June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and the piece below is one of several this month to educate the public about these critical topics. THE impact of Alzheimer’s disease extends to both care partners (ie caregivers) and the person with the disease. Managing the disease can be challenging but there are ways to ease the burden.
Understanding what’s happening: The first step in helping someone with Alzheimer’s is to understand how it changes over time, what signs to look for, and what treatments are available. Knowing what to expect can help you get ready for the changes your loved one might go through. In the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s you will see small changes in your loved one’s daily life.
They might forget recent conversations or appointments, lose things more often, or find it hard to stick to their usual routines. Simple tasks like cooking or handling money might become difficult. Also, they might repeat questions or stories, have trouble finding the right words, or struggle to make decisions.
While these changes might not seem big at first, they can get worse over time, affecting mostly new memories, thinking, and how they act. People with Alzheimer’s will also struggle with a lack of awareness of the changes they are facing, which may cause conflict with loved ones and family members. It’s important to notice these signs early and get them checked by a doctor so as to know what’s going on and receive help.
Communicating well: Good comm.
