During World Alzheimer’s Month we are focusing on educating those with loved ones diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Two out of every three people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia in their countries, so we want to make sure that we are raising awareness and challenging the stigma that surrounds dementia every chance we get. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults and in most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease occurs between a person’s 30s and mid-60s and represents less than 10 percent of all people with Alzheimer’s.
ALZHEIMER’S IN TEXAS
- Alzheimer’s disease affects 5.8 million Americans of all ages in 2019. Approximately 390,000 of them are Texans.
- Texas ranks fourth in the number of Alzheimer’s disease cases and second in the number of Alzheimer’s disease deaths.
BREAKTHROUGHS
The Alzheimer’s Association says 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is one brain disorder under the larger umbrella of dementia. In the past, confirming that a loved one has this brain disorder was challenging for many families because a firm diagnosis could come only through an autopsy. Fortunately, a new study of more than 11,000 patients published in The Journal of the American Medical Association finds for the first time that technology can detect biological evidence of brain changes clearly linked to Alzheimer’s.
Scientists are now exploring the very earliest steps in the disease process by studying changes in the brain and body fluids that can be detected years before Alzheimer’s symptoms appear. Findings from these studies will help in understanding the causes of Alzheimer’s and make diagnosis easier. In the latest find, the Alzheimer’s Association cites research to suggest that memory and thinking skills in people with Alzheimer’s may be improved through exercise, brain stimulation activities, nutritious diet and social engagement.
“Music therapy and mind exercises used as sensory and intellectual stimulation in people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia, can help maintain a person’s quality of life or even improve it.” says Amber Broussard, RN and Timothy Beall, LFNA at Briarcliff Skilled Nursing Facility, a skilled nursing center in Carthage, Texas, and one of seven memory care communities operated by StoneGate Senior Living
MEMORY CARE
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the care needs of our parents and senior loved ones will change. Once mild stages of Alzheimer’s begin to onset, around-the-clock care for your senior loved one may be required, so it’s important to plan for their care and well-being soon after diagnosis.
Special memory care units within senior living communities are designed to help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s or dementia while also enabling a senior to feel purposeful. Generally, these units group residents on their own floor or wing of a larger care residence. Memory care staff have received specialized training in care needs for people with Alzheimer’s. Programs cater to the needs of people with memory problems and includes safety measures such as secured exits.
RESOURCES
Learn more about Alzheimer’s care options and which one is the best fit for your loved one. If you need help searching for memory care for a loved one, browse through our available memory care communities below and speak with an advisor who can answer your questions about which communities best meet your family’s needs.
- Settlers Ridge Care Center
- Williamsburg Village Healthcare Campus
- The Villages on MacArthur
- Briarcliff Skilled Nursing Facility
- South Place Rehab and Skilled Nursing
- Colonial Pines Healthcare Center
- Pathways Memory Care at Villa Toscana
National Alzheimer’s Association
