Normal Signs of Aging or Alzheimer’s disease?
As you spend time with your parents and grandparents this holiday season are you noticing that they are not as “sharp” as they use to be?
Memory loss is a common part of aging and your loved one not being able to recall a name or details of a recent event is a frustrating but frequent occurrence for most aging adults. While it has been suggested that everyone might develop dementia if he or she lives long enough, it should be emphasized that Alzheimer's is a disease and not simply an exaggeration of normal aging.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia among older people and is defined as a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. Although less serious, dementia is a subtle decline in cognitive function, including memory loss, and at least one other area of deficit in great enough degree to interfere with social or occupational activities. Additionally, a diagnosis of dementia can be make when there has been a decline from a previous level of funtion, along with cognitive behavior.
Alzheimer’s disease affects the areas of the brain that are essential for thinking, memory, and behavior. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Restlessness
- Misplacing things
- Trouble performing familiar tasks
- Changes in personality and behavior
- Poor or decreased judgment
- Impaired communication
- Inability to follow directions
- Problems with language
- Impaired visuospatial skills
- Emotional apathy
- Social withdrawal and less willingness to interact with others
- Loss of motivation or initiative
What Should You Do?
There are many types of dementia, with the most common type being Alzheimer's Disease. It is often difficult to discern the difference until a more thorough, comprehensive assessment is completed. Therefore, if your aging loved one is experiencing these symptoms, a geriatric assessment is highly recommended.
It is estimated that more than 5 million individuals in North America alone suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. At age 65, 1% of the population is affected; however at age 85, the figure jumps to between 30 and 50%. Caregivers spend an average of 70 to 100 hours per week providing care and are more likely to require medical care themselves. This is not a battle you have to fight alone.
Lakewood Hospital SeniorCare Services is dedicated to meeting the growing needs of older adults. The team provides a variety of services at multiple levels of care that benefit the healthy aging and the specialized care needs of frail seniors.
The SeniorCare Assessment Center is a cornerstone of our program. The expert staff provides comprehensive outpatient services for older adults experiencing a change in their physical, psychological or social well-being. The team works with older adults, their family members and the patient’s primary physician to develop and individualized care plan. Our goal is to complete a comprehensive assessment that addresses the specialized care needs of both the older adult and their caregivers. We provide support, education and recommendations for future planning by working with the patient's primary care physician to develop a plan so the patient and family can successfully manage their care.
The programs and services are available at our Community Health Center located at 1450 Belle Avenue (across from the hospital's main entrance).
For more information about our SeniorCare Assessment Center or to schedule an appointment, please call 216.521.2228.