Written by Amy Scoville-Weaver, The Sustainability Consortium
It is likely that many of us feared the dark as children. Some of us had monsters under the bed. Or maybe they lived in the closet. Regardless of their locale, the only logical thing to do was to hide under the covers and close our eyes.
There are some things so overwhelmingly frightening that the only approach is to hide from them.
In my experience, Alzheimer’s is one of those things.
Yet, September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and now, as a daughter of a woman with Alzheimer’s, I find myself wanting to pull back the covers, hit the floor with both feet, and chase that monster down.
Perhaps you are wondering why this blog topic is for you – a young professional who (hopefully) has no reason to think about age-related decline. Yet, it is statistically probable that you have an aging loved one. And, just like doing taxes or knowing how credit works, it’s also likely the world hasn’t prepared you for this life eventuality.
The state of things
- Alzheimer’s is a degenerative, terminal neurological disease and is the most common form of dementia
- An estimated 6.5 million Americans lived with Alzheimer’s as of 2022
- About 75% of people affected with Alzheimer’s are over 75 years of age
- Arizona has the highest rate of Alzheimer’s in the country
- More than 11 million unpaid Americans care for people with Alzheimer’s or someone living with another form of dementia
What to look out for
Mild cognitive impairment can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Here’s a list of things to keep an eye on or talk with your loved one about. In addition to the links above, I’ve included my own list below from my own experience:
- Personal hygiene
- Is your loved one wearing the same clothes over and over? Are they dirty, or are clean clothes layered on top of dirty ones?
- Have you noticed a decline in bathing frequency?
- Are they brushing their teeth?
- Lists
- Are there many lists around the house or stuck to things?
- Is your loved one writing down the names of their family members and friends?
- Comments from others
- Have friends, or other family members mentioned anything?
- Other signals that something is off
- This one is more personal. For example, my mother hated sports, but when I visited her, I noticed football was on T.V. This was a sign that she no longer knew how to work the remote.
If you do see any of these signs, don’t panic. This doesn’t mean your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s. But, it might mean that your loved one is changing as they age. Knowing what to look out for early, you can get ahead of these changes and find ways to help your loved one adapt.
What to do
If you are noticing changes in your loved one, here are some tips:
- Start a journal logging what you see, even if it seems minuscule
- Encourage a vision and hearing check
- Perform a home safety check
- Sudden spike in confusion or aggression? Rule out a Urinary Tract Infection, which can be very detrimental to an elderly person
- Ask your loved one to get blood work and ensure the doctor checks for a vitamin B12 deficiency (which can cause confusion) and thyroid issues
- Get the power of attorney and other legal documents signed, dependent on your connection with the loved one
- Encourage your loved one to see a doctor for a mini-mental exam or perform one yourself
Many of these tips require you to advocate for your loved one with their doctor or encourage your loved one to seek medical help. Talking with your loved one about changes you are seeing may be very difficult. This article provides great guidance on having this vital yet challenging conversation.
Turning on the light
You can’t control the future and the slow, agonizing decline (over the years) is perhaps the most frightening aspect of this disease. If your loved one does have Alzheimer’s, know that this monster won’t gobble you both whole. Individuals with Alzheimer’s are people capable of love, connection, and purpose even as their disease progresses.
The more we remove the stigma and fear surrounding Alzheimer’s, the more we can face this monster head-on.
And, if you really want to show your support for Alzheimer’s advocacy and research, consider walking at the 2022 Phoenix Walk to End Alzheimer’s on November 5th in downtown Phoenix!
Author’s note:
This blog was written based on research and personal experience and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your doctor if you have questions. Alzheimer’s facts figures can be found here.
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