November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. During that time, less than 2 million Americans were affected by Alzheimer's. Today, nearly every minute, another American family is affected by Alzheimer's. Currently, the number of people with the disease has risen to 5.4 million.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Dementia Is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. This particular type of dementia causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Individuals over the age of 60 may begin to see the first signs. Symptoms normally develop slowly and get worse over time. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease is irreversible.
Providing care for a person with Alzheimer's is a difficult task and can sometimes become overwhelming. Caregivers are faced with new challenges each and every day. The caregiver copes with continuous changes in ability and behavior. Research has proven that caregivers are at risk for developing depression, anxiety and illness. It is very important that the patient and caregiver receive support from family, friends, and members of the community.
Six Quick Tips to Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's:
- Limit challenges and ease frustration by establishing a routing to make each day more predictable than the last. Prioritize the most difficult tasks for the time of day when your loved one seems to be the most at ease.
- Be patient and take your time. Daily task will take longer than normal.
- Allow supervised independence. If your loved one can get dressed alone, lay out their clothes in the order they go on.
- Do not provide too many options. This will allow them to make decisions without frustration.
- Be prepared for your loved one's ability to function to change from day to day. Adapt as needed.
- Create a safe environment by avoiding rugs, cords, or any clutter that they can trip on. You may also want to install locks on cabinets or doors that may separate them from hazardous chemicals or dangerous situations. It's also important to stock up on emergency supplies such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers.
