Today is World Alzheimer’s Day and that means, here at Lifeline24, we will be taking a looking at what the purpose of the day is and how Alzheimer’s affects people with the disease.
World Alzheimer’s Day
The purpose of World Alzheimer’s Day is to raise awareness for the disease and the challenges those suffering from it and their loved ones face on a daily basis. The theme of this year is breaking the stigmas surrounding Alzheimer’s.
Dementia UK says Alzheimer’s and dementia are seen as an inevitable part of growing older. However, this is a misconception. Alzheimer’s is not simply becoming ‘a bit forgetful’ or ‘slow.’ It is a serious progressive disease with an official list of symptoms.
Alzheimer’s does not only affect people in very old age either. 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 are affected by Alzheimer’s, but so are 1 in 20 of people aged under 65. This is known as early- or young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive condition. This means symptoms develop over a number of years and become more severe or frequent. The first sign is usually memory problems such as forgetting words for objects or people. As the disease progresses, symptoms can develop, such as:
- Problems with speech
- Becoming confused, disoriented, or getting lost in familiar places
- Performing self-care or grooming tasks
- Personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding, and suspicious of others
- Low mood or anxiety
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Difficulty making decisions
If you think yourself or a loved one may be showing signs of Alzheimer’s, you should see your GP. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are some medications that help relieve symptoms, and a care plan will help the process.
How Carelink24 Can Help
Alzheimer’s Disease is not something we anticipate in life and it is not something we can control. It may see the person living with the condition unable to care for themself. Here at Carelink24, however, we strive to provide independence to vulnerable people so they can continue living in their homes for as long as possible.
We do this with our range of personal alarms. If you or a loved one are at risk of an emergency or incident in the home it is worth considering a personal alarm. Should an accident or emergency take place, the alarm user simply has to press the button on their alarm and help will be on the way either in the way of emergency contacts or emergency services.
For more information, read our guide to the Carelink alarm service or give us a call on 0800 0076 247. You can also order an alarm online.
