September is World Alzheimer’s Month. Across the world, people are raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, the symptoms, and available treatments.
But what is Alzheimer’s disease? And what should people do if they’re diagnosed with it? This month, we’ll explore all things related to Alzheimer’s disease and memory care centers.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease, often just called Alzheimer’s, is a degenerative brain disease. It’s classified as a progressive disease, which means that the effects from the disease increase over time. In the case of Alzheimer’s, the progression of the disease eventually affects the whole brain. This results in a wide range of symptoms, although there are several common ones across most cases.
The most prevalent symptoms are the changes in a person’s memory and the ability to learn new things. In early-stage Alzheimer’s, it often starts with forgetting recent events and newly learned facts. The person may have small lapses of memory. As the disease progresses into middle and late stages, the effects on memory and learning become much greater and usually much worse. Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia; 60-80% of dementia cases are attributed to Alzheimer’s.
The middle stage of Alzheimer’s is often the longest stage, lasting for years. During this stage, people begin to develop other symptoms as more areas of the brain are affected. There is a wider variety of symptoms to look out for, including: problems handling multistep tasks, sleeplessness, confusion, and issues maintaining balance. In some cases, people with Alzheimer’s also undergo changes in personality and behavior.
In late-stage Alzheimer’s, also known as severe Alzheimer’s, people become completely dependent on caretakers. Their ability to communicate has been significantly reduced to simple sentences, words, or expressions. In many cases, swallowing will also be severely affected, and diets must change to accommodate this. Many also become bedridden at this stage.
The greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease is age. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, most cases are found in people aged 65 and over. It is so common, in fact, that it is often wrongly stereotyped as “typical aging.” (Alzheimer’s and the symptoms are actually very abnormal when compared to the regular aging process.) Other risk factors include family members having an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and having other health conditions (specifically anything that affects brain health or heart health).
Treatments and Memory Care
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments. A few medications are used to specifically treat Alzheimer’s, working to slow the progress of the disease and ease symptoms. Patients may be prescribed additional medications that alleviate specific symptoms, like targeting the sleeplessness and anxiety that may develop.
Non-medical treatment also plays a large role for people with Alzheimer’s post-diagnosis. Exercise, diet, and socializing with others are all habits that have a positive correlated effect for people with Alzheimer’s. A comfortable living environment that meets the person’s changing needs is also critical; having a familiar and relaxing space can keep them unstressed, both physically and mentally.
During the early to middle stages of Alzheimer’s, many people can live at home. Many even maintain independence, while others need the occasional help of caregivers. While this can provide a lot of comfort, the arrangement can also cause unexpected issues and burdens for both the person with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. (Caregiver burnout is unfortunately something that develops for many caregivers.)
An alternative option is memory care centers. Memory care centers are designed for people who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. They often include caregiving staff, enrichment programs, and a safe and secure environment. For many people, a memory care center can provide peace of mind.
Our Kingsway full continuum of care includes our Memory Care Center, located within Kingsway Manor Assisted Living. The care provided there is customized to the resident’s level of memory loss, with enhanced levels of care available as their needs change. A variety of services are available, with safe environments for the residents to enjoy. Medication management and coordination with other medical services is included. We have a high staff-to-resident ratio, including 24-hour LPNs and aides, and Registered Nurse oversight. And each team member receives ongoing specialized training on cognitive impairment and memory loss.
Our Memory Care Center works to maximize independence and increase the quality of life. For residents and their loved ones, it can provide great peace of mind while navigating the changes.
Life With Alzheimer’s
For many people, being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is terrifying. However, it’s incredibly important to see your doctor if you think you have the symptoms, and to be diagnosed as early as possible. An early diagnosis gives people more time to plan for the future. Some treatments are also more effective if they are started earlier, improving quality of life during the progression of the disease. (This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start treatments if you are diagnosed later on though! There are still great benefits that you can experience by starting treatments, both medical and non-medical, after diagnosis.)
World Alzheimer’s Month helps bring global awareness to Alzheimer’s disease. While the disease is still being researched and understood, every day people are living with it. At Kingsway, we want to help our residents face, adapt, and overcome these challenges together.
If you’d like to learn more about our Memory Care Center or our other services, please reach out to us.
Information for this guide comes from the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association.