Alzheimer’s disease is a disease of the brain that causes a steady decline in memory.
This results in dementia - the loss of intellectual functions, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning - that is severe enough to interfere with everyday life. Although there are many other causes of dementia, such as vascular dementia (caused by strokes), brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia affecting 10% of older adults over the age of 65 and nearly 50% of those age 85 or older.
There are three primary stage of dementia most often associated with Alzheimer’s disease:
- In the early stage of Alzheimer’s, patients may forget to pay their bills and become unable to manage their personal finances. They can no longer shop for themselves (groceries, clothing, personal hygiene, etc.) and may have difficulty expressing themselves. They often attempt to hide these deficiencies.
- Moderate stage symptoms indicate patients are no longer able to survive on their own and require constant supervision. For many families, the moderate stage dictates the need for professional help. Some behaviors of concern include wearing the same clothing day after day, reckless driving, severe memory lapses (can’t remember home address, phone number or the current year; memory varies from hour to hour), disorientation, confusion, anger or emotional problems.
- The severe stage of Alzheimer’s signals that a patient is completely dependent and cannot walk or perform activities without assistance. Their ability to express themselves verbally is lost or quite diminished, and some individuals develop atypical behavior, including acting abusively toward others. The severe stage of Alzheimer’s can progress until a patient is bedridden and requires 24-hour care. This condition can last for an undetermined period of time.
The professionally trained staff at The Heritage can help you identify the specific needs of your loved-one affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. With you, The Heritage can design an appropriate and specialized plan for either short or long-term care.
For more online information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, go to www.alzheimersdisease.com (featuring content from MayoClinic.com), www.alz.org (National Alzheimer’s Association), or www.alzcny.org (Central New York Alzheimer’s Association).