease. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, reasoning skills and thinking. Nearly 6 million Americans suffer from this disease, with almost all of them being over the age of 65. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
Cognitive Assessment
Only 16% of seniors receive regular cognitive assessments during their routine health exams. Determining if there are changes in cognitive function or behavior can be one of the first indicators that something more might be going on with your loved one’s health.
Anyone who has memory concerns about themselves or a loved one should ask for a cognitive assessment. However, non-memory triggers can also be telling: changes in personality, falls or balance issues, or if a chronic disease is getting worse without any real indication of why. Even if you are not sure if a cognitive exam is necessary, it is better to ask for one than to wait.
Early Indicators of Alzheimer’s
Difficulty with Routine Tasks: There is a difference between typical age-related changes and neurological deterioration. For instance, you might forget where you left your shoes, we all do that from time to time. But not knowing what shoes are, what they are for or perhaps how to tie them is more concerning.
Poor Judgment: Changes in a person’s brain can cause them to make decisions they would normally know are not right. Giving away large sums of money to strangers or making a very large purchase out of the blue are examples of this.
Vision Changes: More than just age-related changes in vision, people with Alzheimer’s have difficulty judging distance, seeing and determining colors and thus have trouble driving a car. This can be a challenging symptom to reason as being more than normal aging, so keep a close eye on your loved one if you notice things affecting their ability to see and understand spatial relationships.
Confusion: Being confused is one of the first things most of us associate with Alzheimer’s. By now we all know that Alzheimer’s is so much more than just moments of forgetfulness and confusion. But it is a hallmark of the disease. Those suffering with Alzheimer’s can easily lose track of time, dates and even the seasons and large amounts of time.
Mood or Personality Changes: The changes in a person’s brain due to the development of Alzheimer’s disease will ultimately change their personality and how the behave. They can become suspicious, depressed, develop anxiety or even become fearful of things, people or situations.
Memory Support at The Legacy
Evergreen Senior Living has three communities that provide memory care and support to residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. These communities are known as “The Legacy”, and are located at our communities in Decatur, Orland Park and Chillicothe.
The Legacy: Memory Support provides compassionate care to seniors living with Alzheimer’s, progressive memory loss and dementia led by our professional staff of caregivers. Our knowledgeable caregivers understand the challenges seniors face and strive to provide them with the utmost care and respect.
If you have questions about care for your loved one at one of our Legacy communities, please visit our website today and contact the community nearest you. Memory Support is found in Decatur, Orland Park and Chillicothe.
