10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure

4. Confusion with time or place

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

8. Decreased or poor judgment

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

10. Changes in mood and personality

2011 Alheimer's Disease Facts & Figures

• 5.4 Million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.

• It’s the 6^th leading cause of death in the U.S.

1) Heart Disease

2) Cancer

3) Stroke

4) CLRD

5) Accidents

6) Alzheimer’s Disease

7) Diabetes

8) Flu & Pneumonia

9) Nephritis

10) Septicemia

• It is the only disease among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.

• There are nearly fifteen million caregivers of Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients. If they all lived in the single state, it would be the fifth largest state.

• In 2010, these caregivers 17 billion hours of unpaid care.

• Alzheimer’s costs the nation $183 billion annually.

• Since 2000, death rates of other major diseases (HIV, Stroke, Heart Disease) dropped while deaths from Alzheimer’s have risen by 66%

• Every 69 seconds someone in the U.S develops Alzheimer’s.

• The numbers are rising and time is short. Take the time; spread awareness.

• Send these numbers to someone who needs to know about the Alzheimer’s epidemic.

From the Alzheimer’s Association

When to consider assisted living

Some useful information  I thought you might enjoy.


When to consider assisted living

It has been our experience that too many families wait until there is a crisis to consider assisted living for their loved one. When a crisis happens, the senior is usually frail and unable to take advantage of all the benefits assisted living has to offer. Many families tell us the wished they would have moved their loved ones sooner. What are some signs that it is time to seriously consider assisted living? Difficulty performing daily activities: Wearing same clothes multiple days Bathing less frequently - personal hygiene suffering Not bothering to cook for one person, skipping meals Laundry and housekeeping becoming a burden Spends time in only a few rooms in the house Memory loss: Repeating questions or statements, multiple phone calls with the same questions Wandering away from home Trusting strangers, falling for scams, becoming the victim of elder abuse Forgetting to do things they once did like paying bills and balancing the check book Leaving the stove on, frequently misplacing items Medication concerns: Forgetting to take medications - resulting in missed dosages - or taking more than required Running out of medications - or not properly ordering medications from the pharmacy A lot of expired medications around Lack of Socialization: Losing touch with friends and isolating themselves Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed such as going to church Showing signs of depression, for example sleeping a lot or crying Loss of spouse, relatives and long-time friends Fear: Becoming increasingly paranoid or fearful of others Afraid to be alone at night Becoming more dependent on family members Feel neighborhood is not as safe as it used to be Safety concerns: Stairs and steps make it more likely to fall No help nearby if fall or emergency occurs Difficulty getting in and out of tub or on and off of toilet Increase in 'stuff' around house causing fall risks Information from www.seniorlivingexperts.com