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Wondering if losing your car keys is a sign that Alzheimer's or dementia is setting in? You're not alone, and that's one reason why the Alzheimer's Association has put together an updated list of early warning signs. The article below is taken from the association's monthly newsletter and includes their new list of signs that you should look out for.
Updated Warning Signs Help with Early Detection
It may be difficult to know the difference between age-related changes and the first signs of Alzheimer's. As part of it's public education effort, the Alzheimer's Association has worked with a wide range group of experts to update it's 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's to make them more current and user-friendly. The comprehensive review process included feedback from health professionals, clinicians, scientists and people with dementia.
The revised warning signs are the cornerstones of Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters, the Alzheimer's Association's national early detection campaign. The signs are a key tool in promoting recognition of common changes that may facilitate early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's or another dementia. Early detection, diagnosis and intervention are vital because they provide the best opportunities for treatment, support and planning for the future.
The revised list describes the following signs:
- Memory changes that disrupt daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgement
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
For more information about the 10 warning signs and early detection and diagnosis, contact the Alzheimer's Association at 877.IS.IT.ALZ (877)474-8259 or visit www.alz.org/10signs.
For more information about how Visiting Angels can provide care to those living with Alzheimer's or dementia, please call one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
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| 5/8/2009 4:35:34 PM |
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As Americans continue to live longer, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is increasing at an alarming rate. Today, more than 5 million people have Alzheimer's in the United States.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and fatal brain disease. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to effect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's, but treatment for symptoms, combined with support services, can make life better for people living with the disease.
Risk Factors
The greatest know risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease is increasing age. Most individuals with the disease are 65 or older. However, people can get Alzheimer's in their 50s, 40s, and even 30s. Other risk factors for developing Alzheimer's include family history and genetics.
Although there are several risk factors for Alzheimer's disease that we can't change, including family history and genetics, research has shown that there are things we can do to keep our brains healthy:
Stay mentally active
Remain socially active
Stay physically active
Adopt a brain-healthy diet -dark fruits and vegatables and omega-3 fatty acids. Reduce your intake of foods high in fat and cholesterol.
For more information about Alzheimer's disease, visit www.alz.org or call 1.800.272.3900.
Reprinted by permission of the Alzheimer's Association. Copyright 2007 Alzheimer's Association. All rights reserved. |
| 2/25/2009 5:32:58 PM |
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Many of our older clients experience symptoms of depression when the holiday season rolls around. Because this is the time of year when families gather and memories are made, seniors are often more aware of feelings of loneliness and the opinion that their best memories are all behind them. This is commonly referred to as, "the holiday blues." Unfortunately, there are some older adults who suffer more serious side effects as a result of the holiday blues- some that may lead to suicide.
There are many things you can do to help a senior you know beat the holiday blues. This article from the Washington Post provides suggestions for conquering the symptoms of depression that creep up around the holidays and ensuring that the seniors in your life enjoy the holidays to the fullest.
For more information about how we can help the older adults in your life, please feel free to contact us at one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
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| 12/24/2008 10:06:19 AM |
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Hoarding and cluttering is a problem that effects many American adults. It is characterized by an extreme accumulation of possessions, including items such as newspapers, food, clothing and sometimes animals. For older adults, hoarding/cluttering can pose many risks including falls and health problems.
Although often misunderstood as laziness or lack of hygiene, hoarding and cluttering is a mental health issue that can be caused by depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other disorders. It is possible to treat hoarding/cluttering, and to do so it is first necessary to identify if the problem truly is hoarding/cluttering or a separate issue.
Use this list of questions composed by Gail Steketee of the Boston University School of Social Work to find out if you or a loved one may have a hoarding/cluttering problem:
1. Am I afraid I will get in trouble with my landlord because of clutter or have I already gotten in trouble?
2. Do I have too much stuff? Have I fallen over my clutter?
3. Do I have to move stuff off the futniture in order to use it?
4. Do people tell me that my place is dirty, a mess, or that it smells bad?
5. Am I reluctant to have people come over because of clutter?
6. Do I have to move stuff off the bed to go to bed at night?
7. Do I lose things all the time in the clutter?
8. Am I unable to get to my windows, fire escape, and doors?
9. Do I bring things home even though my place is already cluttered?
10. Do I get anxious when I think someone might take, rearrange, or throw away my clutter?
Answering "yes" to two or more of these questions is indicative of a potential hoarding/cluttering problem.
To learn more about resources for managing and treating hoarding/cluttering, or to find out how Visiting Angels can help anyone of any age who is living with this condition, please contact one of our offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585 |
| 10/29/2008 10:39:33 AM |
