National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

11/20/2015
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National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month:
Throughout November, Let’s Spread Awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease

 

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Alzheimer’s disease is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, but recent estimates indicate that the disorder may rank third, just behind heart disease and cancer, as a cause of death for older people.

November is a great time to stand with everyone confronting the painful reality of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis; lend our support to the families who care for them; and do what we can as a society to help delay, prevent, and ultimately cure the disease.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. At the time, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimer’s; today, the number of people with the disease has soared to nearly 5.4 million. In August 1994, at the age of 83, Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In November, he informed the nation through a handwritten letter, writing in part:

“I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease ... At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done... I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.”

Today, November is designated as a time to reflect on this disease and spread awareness of it, as well as the need for more research for detection and prevention. The Alzheimer’s Association asks us all to go “purple for the cause” and wear purple in November to signify our support of those who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

7 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

  1. Asking the same question over and over again.
  2. Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again.
  3. Forgetting how to cook, or how to make repairs, or how to play cards—activities that were previously done with ease and regularity.
  4. Losing the ability to pay bills or balance a checkbook.
  5. Getting lost in familiar surroundings or misplacing household objects.
  6. Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes over and over again, while insisting that they have taken a bath or that their clothes are still clean.
  7. Relying on someone else, such as a spouse, to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves.

If someone has several or even most of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean they necessarily have the disease. It does mean they should be thoroughly examined by a medical specialist trained in evaluating memory disorders, or by a comprehensive memory disorder clinic, with an entire team of experts knowledgeable about memory problems. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, visit the U.S. Government’s website www.alzheimers.gov or the website of the Alzheimer’s Association.

If you’re a caregiver for a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, there are a great number of senior living options and services available to help, including senior residences with Alzheimer’s specialty services.

Alternatives for Seniors is a print and online directory that specifically caters to the housing and personal care concerns of senior citizens and their families since 1992. Call our Senior Specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) or visit the Alternatives for Seniors website to begin searching for the perfect home for you or your loved ones. Also, be sure to join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter.

 

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