National Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
Azura has provided exceptional care for nearly a decade and is proud to be the premier provider of assisted living and memory care homes with 14 locations throughout Wisconsin. From homelike settings to transformational programming, they provide a safe and nurturing place for older adults and those with dementia.
They are inviting you to attend “A MOSAIC Approach to Care” family training session on Tuesday, July 19 from 9am-1pm at their Fox Point location. As well as to drop off donations to the barn at our Brookfield location every Monday starting July 11 from 7am-2pm. Thrift Sale will be on Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 from 9am-5pm. For more information please call 715-491-0880 or visit www.azuraliving.com
How To Participate In Alzheimers And Brain Awareness Month
During the month of June, the Alzheimers Association asks people around the world to go purple and use their brains to fight this devastating disease. There are a variety of ways to get involved with friends, family, and in your workplace.
Go Purple:
Choose a day to Go Purple, have your family/friends dress in purple, decorate your office or host an event to benefit Alzheimers research. Many people choose June 20th The Longest Day to participate and Wear Purple!
Honor:
Many people have been touched by Alzheimers Disease or dementia. They may have a friend or family member who is living with these diseases or acting as a caregiver. Show your support by organizing a team and honoring those individuals throughout the month and on The Longest Day. In addition, sign up to join the Walk to End Alzheimers in your local area to raise awareness and funds for research throughout the year.
Educate:
Speak with friends, family, and co-workers about the importance of this month. Create social media posts and start conversations surrounding this important topic. The more awareness that is spread about these topics is crucial for understanding how to treat them, care for those who are suffering from them, and ultimately funding research for a cure.
Participate:
Donate to our Walk to End Alzheimers Teams below:
National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month: Educating The Public On The Alzheimers Epidemic In The Us
Back in November 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month. At the time, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimers today, the number of people with the disease has soared to nearly 5.4 million.
During November, National Alzheimers Disease Awareness month aims at making the general public more aware of the disease and the scale of it among the U.S. population, as well as bring new light potential care options for those affected.
Unicity Healthcare specializes in Alzheimers and Dementia Care. In fact, many renowned healthcare providers and elder service providers in New Jersey call on our expertise when dealing with people with Alzheimers/Dementia. Our Care Managers dementia experts/practitioners, and they also have significant experience dealing with Alzheimers clients and their families.
In this blog, we would like to share information on how to learn more about the Alzheimers epidemic and how you can show your support for Alzheimers awareness this month.
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Visit Loved Ones Fighting The Disease
Spend some extra time with loved ones who are fighting dementia. In the early stages of dementia, your loved ones need your support as they may be fearful of the progression of the disease. In-person visits are just as important for loved ones in the later stages of dementia. Studies show that spending time with loved ones is crucial to well-being in the later stages of the disease, even after they are unable to recognize visitors.
Get Involved In Alzheimers Awareness Month
Spread the word on social media
Raise awareness bythis Facts About Alzheimers Disease infographic and sharing via social media or email.
Change your social media cover photo
Use a Facebook Profile Picture Frame
to get a free Alzheimers Awareness Facebook profile frame to show your support all month long.
Wear Teal
Take a picture of yourself in teal and share on social media why youre joining the fight against Alzheimers.
Need a teal shirt? Get one through the AFA e-storehere.
Take a Selfie
Join the Walk
AFA is holding a nationwide virtual Alzheimers walk which allows you to walk in your community to raise Alzheimers awareness and funds to support families affected by Alzheimers.
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Create A Family Legacy
Work with a loved one to go through photos, reliving good memories, and maybe even creating a new photo book or video. Spending the time with loved ones, creating a bond, and creating a family legacy for generations to come is a great way to preserve family memories while engaging family members from old to young.
Alzheimers Disease Warning Signs
Memory Loss One of the most common signs of Alzheimers disease.Confusion People with Alzheimers can lose track of dates and time.Problem Solving Difficulty concentrating and takes much longer to do things.Misplacing Things Misplace or lose things and are not able to find them again.Withdrawal Remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports.Personality Changes Mood and personality changes. Become confused, depressed, fearful or anxious.Poor Judgment Experience changes in judgment or decision-making.Talking and Writing Struggle with vocabulary or have trouble following or joining a conversation.Vision Problems Difficulty with reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast.
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Available Treatment Methods For Alzheimer’s Disease
Over the last 30 years, several drugs have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as treatments for patients in the United States with Alzheimers Disease:
- 1993: The FDA approved the drug Cognex as the first treatment targeted against Alzheimers disease. This treatment was later withdrawn from the US market in May of 2012.
