Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Azheimer’s Care in Clearwater, FL and Surrounding Areas

I was reading an email I received from another home care agency in Florida, and I liked how the writer explained Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

You may have heard about companies that fall under a “corporate umbrella,” meaning one company is among several controlled by a bigger corporation.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of many brain disorders that fall under the “dementia umbrella,” according to the Alzheimer’s Association. They are:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Vascular Dementia
• Lewy Body Dementia
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Mixed Dementia
• Young-Onset Dementia
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
• Huntington’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
• Posterior Cortical Atrophy
• Korsakoff Syndrome

“The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease — changes in thinking, remembering, reasoning, and behavior — are known as dementia. That’s why Alzheimer’s is sometimes referred to as “dementia.” Other diseases and conditions can also cause dementia (like those listed above), with Alzheimer’s being the most common cause of dementia in older adults,” explains Alzheimers.gov.

Causes of Alzheimer’s

Although research is ongoing, conclusive causes are not yet known. However, experts believe that Alzheimer’s may originate from a combination of the following:

• Aging. Age-related changes in the brain, like shrinking, inflammation, blood vessel damage, and breakdown of energy within cells may damage neurons and affect other brain cells.
• Genetics. Changes or differences in genes may be passed down from one generation to the next.
• Health, Environmental, and Lifestyle. Factors such as exposure to pollutants, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, may play a role.

Signs & Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Considering there are at least 6 million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, chances are you know someone who has it or cares for someone who does.  Although the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s can vary from person to person, it’s important to review them so you know what to watch for when it comes to your aging loved ones.

• Memory problems
•  Struggling to find words in conversations
• Visual and spatial issues (awareness of space around them)
• Impaired reasoning and judgment

Behavioral issues may also be indicative of cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s.

• Taking longer to complete daily tasks
• Repeating questions
• Trouble handling money or paying bills
• Wandering and getting lost
• Losing things or misplacing them in odd places
• Mood and personality changes
• Increased anxiety and/or aggression

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, it is best to consult with a physician who can conduct specific exams and cognitive tests before making a diagnosis or a referral to a specialist in neurology for further assessments.

Alzheimers.gov says, “There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, though there are several medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can help manage some symptoms of the disease along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. There are also medications emerging to treat the progression of the disease by targeting its underlying causes.”

September 21^st is World Alzheimer’s Day which is why I chose to share current information to bring more awareness about this progressive disease that impacts tens of millions of seniors and their families globally.

I am extremely proud of my care team at Home Helpers Clearwater because many of them have received specialized training, are highly experienced in dementia care, and are certified in Alzheimer’s care through our partnership with the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care (NCBAC), so they know what to do and how to respond in unique scenarios.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, consider hiring a compassionate Home Helpers® caregiver who is certified and trained to manage specialized care services.

It would be my pleasure to meet you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s during a FREE Consultation to determine what home care services will be required, so I can match the perfect highly-trained caregiver to help make life easier.

We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Home Care Pulse Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providers and to have received these awards in 2024: Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, as well as being named a Caring.com 2023 Caring Super Star.

We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Holiday, Hudson, Largo, New Port Richey, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Port Richey, Safety Harbor, Saint Petersburg, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Trinity, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® 727.942.2539

Source:

Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimers.gov