How hard is it living with Alzheimer’s?

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

According to National Institute on Aging, “Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.”

The disease affects the brain by slowly and progressively forming plaques over time up to the point where the brain has shrunk significantly. The severity of this disease ranges from mild to severe – when the person must completely be dependent on others regarding their activities of daily living.

Why should I be concerned?

Now that you’re aware of the debilitating effects of the disease, another thing that’s disturbing is that it is also the 6th leading cause of death in the United States; affecting someone every 66 seconds and thus, having more than five million American senior victims as of the moment. The cost for taking care of a person with the disease is also very high – adding up to the reasons why this issue should concern you.

But really, how hard is it to be living with the condition called Alzheimer’s disease?

In every disease or illness, it isn’t only the individual with the condition suffers but also their loved ones and families.

Patient’s Point of View:

• Difficulty recalling recent events and acquiring new information
• Always losing items around the house such as keys and eyeglasses
• Forgetting about recent conversations
• Forgetting appointments and special dates
• Getting lost in places even though they are familiar
• Struggling to follow a certain conversation
• Problems judging distance
• Difficulty concentrating, planning and organizing
• Disorientation as to person, place or time
• Disorientation as to person, place or time

Family’s Point of View:

• Taking a new role as a primary caregiver
• Neglected family members due to the patient being the center of attention
• Feeling burdened with certain responsibilities such as chores
• Withdrawal from family activities
• Higher expenses

Asking help from caregivers may help lighten your burden. We, One Care Companion, provider of home care services in Naples South Florida are very much willing to extend our hands in order to help families coping with Alzheimer’s disease.

Can you cure it?

There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, treatment focuses on helping the patients maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down the progression of the disease.

When you notice the early warning signs of the disease, make sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor and don’t just ignore them. Early detection of the disease can help you get the maximum benefit from available interventions, plan better for the future, build the right care team and support network, and locate support services such as One Care Companion (leading provider of home care services in Naples South Florida).

Conclusion

Individuals with the disease can greatly benefit from good coping skills, a strong support network and respite care. If you have family members with Alzheimer’s disease and need help in taking care of them, drop by at One Care Companion and we’ll talk about our home care services in Naples South Florida.