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Maybe It's Not Alzheimer's
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Did you know that there are at least 11 health conditions that can appear to be Alzheimer's or cause dementia symptoms? In some cases, they may accompany the disease and worsen the symptoms rapidly or slowly over time. Though they may be difficult to detect, many are reversible with appropriate treatment.
For example, Lyme disease, an infection spread by ticks, can cause changes in mood or behavior and time or spatial disorientation. Heavy exposure to alcohol or drugs may cause signs of dementia even after the substance abuse has ended. Other health conditions can cause confusion, memory loss, and other signs of dementia, including: thyroid problems, hypoglycemia, brain tumors, and heart and lung problems.
Senior care advisors and attentive caregivers from a home care agency are trained to alert family members to changes and signs of dementia or other health issues when caring for their loved ones. Read more at tinyurl.com/dementia-alz
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Dear Katy
By Kate Dougherty, Certified Senior Advisor
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Dear Katy - What is an in-home care assessment and who is responsible for conducting it? K.R., Oakland, CA.
Dear K.R. - An in-home care assessment is a required home care blueprint that gathers all the relevant and vital information about the client's needs to create a home care plan. Each assessment is different, depending on the client's needs, and may require the agency to speak with the client's closest family, friends, and doctor about their situation. Once the agency has all the necessary contact and medical information, the assessment is complete and home care services can start.
Dear Katy- My family and I are going on vacation and need someone to care for my mother. About how long does it take to hire a caregiver? F.G., Henderson, NV
Dear F.G. - On average, the process should take 3-4 days. However, I recommend that you do not wait until the last moment. If it is an urgent or last-minute situation, an agency will find the best possible fit. The process begins with contacting the agency, briefly explaining the needs and schedule, then setting up an appointment to meet. The agency will select a few candidates and you will have the opportunity to interview them. After the interviews are complete, you may select the candidate and confirm the schedule.
(Submit your questions to kdougherty@professionalhc.com. Follow her on twitter .)
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If a person with Alzheimer's displays one of the first two symptoms below, along with at least two of the others within a two-week period, he or she may be depressed. If depression is found and treated, it can significantly improve quality of life.
1. Significantly depressed mood
2. No social interaction
3. Social isolation or withdrawal
4. Eating too much or little
5. Sleeping too much or little
6. Agitation or lethargy
7. Irritability
8. Fatigue or loss of energy
9. Feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty
10. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
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Connecting the Dots
In more than 16 years of working with Alzheimer's patients, author Judith London writes about how to communicate and connect with patients.
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Brain Exercise Games
Test your memory with these free fun and interactive online games.
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...by the year 2030, one in five people will be 65 or older?
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