June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Association together with advocates in the early stages of the disease are encouraging families to talk about memory and cognition concerns sooner. These advocates know first-hand that an early diagnosis offers many benefits, including access to more effective medical and lifestyle interventions and the ability to take an active role in planning with family members for the future.
To help people understand early symptoms of Alzheimer’s or behaviors that merit discussion, the Alzheimer’s Association offers a list of the 10 Warning Signs. Should these signs appear, it is important to talk about them with the person experiencing symptoms and encourage them to speak with a medical professional.
Laurie Schill, Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Chapter says, “Unfortunately, people often hesitate to have conversations about dementia due to denial, fear and simply lack of awareness. It is so important, however, to get a diagnosis as early as possible so the person living with the disease and their caregivers can develop a care network and make financial plans. Early diagnosis allows people living with the disease to maintain a better quality of life throughout their remaining years. In addition, this gives the person living with the disease the power to make these decisions about their future care plan.”
New findings from an Alzheimer’s Association survey found a majority of Americans would be concerned about offending a family member (76 percent), or ruining their relationship (69 percent), if they were to approach that person about observed signs of Alzheimer’s. More alarming, 38 percent said they would wait until a family member’s Alzheimer’s symptoms worsened before approaching them with concerns. Additionally, nearly 1 in 3 Americans (29 percent) would not say anything to a family member despite their concerns.
To help families overcome common communication obstacles, the Alzheimer’s Association is offering 6 Tips for Approaching Alzheimer’s, a list of best practices for talking about the disease with someone who may be experiencing symptoms. These include:
- Have the conversation as early as possible
- Think about who’s best suited to have the conversation
- Practice conversation starters
- Offer support and companionship
- Anticipate gaps in self-awareness
- Recognize the conversation may not go as planned
For more on these tips, go to alz.org/6Tips.
Understanding the Value of an Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
There are many medical, financial, emotional and social benefits to receiving an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis – both for those living with the disease and their families. These include:
- Accurate diagnosis – Can help determine if someone’s cognitive changes are truly due to Alzheimer’s or some other, perhaps even treatable, condition.
- Medical benefits – Allows individuals to explore medications for memory loss, sleep changes and behavior changes resulting from the disease, as well as to adopt lifestyle changes that may help preserve their existing cognitive function for as long as possible, such as controlling one’s blood pressure, smoking cessation and exercise.
- Participation in clinical trials – Enables individuals to enroll in clinical trials that advance research and may provide medical benefits.
- Planning for the future – Allows individuals more time to plan for the future while they are cognitively able to make legal, financial and end-of-life decisions.
- Emotional and social benefits – Provides individuals with the best opportunity to spend time doing meaningful activities and interacting with the most important people in their lives. It can also open doors to many educational and support programs.
Living with Alzheimer’s
In addition to encouraging families to talk about Alzheimer’s openly and to seek diagnosis earlier, Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisors are sharing their stories about life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, including steps individuals can take to move forward and live their best lives.
Throughout Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is highlighting resources that can help individuals in the wake of a diagnosis. The Association’s Livewell resources offer insights from people living in the early stage of the disease and address important topics, including life after diagnosis, living healthy with Alzheimer’s and finding strength to move forward. The Alzheimer’s Association is also offering 10 Steps to Take Following an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis.
The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter helps families and friends navigate challenges and considerations at each stage of the disease, through face-to-face conversations with experts, our free 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) and comprehensive support and resources on alz.org.