September is World Alzheimer's Month | Elder Care Home Health Blog

?

Alzheimer?s is one of the most medically attended to disease in terms of finding a cure. September has been designated as Alzheimer?s Month. Boca Home Care Services is honored to assist scores of families who are dealing with a loved one, usually a spouse or parent who has Alzheimer?s Disease and to support the primary caregiver. Alzeheimer?s Disease affects the entire family and we salute all the heroes who are managing the care for an elderly family member.

?

Alzheimer's Disease Month

The Alzheimer?s Association, and many other organizations, programs, Day Cares, Doctors and Home Care companies promote the awareness of the disease and intervention to help improve the quality of life of both the person with the disease and their primary caregiver. Most interventions will help maintain a person?s independence and well being for as long as possible before the progression worsens.

Awareness is so crucial as it will lead to interventions like; medication, clinical trials, day care programs, exercise & diet as well as home care assistance for direct and respite care.

* Changes or loss of memory which intefere with usual routines.

* Becoming easily confused ? about the time or where you are.

* Trouble finishing regular chores at home or work related tasks.

* Imapired or poor judgement.

* Increased difficulty with language ? speaking and writing.

* Trouble with solving?simple problems or planning ahead.

* Changes in comprehending visual cues or spatial correlations.

*?Losing things,?and not?being able to backtrack your steps.

* Definitive changes in personality, not just moods.

* Shying away from social or work activities previously enjoyed.

?If you notice a few of these things in yourself or an aging?loved one., discuss it with your doctor. Have him or her refer you to a Neurologist and get a work up done. Anyone over 75 would benefit from a neurological assessment which can be used as a baseline for the future.

Remember this, some forgetfulness comes with advanced age, or begins in the 40s but difficulty with thinking, reasoning, judgemnet are true signs of something happening cognitively.

Forgetting where you put the car keys is one thing, not recognizing the keys or knowing what they are for is something very different. If you suspect a spouse or parent is at risk, get help. The earlier the intervention, the better the opportunity to begin treatment and equally important, begin planning ahead. Speak to an Elder Care Attorney, a Financial Planner and get educated about Alzheimer?s and other dementia. Be Proactive ? this is a progressive disease.

If you are the primary caregiver, get help for yourself, it is too much to do by yourself, at your age.? There are close to 15 million caregivers in the U.S. If you are one of them, it is imperative that you take care of yourself because you are under tremendous stress ? emotional, mental and possibly physical as well. There is a lot of help out there. Get connected with the Alzheimer?s Association, attend a caregiver support group, read
The 36 Hour Day? or ?Passages in Caregiving?. If you don?t use the computer, have an elderly?friend or family member get information for you. Let friends and family know the situation ? they will suspect anyhow, make the home safe with locks, alarms, grab bars, lighting?and when someone offers to help, either to pick up groceries or stay with your spouse or parent, say ?Thank You? and accetpt their offer. Or, hire help ? an aide. Dementia is a qualifier for most if not all Long Term Care policies.

Hopefully in the coming years science and research will unlock some of the mysteries of Alzheimer?s Dementia. A better treatment, hopefully a cure but in the meantime, take care of yourself, learn the things you need to ? as you need to, consider a Day Care Program and keep on, keeping on.

?

Related posts:

1. World Alzheimer?s Day ? September 21
2. Caring For A Loved One With Alzheimer?s Disease
3. ?Alzheimer?s Speaks? Radio Guest ? Joseph Bensmihen

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Source: http://www.bocahomecareservices.com/blog/september-world-alzheimers-month/

rod blagojevich rod blagojevich uconn ncaa march madness mario williams vcu unlv