Across the nation, advocates for a cure to Alzheimer’s Disease have organized several events to raise funds towards finding a cure in celebration of World Alzheimer’s Day. Find more information by creating an internet search with these key words “Alzheimer’s, September 21, 2014, Your City, State.” Everyone has a reason to end Alzheimer’s, which is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States today. A walk has been organized in Northwest Houston on September 20. Click here for more details.
There are as many as 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It destroys braincells, causing problems with memory, cognition and behavior.
Information shared below can give insight to those who choose to support the cause of finding a cure, as well as provide insights to help families get a clearer picture of what they and diagnosed loved ones are facing.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that has no current cure, but treatments combined with the right services and support, can make life easier for millions of Americans living with this disease. No two diagnoses are the same, but Alzheimer’s can generally be broken-down into 3 stages. Stage one lasts 2-4 years leading up to diagnosis.
This disease affects not only the patient, but family and friends as well. It places great challenges on the caregiver with a wide range of pressures with physical, social, economic and psychological elements. Recognizing the symptoms, early diagnosis and planning can make some of these challenges more manageable.
Planning for the care of an AD patient is a daunting task for the family. Learning about the disease, treatment options and care options are paramount to the overall well being of the patient and their family. During the early stages of AD, the family, with education and training, can generally care for the patient. There are also agencies available to care for AD patients if the family is unable to do so, or if they just need a little extra help.
During this time, the family should also be learning as much as they can about the different types of care settings as an option during the advanced stages. The type of facility chosen depends on the level of care needed. These facilities include assisted living (ALF’s), skilled nursing (SNF’s), and Alzheimer’s special care units (SCU’s). Planning for this transition should be done well before admission as this allows the family to determine which facility best meets the need of the AD patient. It also helps to anticipate the cost of care and in finding the funds to help pay for it.
For more information please contact Assisting Hands Home Care at 281-540-7400 or visit us on the web at http://assistinghands.com/houston/, or www.alz.org, http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers .
