It’s Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month at Edgemere
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Around the world, 50 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. There are an estimated 5.5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s, and many of them are age 65 or older. Brain health is of critical importance, especially as we get older and our cognitive abilities begin to diminish.
To observe Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, Edgemere is inviting our residents to participate in a variety of activities taking place all month long. Our goal is to promote ways to keep your brain healthy and also educate seniors and their families about Alzheimer’s.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive disease that attacks the parts of our brain that control thought, memory and language. When your cognitive health declines, so does your ability to complete even the simplest everyday tasks. It’s a disease that is irreversible and it makes independent living a challenge. People with Alzheimer’s who experience even mild to moderate symptoms will often need the help of a caregiver or the support of a memory care community to perform the basic activities of daily living.
Common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a disease that progresses in four stages: preclinical, mild, moderate and severe. The preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s can make an otherwise healthy person seem like they are losing sense of the world around them. It can be as simple as memory problems, or manifest itself as difficulty with word-finding, visual and spatial issues, or impaired reasoning and judgment. Preclinical symptoms can appear as early as a person’s 30s, but risk increases with age.
In a severe case of Alzheimer’s, a person can experience unhealthy weight loss, the loss of their ability to communicate and even seizures. Regardless of what stage the person is in, the question of how long a person can maintain their independence while living with symptoms of Alzheimer’s depends on whether or not they are a danger to themselves.
Research to end Alzheimer’s
Researchers across the globe are working around the clock to learn more about how to slow and eventually stop the spread of Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is a strong supporter of these efforts, raising funds for and investing in groundbreaking research taking place around the world. Currently, there are more than 650 research projects in 39 countries that are funded by the association. At any given moment, research is happening somewhere, all thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters who play a vital role in this battle.
One example of the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts is the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk, a two-year clinical trial evaluating lifestyle interventions that can reduce risk factors and protect cognitive function in older adults.
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month activities at Edgemere
Edgemere residents from all levels of care at our community will be invited to participate in our activities for Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Residents are also encouraged to wear purple, which is the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement, to promote the Alzheimer’s Association and their efforts.
Our team understands the vital importance of promoting brain health and educating residents and their families on the signs and symptoms of and support for Alzheimer’s. Our commitment to helping individuals and their families tackle the challenges that come with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is evident in the dedicated memory care services that we offer.
There is a new wave of innovative technology and techniques that have enhanced our ability to provide compassionate care and support for seniors with memory problems. By continuing to promote these services and the myriad ways that seniors can keep their brains healthy as they age, we can do our part to support the mission of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.
If you’d like more information on our senior living community and the memory care support we can provide, we’d love to chat! Fill out the form below or give us a call at 214-265-9100.