- 2003: Namenda was approved as the only drug for moderate to severe stages of the disease.
- 2004: The FDA approved Aricept for confusion related to all stages of Alzheimers disease.
- 2004: In the same year, Razadyne was approved for use in mild to moderate confusion related to Alzheimers diseases.
- 2007: The Exelon Patch was approved as the first 24-hour non-oral Alzheimers disease treatment.
- 2021: The FDA approved Aduhelm for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. This new treatment targets the collection of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain.
It is important to note none of these treatment options slow down the progression of Alzheimers disease or act as a cure. They can, however, ease some of the symptoms related to the disorder, prolonging the patients independence and offering an improved quality of life.
Get A Tattoo To Honor A Loved One
When someone you love has Alzheimers, you may feel that person slipping away from you. As the disease progresses, you often find yourself in the uniquely painful position of mourning a living person. Getting a tattoo in honor of your loved one can help you process these feelings.
You’ve probably heard the old expression, an elephant never forgets. This phrase likely stems from scientific observations of elephants’ uncommonly long memories. Most Alzheimer’s patients exhibit memory loss as the first sign of cognitive decline, so an elephant tattoo holds a certain resonance.
Another popular Alzheimers tattoo motif involves forget-me-not flowers, which holds a special significance it symbolizes remembrance. They grow in a variety of colors, including purple, which makes them a particularly apropos choice.
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Volunteer At A Memory Cafe
In 1997, psychologist Dr. Bere Miesen started a unique new support system for dementia patients in the Netherlands. Memory cafes, an innovative concept, quickly spread throughout Europe and then worldwide. These informal gathering spaces provide a safe place where patients and caregivers can meet and socialize with other members of the community.
Memory cafes help people in many ways. First, they create opportunities for Alzheimers and other dementia patients to feel connected and engaged. This helps them feel more confident and helps mitigate the feelings of isolation so prevalent with this disease. It can also help reduce the burden placed on caregivers. Volunteering at a memory cafe in your community can encourage everyone to support Alzheimers patients.
Life At American House
Our personalized Memory Care program is designed to help residents live and be cared for with compassion throughout the stages of dementia. With focused attention on each resident, we join them where they are on their journey and assist in making it the best it can be. Our dedicated Memory Care neighborhood offers full-service amenities and wellness programming, individually designed to ensure our residents unique wants and needs are met.
At American House, we offer maintenance-free living at its finest. Our charming communities feature spacious apartments with a variety of amenities and services. Residents enjoy chef-prepared meals, weekly housekeeping, salon and barber shop services, fitness centers and so much more. With locations in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Florida, youre sure to find the proper level of care and services to fit your needs.
We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care*, Respite Care and Hospice Care*.
Contact us to find out which American House community is right for you.
*Care provided by an independent, third-party health care provider at select communities.
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Alzheimers And Brain Awareness Month
What is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month?
Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month is a monthlong observance focused on raising awareness around Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia, including education about warning signs and ways to reduce risks.
The month is used by many organizations not only as an opportunity for education and awareness but also as a focal point for fundraising related to research and care.
Like many awareness months, Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month has an associated color: purple.
There are two colors associated with Alzheimers awarenesspurple is associated with Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month, and blue is associated with National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month.
There are two other similar events observed during other months: World Alzheimers Month and National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month . The distinction is that Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month focuses on all different forms of dementia, not just Alzheimers.
Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month Activities
During Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month, organizations like the Alzheimers Association work to educate the public about the disease. They discuss some of the areas mentioned above, symptoms, treatments, and coping.
In the months leading up to November, there are often many memory walks to raise awareness about the disease and raise money for research. You can find a walk near you6 or find out more about how you can get involved.Throughout the year, donations for Alzheimers research and programming are always welcomed. Organizations are also always looking for volunteers or friendly visitors to work with those with Alzheimers. If interested, you can look in your area to find out where you can volunteer your time.
Many people opt to take part in the National Memory Screening Program7. This free program is available nationwide and provides confidential memory screenings to anyone interested. During the coronavirus pandemic, these screenings happen regularly and virtually. Participation in this program is an excellent way to see if you or a loved one is experiencing memory problems. Speaking to your primary care physician or medical team is also very helpful, and they may be able to do a memory screen during your office visit.
During November and throughout the year, being aware of the signs and symptoms of Alzheimers disease and joining the fight against it can make a real impact on your loved ones and community.
Thank you, }.
