Alzheimer’s Care with an Innovative Approach
As the most prominent form of dementia, Alzheimer’s is expected to affect 1 out of every 85 people within the next few decades. Effective Alzheimer’s care requires specific training paired with a delicate understanding of the condition. It is important to create a healthy and comfortable environment for those living with this disease. Watching someone you love experience the symptoms of Alzheimer’s is not easy. By using compassionate caregivers specifically trained in the treatment of dementia, you can rest easy knowing your loved one is in caring hands.
Northwest Senior Care offers personalized care specific to your family’s situation by using qualified care aides and a creative approach. Our constant thirst for knowledge within the field of senior care has allowed us to develop original techniques based off of proven Alzheimer’s research. We hope you will consider us when seeking care for your loved on and encourage you to Call us at (206) 910-8177 or send us a message on our Contact Page. But first, we feel it is important to us that you take a moment to understand the disease.
“What is Alzheimer’s?”
Alzheimer’s is a disease that progressively affects a person’s memory and thinking skills. Eventually the person afflicted will lose the ability to carry out simple tasks of daily living. Those who have the disease develop abnormal clumps and tangled fibers within the brain called “amyloid plaques” and “neurofibrillary tangles”. Alzheimer’s is also noted by a loss of connections between the nerve cells within the brain.
Often the damage to the brain begins 10 years or more before symptoms become evident. Eventually the damage spreads to the structure within the brain called the hippocampus, which is tasked with forming memories. By the late stages of the disease, and as more and more neurons die, the affected areas of the brain shrink significantly. If you would like to learn more on what Alzheimer’s is, a good place to visit is the National Institute on Aging. It is also important to know what symptoms to look out for.
“How do I know if my loved one has Alzheimer’s?”
There are symptoms that you can watch for that could indicate that someone you know has Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.
- Disorientation. Confusion with time, place, or identity
- Issues with speech or comprehension
- Short term memory loss
- Depression
- Weight loss
- Delusions. Beliefs that are unsupported by facts
While these symptoms could be caused by Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, if you suspect there is an issue it is important to see your doctor. They will be able to conduct a simple test to determine if it is appropriate to be referred to a specialist such as a neurologist or geriatric psychiatrist. If you are curious about what Alzheimer’s care options we offer, again, we encourage you to Call us today at (206) 910-8177 or send us a message on our Contact Page. If you would like to continue learning about how this disease affects the senior population and other aspects of the aging process, please explore our Elder Education section.