Page 30 - Healthcare News Senior Planning Guide 2022

Straight Talk
About Dementia
The Age Factor
According to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., about
1 in 9 people (10.7%) age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. The percentage of people with Alzheimer’s increases with age: 5.0% of people age 65 to 74, 13.1% of people age 75 to 84, and 33.2% of people age 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.
Of the 6.5 million people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s:
Ages 85+: 2.31 million (35.7%)
Ages 65-74: 1.75 million (27.0%)
Ages 75-84: 2.41 million (37.2%)
Recognizing the Early Signs and Where To Find Help
By East Longmeadow Memory Care DAssisted Living
ementia is not a disease, but a group
of symptoms associated with loss of cognitive functioning — such as a decline
in reasoning, thinking, and ability to remem- ber — to such an extent that it interferes with
a person’s ability to perform daily tasks and activities. While it can be difficult to determine if memory loss is directly related to dementia or simply a natural part of aging, it is important to distinguish the difference.
There are several types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and a person’s symptoms can vary depending on the form. For instance, some people’s personality changes, or they are unable to control their emotions. The severity of dementia can range from just beginning to affect an individual’s normal functioning to causing a person to entirely depend on others for help with basic activities of living.
Because dementia can cause a person to have difficulty performing the necessary tasks for living independently, family and friends should be aware of the early signs of dementia in order to get the professional help needed to treat symptoms as they progress.
Early Signs of Dementia
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests that, while dementia is more common as people age — with roughly one-third of people age 85 and older having some form of dementia — it is not a normal part of aging. Both the NIA and Alzheimer’s Assoc. describe dementia as a loss of once-healthy neurons — nerve cells in the brain — ultimately leading to a loss of nerve connections and neuron death. While all individuals can expect to lose some neurons with age, the loss experienced by those with dementia is far greater.
Memory
Continued on page 47
Beyond Memory Care...Meaningful Moments Await.
ALL NEW!
East Longmeadow Memory Care Assisted Living is a community that is committed to enriching the lives of residents who have a memory impairment diagnosis.
• Enhancing unique Life Skills
• A calm, secure, home-like
environment
• Meaningful social interaction
• Compassionate, personalized care by specially trained staff
Call 413-525-6362 today to schedule a tour.
Work at our campus of care! Apply today at ELMCALJobs.org
Meadows Crossing • 305C Maple Street • East Longmeadow • 413-525-6362 • www.elmmemorycareassistedliving.org
Pending EOEA Certification
42 AUGUST 2022 Job#:
Size: Publication:
SENIOR PLANNING GUIDE
BELMC2207328 9.25" x 5.8"
De: abg
Ae: ap
Date: 07.25.2022
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