Remember in September: World Alzheimer's Month Initiatives

Alzheimer's disease has affected millions of seniors and their families.  September has been designated as World Alzheimer's month and events are planned, including the Memory Walk in many cities, to raise awareness of the disease.

Early diagnosis can help in slowing the progression of the disease, as some medications have been found to be effective although there is no cure currently.  As the disease progresses at different rates in each individual, the first step is securing a proper diagnosis.  There are a few types of memory loss and Alzheimer's disease has some unique aspects and once diagnosed, everyone can better care for the senior.

September 21st will be Alzheimer's Action Day.  You can turn your Facebook photo to purple, share your story with others and find ways to volunteer.

One of my friends discovered her Mother had Alzheimer's Disease while she was in college and because her Mom was still in her 50's, at first doctors thought she was schizophrenic.  Be aware of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease:

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

1) Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life

2) Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems

3) Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks at Home, at Work or at Leisure

4) Confusion with Time or Place

5) Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships

6) New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing

7) Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps

8) Decreased or Poor Judgment

9) Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities

10) Changes in Mood and Personality

Forgetting person and place are often the most difficult aspects for family members of those with Alzheimer's disease.  It is hard when they forget who you are and think they are living at another time.

There are ways to comfort and care for those with memory loss, and with proper caregiver training, the experience can be more positive than negative for everyone.

Read stories from caregivers for those with Alzheimer's Disease to understand the challenges and joy.  Mary's mother could say "Yum and No" and Celia's mother continued to find joy in music.

The costs of senior care present another challenge when caring for someone wtih Alzheimer's Disease and because of this in January, 2011, Congress passed, and the White House signed (with support from both Democrats and Republicans), the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA).  The purpose of NAPA is to continue to support research and develop a national plan to respond to Alzheimer's Disease.  

As more than 5.3 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's, and this number is expected to quadruple in the next 40 years, the financial challenges could be immense for the government.  Full-time senior care can cost as much as $80,000 per year and seniors who run out of personal finances are able to quailfy for Medicaid which does pay for ongoing care in a nursing home.  Review nursing home costs and ratings to understand your senior care options.

NAPA will be part of the Health and Human Services department and you can review the bill here.