June Is Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month. Why does it matter to you? Because Alzheimer’s Disease kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined. Because it is now the 6th leading cause of death. Because approximately one person every 69 seconds is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and 1 in 3 seniors die with the disease. So if you have a brain, there is a chance you may develop this dread disease.
Alzheimer’s is much more than memory loss. It unveils itself through a variety of symptoms and tell tale signs. The Alzheimer’s Association has listed Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to be aware of them, in case one of your friends or family is showing these symptoms. If any of these signs or symptoms is present, it is important to see a physician. Here are a few of them:
- Memory changes that disrupt daily life such as forgetting important dates or events.
- Challenges in planning or solving problems such as following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure such as driving to a familiar location.
- Confusion with time or place such as what season we are in or remembering where they are.
See the rest of the Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms list
As of yet, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. There are however various medications that can help slow down the progression of the disease and others that can improve the signs and symptoms, such as sleeplessness, wandering, depression, anxiety and agitation.
You should also be aware that Allegiance Home Health Care agency features an Alzheimer’s Team with specialized training in the care and treatment of family members with the disease. In fact, our home health agency has skilled nurses who have experience in caring for Alzheimer’s patients, providing proper dosage, and identifying and managing side effects. We also train families and other caregivers on how to develop a medication management program to ensure compliance with the patient’s drug regimen.
