10 Signs You May Have Alzheimer’s

Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

The dangerous affliction causes loss of memory and severe cognitive illness. Sadly, most people with Alzheimer’s aren’t aware of it. That’s why it’s vital to look out for the warning signs. Here are 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information repeatedly or increasingly needing to rely on memory aids.
Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
Confusion with time or place
This involves losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. Sometimes there is forgetting where you are or how you got there.
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
Some with vision problems may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving.
New problems with words in speaking or writing
People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name.
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer’s may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again.
Decreased or poor judgment
People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money and may pay less attention to grooming themselves.
Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of their changes.
Changes in mood and personality
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.
If you or a loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s specifically and you have questions or need additional support, you can contact BrightStar Care of Appleton 24/7.

10 Tips on Communication With Alzheimer’s Patients

Tips on Communicating with People with Alzheimer’s

Through our specialized memory care program, BrightStar Connections, we are able to truly provide A Higher Standard of care and support to our clients living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. In addition to taking great care of our clients living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s important to us to extend a hand to their families as well to let them know they don’t have to take this journey alone. One of the many ways we support families is by providing information, answering their questions and even in offering helpful tips.
Since November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we have even more reason to share some thoughtful tips for communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia:
– Never argue, instead agree
– Never reason, instead divert
– Never shame, instead distract
– Never lecture, instead reassure
– Never say “remember,” instead reminisce
– Never say “I told you,” instead repeat/regroup
– Never say “You can’t,” instead do what they can
– Never command/demand, instead ask/model
– Never condescend, instead encourage
– Never force, instead reinforce
To learn more about the care and support we can provide to people with Alzheimer’s and dementia in the home, contact BrightStar Care of Appleton today.

Coping with Alzheimer’s

Emotions and Living with Alzheimer’s

Just because you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, doesn’t mean that you are isolated from the rest of the world. Rest in that there is a great community out there of support for every step of the way. People who are out that there that know exactly what you are going through, whether it be they themselves are suffering from Alzheimer’s, or they are dealing with a loved one suffering. One thing that you will most commonly hear from friends, doctors, support groups, is this: tackle the disease early. The second is to know emotional roller coaster it will be, and understand all of the stages of emotions that will be to come. The first emotion that usually comes with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is one of loss. Loss of the normalcy that life once was, loss of how easy life was, and loss of memories made in the past. Fear may not be far behind. Fear of the unknown future, fear of the future changes to come, fear of the lost memories, as well as fear of the loss to knowing the every day “routine” tasks.

To help whether it be you or a loved one suffering from Alzheimer‘s, below is a standard series of emotions that you will experience after a diagnosis:

1. Depression: There will be a sense of sadness and hopelessness and helplessness to stop the changes that are to come.
2. Denial: There will probably be a stage at the beginning where you cannot wrap your mind around it and may think that all doctors are wrong with their diagnosis. Hearing you have this disease can be overwhelming, and it may be easier to pretend at the beginning that it isn’t really there to avoid the drastic changes that you will have to eventually make in life.
3. Sense of loss: As the disease progresses, you will have to mentally prepare yourself or  your loved one for grieving the life once lived before being diagnosed.
4. Anger: As with most if not all medical diagnosis’, anger will be one of most early reactions to hearing you have Alzheimer’s. You do not have control over what is happening in your body, and you are being forced to completely changing your way of living. Plans will have to change, and the unknown future will be the dictator of many things moving forward.
5. Resentment: The all too common “why” question will pop up. “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”
6. Fear: Fear of the unknown future, fear of how loved ones will respond, help, or not help.
7. Isolation: You may feel like you do not have anyone to talk to, or that no one knows or understands what you are going through.
8. Relief: You’ve known for sometime that something was wrong, and now you feel relief that you have a diagnosis and you have information moving forward on how to cope and live with this new way of life.

Do You or a Loved One Have Alzheimer’s? (Part 2)

Signs You or Your Loved One May Have Alzheimer’s

A tell tale sign that a person may be suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, is a compromise in judgement in regards to every day life choices and behavior. This could be something as simple as not being able to dress oneself properly, as far as how to put on a shirt or pants, or in regards to weather appropriate dressing. In most cases, seniors suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s will start having trouble with money, and not making wise financial decisions, but will instead make erratic and impulsive spending patterns.  Simple tasks that you or your loved ones could accomplish without a second thought, now become more difficult. Planning a daily routine, making decisions, or even the simple task of deciding dinner, now will become a taxing chore that will take up energy and mind power that never happened before. Repeating words, concepts, and stories repeatedly is also common among Alzheimer’s patients. If a person is in a stressful situation, this could be the reaction they have to self sooth, or this could also be the reaction in a situation where they feel fearful or even bored.
A person with Alzheimer’s begins to struggle with their communication. As the disease worsens, so does the talking. A sentence may not get finished,  a word or thought may not be able to be communicated, and the person may have to use hand gestures to communicate. Comprehension of time and place is another tell tale sign of Alzheimer’s and/or dementia. Doctors will even comment that not having any concept of time, and being completely disoriented all of the time in that regard is a sure sign and problem with Alzheimer’s.