June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Having some knowledge on what this disease is and how it affects someone can help you better communicate and interact with someone that has Alzheimer's disease.
AD is an illness that physically changes and deteriorates the brain and causes people to lose the ability to remember, think, and use good judgment. They gradually have trouble taking care of themselves. Here are some interesting facts:
Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's- 1 in 10 people aged 65 and older.
In 2018, over 120,000 people in the US died from Alzheimer's disease, making it the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death for those over 65.
So what exactly is Alzheimer's? It's a disease of the brain that causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. The physical composition of the brain actually changes and deteriorates.
This affects a person's ability to remember things and think clearly. They become forgetful and easily confused. They may have a hard time concentrating. It can even change a person's personality. Cases can vary from very mild to severe, depending on how long someone has had it, their age, and other factors. It's important to remember that the disease, not the person with AD, causes these changes and explains the unpredictable behavior.
Here is another interesting fact: three-fourths of family caregivers report that they are concerned about maintaining their own health as well as their loved one with AD. Our caregivers here at HomeCourt provide personal care, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and companionship so the family can keep up their strength and get support as well. We provide training for our caregivers to help them interact and communicate with clients who have dementia and Alzheimer's disease to improve the quality of care and make communication easier.
Want more information on the services we provide and how we can help your loved one? Visit us at www.homecourthomecare.com or call us at (260) 333-1114.
Stay tuned for more helpful information about Alzheimer's throughout the month of June as we raise awareness of this disease.