Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of Dementia. Dementia is loss of memory, inability to comprehend and impaired judgement. Signs and symptoms come gradually and may include disorientation and change in personality.
It is estimated that 5 million Americans are affected with Alzheimer’s Disease. Ten percent are over age 65 and fifty percent are over the age of 85.
In 1907, Dr. Alois Alzheimer discovered the disease. A comprehensive physical and neurologic examination will establish a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. It is also confirmed by using MRI or CT Scan and documenting the person’s behavior changes over time.
There are different medications used to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease such as Exelon, Reminyl and Aricept. Some doctors prescribe medications for anxiety or insomnia in order for the client to rest or participate in activities of daily living.
Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease (Courtesy of The Alzheimer’s Association):
- Memory Loss That Affects Job Skills
- Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
- Problems With Languages
- Disorientation of Time And Place
- Poor Or Decreased Judgement
- Problems With Abstract Thinking
- Misplacing Things
- Changes In Mood Or Behavior
- Changes in Personality
- Loss of Initiative
To take care of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease require a great deal of patience and understanding of the disease process and the client.
The most difficult part of caring for clients with Alzheimer’s Disease is when they wander around. Wandering is a very common manifestation of agitated behavior among people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Increase in wandering can be due to frustration, fatigue, fear or discomfort. The person looks for places to remedy their pain, discomfort or suffering by looking for places such as bathroom or a familiar face. Sometimes they wander because they want to escape a noise or tension or performs old routine such as going to work or pick up a family member.
Right Accord Private Duty-Home Care provides in-home care assistance to seniors in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The caregivers includes home health aides, certified nursing assistants and companions have undergone training in Alzheimer’s Disease. The Administrator is also a Certified Home Health Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) Training Provider.
The good news is, the Sarasota Police Department Project Lifesaver Program has a coordinated program designed to protect the wandering people with Alzheimer’s Disease and brings peace of mind to families, caregivers and the community as a whole in Sarasota County.
The program works by contacting the Sarasota Police Department’s Project Lifesaver Program Administrator to complete an application. Once accepted to the program, a radio transmitter is placed on the person’s wrist.
If the participant is lost or missing, the Sarasota Police Department has a specialized tracking equipment to locate the transmitter the participant is wearing.
For more information on this program, please call (941) 954-7056 or visit www.sarasotagov.com.
To provide assistance to your loved one by providing a one to one care and keeping them safe at home, please call our care coordinator to set-up a free consultation and assessment for in-home care at (941) 366-0801.
Right Accord Private Duty Home care is available in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and its neighboring towns such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Nokomis, Osprey, Venice, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton area.
Tags: Alzheimer's disease, Bird Key, caregivers, Casey Key, Florida, Lido Key, longboat key, sarasota, Siesta Key