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Five Facts About Alzheimers
50 million people are living with Alzheimers and other dementias worldwide. Alzheimers is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimers disease. One in 10 people age 65 and older has Alzheimers disease. Two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimers are women.
A Proclamation On National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month 2021
For more than 6 million Americans and the family members and friends who love them, Alzheimers disease can be devastating. This common form of dementia is a cruel and fatal condition that erodes the ability to think, to recall precious memories, and to live independently. During National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month, we stand with all those families confronting this challenging disease and recommit ourselves to improving treatment and finding a cure.
A leading cause of death in seniors, Alzheimers exacts a heartbreaking human toll on our Nation as well as a deep economic toll, with the cost of treatment exceeding $300 billion in 2020 alone. But recent advances in biomedical science offer hope for better days ahead. As the scientific community continues to make strides toward a better understanding of Alzheimers and, ultimately, a cure it is critical that we do all we can to expedite progress and alleviate the suffering caused by this disease.
I believe that our Nation stands at an unprecedented moment of scientific promise it is critical that we keep up the fight against Alzheimers until a cure is found and continue to care for all those affected by this condition in the meantime. For resources and information on living with or caring for someone with Alzheimers disease, please visit www.Alzheimers.gov.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
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Special Considerations For Clinical Trial Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease And Dementia
There are currently several FDA-approved treatment methods for Alzheimers disease, but still no cure. This progressive and debilitating disease takes the lives of more than 120,000 people in the US each year, and this number continues to grow.
Clinical trials have proven to be an excellent way to get new treatment methods to market while offering the hope of a cure for this disease someday. However, for patients with disorders like Alzheimers disease, the burdens of clinical trial participation can seem insurmountable. Many patients face medical issues like cognitive, emotional, and mobility decline.
When pharmaceutical sponsors and clinical research organizations consider the patient journey throughout the trial, they are better positioned to increase their trial enrollment and retain patients through trial completion.
Upon trial enrollment, patients and their caregivers are paired with a local coordinator who speaks their language in their time zone. The coordinator learns the travel preferences of the patient and their caregiver and begins to anticipate their needs as the decline inherent to the disease starts. The coordinator checks with the patient and caregiver often to provide appointment reminders. They assist with other services such as ground transportation, wheelchair-accessible flights and vehicles, and meal and incidental reimbursements.
Ideas For Getting Involved: Children
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Normal Memory Loss Or Alzheimers Disease/dementia
Although everyones brain changes as they age, its important to understand that Alzheimers disease is not a normal part of aging. Memory loss is typically one of the first warning signs of Alzheimers disease, but occasionally forgetting words or names does not mean a person has Alzheimers. There are other signs that someone in the early stages of Alzheimers disease may experience in addition to memory problems.
In the early stages of the disease, these can include:
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Having trouble handling money and paying bills
- Repeating questions
- Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
- Displaying poor judgment
- Losing things or misplacing them in odd places
- Displaying mood and personality changes
In our blog article, The Difference Between Age-Related Memory Loss And Alzheimers Disease, Unicity Healthcare discusses in length this topic, and how to determine if your aging loved may need to be evaluated for dementia-related diseases.
Benefits Of Early Diagnosis
Early diagnosis opens the door to important information, resources and support and helps people with dementia focus on their abilities to remain independent in their homes and communities longer. On a practical level, an early diagnosis gives someone the chance to explain the changes happening in their life to family and friends and allows families to plan ahead.
Click HERE to learn more.
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What Type Of Doctor Treats Alzheimers
A Neurologistspecializes in neurological disorders, including diseases of the brain and the nervous system. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimers disease. There are medicines that can slow the progression of Alzheimers. These medicines help individuals carry out their daily activities. They can also help with some of the behavioral and personality changes.
The Alzheimers Epidemic In The United States
National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month is a call for Americans to pay attention to the epidemic that is raging throughout the country. Affecting nearly 15 million people, including caregivers and people living with the disease, chances are you most people have been somehow impacted by the Alzheimers epidemic.
The Alzheimers Association recently related their 2018 Alzheimers Disease Facts and Figures, which reveal the following statistics about Alzheimers in the United States:
- Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimers disease
- 5.7 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimers
- Alzheimers disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States
- 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimers or a related form of dementia
- In 2018, unpaid caregivers provided 18.4 billion hours of care, valued at over $232 billion
- The estimated lifetime cost of care for someone living with dementia is $341,840
- Early diagnosis of Alzheimers could potentially save the country $7.9 trillion
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