November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

November 2023

Since President Ronald Reagan made the designation in 1983, November has continued to be known as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Through the years, the number of people with the disease has grown to more than five million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, is a type of dementia that leads to memory, thinking and behavior loss. The symptoms of the disease progress over time, eventually leading to a person no longer being able to accomplish daily tasks. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments that can slow down its regression.

Here are the top tips you should know to become more aware and help those with the disease.

Symptoms To Look For

Like other diseases, it is very important to know the symptoms to find the correct help and treatment for those involved. The symptoms include:

• Memory Loss – A person may forget specific events or things they have learned. They may also ask the same question over and over again.
• Trouble Solving Problems or Planning – It may take someone longer to complete tasks they used to do much quicker, or they may struggle to follow simple directions.
• Lost Track of Time or Place – A person with Alzheimer’s will often forget how they got somewhere and where they are. They will also lose track of time.
• Unable to Retrace Steps – When someone begins to lose track of time and place, they will start to misplace items and lose the ability to retrace their steps. They can no longer remember where they were to find items or where they put something.

How to Help Those with Alzheimer’s

There are multiple things you can do to help someone with Alzheimer’s disease, especially if the person is in the early stages of the disease.

• Establish a Daily Routine – Routines are essential in establishing what the person can expect to avoid confusion. People with Alzheimer’s love routines.
• Keep Things Simple – All interaction needs to be very simple, whether saying one thing at a time or presenting only one idea.
• Reassure Safety – Make sure the person feels safe and secure. Tell them often how safe they are with you to keep them at ease.
• Stay Calm – Never let your frustrations boil over into a yelling match or argument. Imagine how the patient feels and can no longer grasp time or place.

Awareness Initiatives/Memory Walks

Throughout October and November, many “memory walks” take place across the nation to raise money and awareness for the disease.

For more information on Alzheimer’s disease, click here. Make sure to follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with everything going on at Leakesville Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.