September is World Alzheimer’s Month
Dementia Care: Huntington, NY
September is World Alzheimer’s Month
Alzheimer’s disease is defined as a form of dementia that affects a person’s memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia and accounts for about 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/Alzheimers-dementia/10_signs).
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s include poor judgment and decision-making, inability to manage a budget, losing track of the date or the season, difficulty have a conversation, and misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
At Family First Home Companions, we are very familiar with Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on our clients and their family members. It is one of the top reasons that family members call our company seeking in-home assistance for their loved ones who are afflicted. From needing respite care to requiring daily supervision and companionship, our professional Caregivers are there to provide support.
While Alzheimer’s robs the person of many things, it’s a disease that we’ve witnessed our clients take on gracefully and in stride. They are testimonials to there still being life, although very different, after Alzheimer’s. From appreciating the little things such as, a walk outside or a visit to a park, to the bigger things like attending a wedding or graduation, the person with Alzheimer’s can still enjoy life and be happy.
Many of our clients’ family members have found unique ways to bring joy to their loved one’s life while living with AD. One family hired a visiting violinist to play music for their loved one with dementia at home. Another family made it a weekly routine to bring their loved one to the park to feed the ducks and get some fresh air. I can also recall a family that made sure mom always had Sunday dinner with the entire family and grandchildren. These are some of the small and big ways families have gotten around the limitations that Alzheimer’s disease imposes on a person’s life and created new avenues to enjoying the time together.
Jennifer has specialized training in Alzheimer’s disease through the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.She also volunteered her time with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island for 3 years by providing cognitive stimulation to an Alzheimer’s patient group.
Jennifer educates the community about elder care and speaks to caregiver support groups, senior centers, and at professional organizations.Topics include home safety, effective strategies for family caregiving, elder care planning, and awareness about elder abuse.
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