September arrives in just over a week, so the staff at TLC Your Way Home Care wanted you to know about a special observance. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month takes place each September. It’s a great time to focus on how this disease affects people, especially seniors. Although Alzheimer’s gets a lot of coverage in the news, we find that many people still don’t have all of the facts about this condition. Our senior home care services team wants you to know the following about Alzheimer’s and how it impacts elder care and aging-in-place.
- Understanding Alzheimer’s – Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia. Although many people use the two terms interchangably, they are not the same. While we tend to think of Alzheimer’s as an older person’s condition, it is not something that is an expected part of growing older.
- Weighing forgetfulness against memory loss – Forgetting an appointment is one thing. Forgetting where you live is another. If someone in your life repeats questions, loses their way in areas they should know well, experiences major shifts in their personality, and experiences an increased difficulty with handling financial matters, talk to a doctor. These may be signs of Alzheimer’s.
- Helping with Alzheimer’s aid efforts – Unfortunately, medical researchers don’t have a definitive cause for Alzheimer’s, nor is there a cure for the disease. However, many studies are taking place to find answers. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of the disease. It’s believed that exercising, eliminating cigarettes and other forms of smoking, and watching your blood pressure can help decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer’s.
The senior helpers at TLC Your Way Home Care are here to serve your family if you have a loved one who’s facing memory issues. Contact us to learn more about our services.